“It’s my discipline that’s helped my climb so far, so fast,” I said, still trying to market myself in order to land this contract. “Be sure to explain to Mr. Hatanaka that he worked with this company before I was at the helm of it. That was the only reason he was unhappy with the partnership. It’s going to be different this time.”
“I shall tell him.”
“And the meeting?”
“I will confirm with your receptionist in two days’ time.”
“Excellent,” I nodded. “Thank you, Natsuo.”
“Of course, Mr. Middleton,” he said. “And if all goes well, it will be a pleasure to meet you finally—after so many phone conversations.”
“Well then, we’ll have to make sure all goes well, won’t we?”
He laughed, sensing my hint. “I shall do my best,” he said. “Good day to you, Mr. Middleton.”
I hung up and leaned back in my swivel chair. It had been a long day, and my back was aching, but I still had a meeting to attend to across town, and it would take me at least a half hour to get there. I poured myself a glass of water and sipped it slowly as I checked the time. It was already six o’clock, and the sun was sending violent rays of orange and red streaking across the sky. Some days, the view was my only solace.
I was just about to get out of my seat when I heard a knock at the door. “Come in,” I called, wondering if I should change my shirt before I headed to the meeting.
Kristen entered with an apologetic look on her face. When I had first hired the girl three months ago, she had struck me as too timid for the job. I had expected her to quit after the first week, but oddly enough, she had managed to fit in really well. She was well organized, efficient, and quick on her feet. She handled my brusque moods and complicated instructions without complaint and never forced me to repeat myself.
She had been my third receptionist in two months, and I was thankful that she had stayed, if for no other reason than to spare me the irritation of interviewing yet another candidate for the job. My friends and colleagues, however, assumed I was happy for another reason. But as I had assured them all repeatedly, Kristen’s looks had nothing to do with it.
Yes, she was tall, slim, and pretty, but there was also something about her that unsettled me. I could never quite put my finger on it. Her long hair was a rich summery auburn that brought out the gold in her hazel-brown eyes. Her smile was almost shy when it appeared at all, and I had noticed a few weeks ago that she had a dimple in her right cheek, but not in her left. They were odd observations, and I didn’t trouble myself to analyze them too deeply. I just needed her to get the work done and get it done well.
Still, every now and again, I found myself wondering what exactly it was that I found so unsettling about Kristen. It nagged at the back of my mind, but I never allowed myself enough time to dwell on it long enough to actually figure out what it was.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, sir,” she said.
She was wearing a dark pencil skirt, a white collared shirt with roll-up arm cuffs, and black heels that were exceptionally sensible. She had tied up her hair into a knot at the back of her head so I could see the heart shape of her face. Again, I felt that familiar little nagging that told me I was missing something obvious, but I pushed it aside and gestured her to come in.
“You’re not disturbing me,” I said. “I just finished my call. What’s the problem?”
“Uh…your babysitter is on line two,” she told me. “She asked to speak to you.”
Slightly annoyed, I nodded. “Thank you, Kristen,” I said. “I’ll speak to her now.”
Kristen backed out of the office immediately and closed the door behind her. I picked up the phone and accepted the call on line two.
“Janet?”
“Hi, Mr. Middleton,” Janet’s nasal voice spoke from the other line. “I was just calling to ask if you were on your way?”
I frowned. “On my way where?”
“Home, of course.”
I checked my watch again. “It’s six o’clock.”
“Um…six-twenty now, actually,” she replied.
“I won’t be home for another couple of hours, Janet,” I said.
There was a split second of silence from the other line. “Mr. Middleton, I spoke to you about this last Friday,” she said. “I told you that I would need to leave early today. I told you I would need to leave by seven at the latest.”
“Fuck,” I said before I could stop myself.
“Excuse—”