Killing time at my desk

Victoria's conference call will start soon. I could go use the time to run amok, but I'll have most of the day to do that without the fear of getting caught. I putz around on the computer for a while. Then I do the same on my phone. I shoot a text to Mindy.

Warren: Are you ready for the big day, tomorrow?!?!

I don't get an immediate reply. Now what? I flip through some apps, then I look at my photos. There are the pics I had taken of Victoria's office. I had forgotten about that. I flip through them quickly, zooming and panning at random... then I finally notice something I hadn’t before. In an otherwise boring photo of a blank wall and one side of the large window, I notice the curtain. It’s a beige-grey non-color that the mind generally chooses to ignore. They are floor-to-ceiling and nearly opaque. More importantly, there is a round white base, like a base of a floor lamp, just peeking out from under the curtain. I wonder what it is. That would be the dumbest place for a lamp I’ve heard of. My curiosity is building as I stare at that little crescent shape. Next chance I get, I’m pulling back that curtain.

Mindy: I sure hope so! Looking forward to it!

I smile. Just then, Victoria opens the door and leans out. “I’m starting the conference call, no disturbances.” I nod. The door closes again. I think she had a different shirt on, but I wasn’t paying attention. Did she only change her top? The conference callers wouldn’t know about her tight, sweaty yoga pants, or that under her shirt, she may have pulled the green zipper down most of the way to help cool her chest, with only a handful of teeth holding her sports bra in place...

I **** myself to stop thinking about Victoria’s clothing and look back at my phone.

Warren: Good! See you bright and early!

{if victoria_birthday = true}Just after sending the text, another arrives.

Unknown: I haven’t forgotten about our agreement.

Huh? I stare at it for a while. A cell glitch?

{if victoria_altergift = true}

Unknown: My daughter has a strange sense of humor regarding gift giving. I just tried calling her to thank her for it. She still isn’t answering.

Oh! Penelope! I add her contact information, including her home address from my navigation history. I look at Victoria’s closed door, her muffled voice leaking through now and then. It sounds like she is on a roll.

Warren: Good morning, Penelope. I’m looking at her right now. She is sitting in her office sipping an espresso and reading. Her phone might just be on silent mode. Try calling again right away to override it.

It’s a feature on my phone, maybe on Victoria’s, too. A moment later Victoria’s muffled voice halts as a ringing phone cuts through the meeting. It rings again. I can picture her staring at the phone, tangled for a moment between social pressures. A professional wouldn’t leave their ringer on during an important conference call.

Victoria starts talking again, though she lost the momentum she had built up. She must be so mad right now.

Penselope: I think she hung up on me that time. She insults her mother as a birthday joke, then hangs up on her? Do you know why she is behaving like this?

Who, me?
{else}

Unknown: Get her to talk to me again and I’ll help you.

Oh! Penelope! I add her contact information, including her home address from my navigation history.

{endif}

Warren: I am working on it. She fired {if tom_fired = true}two people{else}someone{endif} yesterday. I’m highly motivated to work with you.

No lie there.

Penelope: Be quick about it. I’m liable to die of thrombosis if I wait around all day.

{endif}