Drinks 'n Dares

Dangerous When Mixed With Testosterone

Chapter Twenty-One – Dangerous When Mixed With Testosterone

Claire's POV

"So Claire, Claire? Have you heard the news?" Daisy asked.

Daisy was, as per usual, peeking over the partition separating our cubicles. She was in her excitable gossiping mode and I was so not interested. I'd had to work late last night to finish all the articles that needed doing by today and even the extra pay for my overtime wasn't making me feel any better. I was currently editing an article on how one of Nelson's local rugby teams had all shaved their heads for cancer. I was a touching story and even that wasn't making me feel any better. I was sleep deprived and I knew it. Still, I restrained a sigh, saved my work and dutifully smiled a Daisy.

"What news is that?"

She was practically bouncing now. "About Carla resigning of course!"

"What?"

"I was sure that she would have told you because she's your best friend, along with Kira of course, but then someone mentioned that..."

Daisy continued yammering away but I wasn't listening anymore. Carla was resigning? Why in God's name would she do that? I checked the time; there was still another ten minutes until my lunch break began. Screw it, I decided.

"Daisy excuse me, I have to go." I grabbed my jacket and flew downstairs to the reception area. Evelyn gave me the evils at the door but I fibbed her off telling her I needed to use the lady's room. I was too wound up to wait for the elevator. Instead I took the stairs three at a time. When I arrived down in reception I was puffing...and there was Carla, looking cool as a cucumber. She was sitting behind the desk with a phone pressed between her ear and shoulder and with the other hand she was touching up her nail polish. She glanced up as I approached and nodded to me. 'Just a sec' she mouthed.

"No m'am, I don't think sending a letter to the CEO would help." She said. There was a pause. "Because we don't deliver papers on Sundays...No. No I don't think organizing a protest outside our offices would change his mind...Oh? That's not a bad idea. Why don't you do that?...No, no, thank you...Okay, buh-bye. Have a nice day now." She rung off and smiled at me. "Hello, Carla speaking, how may I help you?" she teased.

"Cut the crap Carla. Are you really quitting?"

"Shhh! Jeez!" she glanced around. The other receptionists didn't seem to have heard. "How did you find out? Wait, don't tell me. Daisy." I raised an eyebrow. "How did she...oh never mind."

"Is it true?" I asked.

Carla glanced over her shoulder again before beckoning me to come around. She pulled the lever on her chair so that it lowered as low as it could go. I crouched next to her.

"Look," she whispered. "I didn't tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise. I was going to tell you and Kira on Tuesday. Drink 'n Dares night seemed like the place to do it. But don't tell Kira, it can still be a surprise for her."

"Not if Daisy keeps her yammering up." I muttered.

She looked at me appealingly. "Please Claire. Promise you won't tell her."

"...Oh fine." I grumbled. "But you have to tell me why."

This seemed to excite her. A grin stretched across her face until I thought it might split. "Remember that audition I went for?"

I crinkled my nose. "For the really crummy part with almost no airtime?"

"Mm-hmm. That's the one." She whispered. "Well I got the part!"