Elsewhere: Black Heart Bracelet

3

It's the middle of the night. There's a thickness in the air. One made of doubt and blame. I feel it laying heavy on me as I stir. My eyes flutter and I glimpse the shadow of a figure. The person is holding something. I jump up, ready for action.

It's Jussie. She's standing there staring at me like a crazy person. My pounding heart is still running wild.

"What the hell, Justine?" I say.

"This shirt," she says holding out a powder blue button up. "You wore this shirt two days ago."

I sigh and rub my face. "Okay?"

She pulls it in a rumpled mess up to her face and breathes deeply. She pulls it away. "it smells like perfume."

I roll my eyes. "Juss, listen to me. I love you." I stand up and take the shirt from her, tossing it in the corner. I take her hands in mine. The black heart on her wrist bounces against my fingers. "There's no-one else. Okay?"

Her face is worried. "Promise?" She says.

I kiss her forehead. "Promise."

"What's wrong with me? Why do i think these things?" she asks.

"Maybe you're just stressed out?" I suggest. "Come get some rest."

***

I'm sitting in my office at work. It's on the fifth floor at Thorpe Advertising. Another day, I would be drawing up ads or planning pitches. Right now, I'm dozing off in my leather executive chair, surrounded in the familiar scent of lemon Pledge and faint sounds from the other people working outside my office door.

The distinct click at my door startles me awake and I sit up as if I'd been hard at work in case it's Mr. Thorpe. A slender woman with red hair--cut in a bob--comes in. Mr. Thorpe's daughter, Shannon.

"Caught you, Richie," she says in a joking manner. She shuts the door behind her. There's a file in her hand.

"Red handed," I say. I've got nothing to hide from Shannon. We went to college together and have been pretty good friends since. I probably would have dated her back when if she weren't into girls, too.

"Rough night?" she asks.

"The worst," I say, exasperated. "Something is up with Jussie. She thinks I'm cheating on her."

Shannon giggles. "What?"

"Yeah, right?" I say.

"With who?"

"The waitress at Pier Olivia's. Some other random perfume lady." I shrug. "I don't know."

"Wow, that sucks."

"No sh-hey, boss," I say, because her dad just walked in.

The squat, pudgy man looks my way. "Rich, you're helping Shan with the Hawthorn account. I suggest you get on it and stop lallygagging."

"We were just discussing it, dad. Going to meet Mr. Hawthorn where he's staying at Park Central Hotel right now. We'll lunch with him there."

Mr. Thorpe nods his balding head and walks out.

"Wow, Hampton? Really?"

"Yep. Dad thinks you're ready. Come on, I'll ride with you and brief you on the way."