5. Playing Dirty II

ARDEN

All the color drained from his face. "You wouldn't."

"Try me."

We stared at each other for a long moment. I could see him calculating, trying to figure out if I was bluffing.

I wasn't.

"What do you want?" he finally asked.

"I want you to stay away from me," I said. "No more assigning my projects to Rita. No more making me work overtime while she leaves early. No more touching me, asking me out, or making any kind of inappropriate comments. You'll treat me like any other employee. Actually, better. Because if you don't, this recording goes to everyone."

His jaw clenched. "Fine."

"And one more thing," I added. "You're going to recommend me for the senior marketing position that's opening up next month."

"What? That position isn't even posted yet…"

"I know. But it will be. And when it is, you're going to put my name forward with a glowing recommendation."

He looked like he wanted to murder me. But he nodded.

"Good," I said, turning toward the door. "I'm glad we could reach an understanding."

I walked out of his office with my head high, my phone clutched tight in my hand.

***

The rest of the day passed happily. My coworkers kept congratulating me on landing the Windsor account. A few people asked if I wanted to celebrate after work, but I turned them down and agreed to go the next day. I needed to go home and process everything that had happened.

I was packing up my desk when my phone buzzed.

Lucas: Hey babe! I'm outside. Ready to go?

I'd forgotten he was picking me up today. In my past life, this had been one of our "routine" things. He'd pick me up from work twice a week to "take care of me" because I was working so hard.

What a joke…

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. Lucas was waiting outside in his beat-up Honda Civic, leaning against the car with a bouquet of cheap flowers in his hand.

"There's my girl," he said when he saw me, that charming smile spreading across his face.

He pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead. I had to force myself not to pull away. This was the man who poisoned me and watched me die. This bastard stole my mother's money without a second thought.

"How was work?" he asked, handing me the flowers.

"Interesting," I said.

"Good interesting or bad interesting?"

"Good. I landed a big client today."

His smile got wider. "That's my girl! I knew you could do it." He opened the car door for me. "Let's celebrate. How about dinner at…"

"Lucas!"

We both turned. Rita was walking out of the building, her purse slung over her shoulder and her blonde hair catching the late afternoon sun.

"Rita!" Lucas's whole face lit up. "Hey! I didn't know you were still here."

"Just finishing up some work," she said, but she wasn't looking at Lucas. She was looking at me with her puppy dog eyes filled with spite!

Then she turned to Lucas and her whole demeanor changed. Her shoulders drooped slightly and her voice got softer and more helpless.

"My car won't start," she said, biting her lip. "I think the battery died again. I called a tow truck but they said it'll be at least an hour."

Lucas immediately went into protective mode. "An hour? That's ridiculous. You can't wait out here alone for that long."

"It's fine," Rita said, but her voice wavered like she was about to cry. "I'll just... I'll wait in the lobby or something."

"No way," Lucas said firmly. "We'll give you a ride home."

I felt my jaw clench. This was so typical. Rita playing the helpless damsel and Lucas rushing to save her.

"Are you sure?" Rita asked, looking between us. "I don't want to intrude on your date night or anything..."

"It's not a date night," Lucas said. "And of course we're sure. Right, Arden?"

Both of them looked at me. Rita's eyes were challenging me to say no and be the bad guy.

"Of course," I said with a fake smile. "Get in."

Rita climbed into the backseat and I got in front. As Lucas started the car, I watched them in the rearview mirror.

Rita was leaning forward, her hand resting on the back of Lucas's seat. She was close enough to touch him.

"Thanks so much for this, Lucas," she said softly. "You're always so kind to me."

"No problem," Lucas said, and I saw his eyes flick to the rearview mirror to look at her. It was just for a second, but I caught it.

"I don't know what I'd do without you two," Rita continued. "Especially you, Lucas. You always know how to make me feel safe."

I wanted to throw up.

Lucas's ears turned slightly red. "Well, that's what family's for, right?"

"Right," Rita said, but her fingers brushed against his shoulder. Just a light touch, like an accident.

But it wasn't an accident. Nothing with Rita was an accident.

I watched them in the mirror. The way she leaned closer when she talked to him. The way he kept glancing back at her and smiled at each other when they thought I wasn't looking.

They were already falling for each other. Maybe not in love yet, but the seeds were there. The attraction and chemistry already blossoming to make them the Bonny and Clyde to my apple juice murder.

Hahahahaaaaa

In my past life, I'd been completely blind to it. I thought Rita was just being friendly and Lucas was just being nice to my sister.

I was such an idiot.

"Oh!" Rita suddenly exclaimed. "I almost forgot to tell you, Arden. Did you see the place picked for your celebration tomorrow night? I think you should also come, Lucas!"

"Tomorrow night?" Lucas said. "I thought we had plans, babe?"

We did. Dinner with his parents. Another painful evening of his mother criticizing everything I did and his father ignoring me completely.

"We can reschedule," I said. "This sounds more fun."

Lucas looked surprised. "Really? But my mom's been planning…"

"I'll call her and explain," I said. "Work celebration is important."

Rita clapped her hands together. "Perfect! It's at the Emerald Hotel restaurant by seven pm. It'll be so fun having you both there!"

The Emerald Hotel. Why did that sound familiar?

"Sounds great," Lucas said, pulling up to Rita's apartment building. "See you tomorrow, Rita."

"See you tomorrow," Rita said sweetly. She squeezed his shoulder as she got out of the car. "Thanks again for the ride."

As we drove away, I watched her in the side mirror. She was standing on the sidewalk, watching our car di sappear.

And she was smiling.

Tomorrow night at the Emerald Hotel. Something was going to happen. I could feel it in my bones.