Stone Cold

Chapter 2

I drove to Seattle, my knuckles paper white against the steering wheel. I really hated driving in cities, but Seattle seemed worst of all. The stop-and-go traffic tried my patience. I relied on my GPS everywhere I went because if I got lost, I'd cry out of frustration. That's why I usually took the bus. It took a little longer, but at least I didn't have to navigate. When I finally made it to my old office building, I parallel-parked the best I could. My fingers slowly released themselves from the steering wheel and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I stepped out onto the sidewalk.

"Well, well, well—look who decided to come back."

I put on my best fake smile and turned to look up at the bastard's beautiful face, who walked towards me from across the street. "Don." My voice came out more polite than I would have guessed and I mentally patted myself on the back for this bit of maturity towards my former boss. His presence made my skin crawl and I didn't want an altercation. I just wanted my stuff. He had made my life a living hell for years and I wouldn't let him do it anymore. I entered the office building, but didn't hold the door open for him. There were multiple businesses in one giant space, but with my luck, I would have to ride the elevator with this idiot for fourteen floors. Maybe it would be better to take the stairs? I decided against it. He'd know I was trying to avoid him and I didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

I could feel him several paces behind me. His voice once again assaulted my ears. "If you're asking for your job back, I've already found other secretaries who are a thousand times better than you."

"I'm just here for my things," I replied, not hooking on to his bait. If it wasn't for important numbers and connections I had hidden in my desk, I would have told him he could burn everything. Unfortunately, those numbers were vital to getting my own business up and running. "Do they know they're going to be secretaries, or did you promise them their own office like you did with me?"

Don laughed. "I didn't promise you shit. Men are better at grunt and field work; women are better at organizing and planning. I simply let you do what your gender does best."

The elevator dinged open and I bit back a retort. I couldn't let him see me fume. "That might have been the most sexist compliment I've ever received."

He remained quiet as the doors closed and the elevator started its ascent. His overbearing cologne filled the tiny space and I took shallow breaths to avoid choking. The elevator finally made it to our floor, and I practically burst out of the confined space and away from him. Thankfully, my desk was front and center so I could easily grab my things and go. But when I opened the first drawer, I realized with dread that it had been cleaned out.

When I started going out on cases with Peter, Don had threatened to fire us, but because he couldn't afford to lose us both he never stuck to his threats. But now that I had gone, it looked like he'd erased me from the business.

"Out with the old, I say," Don practically sang at the sight of my disappointment. "I threw your shit out on the street when you called to tell me you quit. Don't need that negative energy in my office. So if you would be so kind as to get the fuck out...." He smiled at me, his eyes full of rage and pleasure at the same time, before slamming his office door.

"Missy," whispered Peter from behind me. I turned around to give his thin form a hug, and to hide my angry tears. "Come here, baby, I have something for you."

We went into his pristine office filled with soft, earthly colors and I instantly felt relaxed. The colors had been chosen to help calm the clients down if they were having a rough time of things, and it seemed to work on me, too. I stood at the corner of Peter's desk, raking his little Japanese sandbox, while he rummaged through his drawers.