Ally’s voice dropped an octave. “I don’t think she returned to her house after their fight.”
Mandy swallowed fearfully. “Do you think Justin did something to her?”
Ally shook her head slowly. “I just don’t see Justin capable of that, but it doesn’t make sense. Maybe she feared him and she fled. Maybe she ran away with the pack member. I truly don’t believe Justin was involved, but regardless, the situation is unpleasant.”
Unpleasant? Mandy found it downright frightening.
“I think I would run too if I crossed Justin. Wouldn’t you?” Ally asked gravely. Mandy nodded, but her stomach turned in knots as she thought of her meeting with Brad the night before. She was playing with fire, and this was a flashing red light for her to stop.
“Anyway,” Ally said cheerfully, “I’m sure you’ll never have to worry about that! You are so much smarter than Josie!”
Mandy smiled back weakly, and she resolved to be anything but cordial to Brad in the future. The remainder of the ride was spent in silence as Mandy mulled over what she head learned today.
Wednesday was a day of tension and awkwardness within the office. Ally was pleasant as usual, but Jen skittered around Mandy, while Meghan gave her the silent treatment. Mandy felt strange showing up to work in her new, expensive clothing. Today she was wearing a lightweight cream-colored dress that draped around her body tastefully. It had a simple neckline and the hem came just before her knees. Mandy had accented the outfit with gold sandals and a long, chain-linked gold necklace.
Mandy chuckled to herself as she thought back to Chrissy’s reaction when she had come home with a carload of clothes. At first, Mandy had considered hiding the clothes from Chrissy, but once she realized how much she and Ally were purchasing, she had known that would have been impossible. With a ridiculously small apartment, and less than ample closet space, Chrissy would have immediately noticed Mandy’s new wardrobe.
Mandy had stuck to the truth somewhat by explaining that her company had an impressive wardrobe stipend. Chrissy had eyed her warily, but Mandy shrugged it off. Mandy explained that her wardrobe had been in such dire straights, that she was advanced a year’s worth of her stipend. When Chrissy asked what would happen if Mandy left before a year, Mandy said she would have to pay the remainder back. Chrissy eyed the boxes and then laughed saying that Mandy had better stick around for at least a year then.
As Mandy settled herself into her desk, she glanced at Justin’s doors wondering when he would return from his morning off-site meeting. The morning ticked by slowly and Mandy yearned for the early days of her new job where she Meghan and Jen got along so well.
By lunchtime Mandy had had just about enough. Even Ally’s perky personality couldn’t carry the uncomfortable lunch conversation. Jen laughed way too loudly at anything she said and Meghan seemed to want to eat her lunch as fast as possible so that she could disappear.
“I’ve had it!” Mandy exclaimed, pushing her salad aside. The women eyed her nervously. “This is ridiculous! Why are you treating me so differently? I thought we worked this all out on Monday morning? What happened?”
Jen, looking even more embarrassed than she had on Monday morning, spoke. “It’s just — we’re not sure what we can and can’t say around you.”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “You can say anything you want! Just because I’m the stupid Property doesn’t mean you need to censor your thoughts! I’m not going to run to Justin and blab everything you tell me!”
“Well, that’s what the last assistant did and she was really close to becoming the Property,” Meghan spoke up. Mandy stopped, realization dawning on her. She looked at Ally for assistance.
“Oops. Forgot to mention that yesterday. We all kind of spoke in confidence and then she told Justin. Plus she couldn’t handle the whole orgy thing,” Ally looked sheepish at the lapse in her memory.
“Great,” Mandy said, frustrated. “Now none of you are going to trust me. I’m not one of those girls who runs and tells my boyfriend everything.” She looked embarrassed. “Not that Justin’s my boyfriend — I just meant — you know — I’m not like that!” she stuttered. Certainly, she and Justin were nothing like boyfriend and girlfriend. She knew next to nothing about him.
Finally, Jen seemed to be at ease for good, and even Meghan seemed to lighten up a bit. The rest of the lunch passed in easy conversation and Mandy felt relieved when she returned to her desk. Not five minutes later, Justin came striding down the hall. He went behind closed doors and didn’t emerge until five o’clock. He barely even looked at Mandy and she felt hurt. Here they were, supposedly starting some type of relationship, and Justin could hardly look at her, especially after a hard fuck the day before.