“Of course.” I nod vigorously. “I won’t say anything.”
As she shuffles the file together, she pauses and glances at me. “Emerson should talk with you about Ashleigh. She’s the one who requested this file.”
My stomach bottoms out. “You’re going to tell my mom about this?”
My head swims, and I shut my eyes, my heart palpitating in my chest. I feel like I’m on the edge of a panic attack.
Ariella rests a hand on my shoulder. “Do you want me to give you a few minutes? I can grab you a glass of water, or there’s some orange juice in the office fridge if you prefer?”
“Orange juice sounds really good.”
Anything to make Ariella take longer.
“Just stay put, okay?” She takes the file with her and heads out of the filing room.
I force a smile. “Of course.”
So much for reading the rest of that dossier on Ashleigh Russo. I was hoping I might have even been able to make a copy of her picture.
It’s nearly lunch, and I’ve spent most of the morning filing, although Ariella insisted that I take a break, drink the entire orange juice, and sit at my desk and do more sorting.
While I appreciated her input, I ignored her suggestion, at least the bit about sitting at my desk.
I needed to get the filing done. I’d already sorted yesterday afternoon. I filed in the morning. That was my routine.
The front door swings open; there’s chatter in the front entrance. I can’t make out what’s being said, and I reach behind myself, shutting the file room door.
I prefer peace and quiet to eavesdropping around here.
I could use my earbuds, but I’m not in a very listening to music mood.
Right now, I’m enjoying the sanctity of silence.
I glance at my watch. In a bit, I’ll leave for lunch. I don’t have a specifically scheduled hour, it’s more like when I have time and can break, do it.
I want to get all the filing done, then have lunch, so I can sort after.
I’m all about routines.
While this job is boring as sin, at least it’s predictable.
There’s a knock behind me on the filing room door, and I glance over my shoulder as it opens. “Hey, Bristol.” Emerson smiles at me, but there’s something else I sense.
Ariella told her I was snooping.
“Let’s grab lunch together.”
“Can you give me ten minutes? I’m almost done.”
Mom nods. “Of course. I’ll be out here. Come find me when you’re ready.”
Twenty-five minutes later, I’m finally done, and I wander out of the filing room. Ariella and Em are chatting briskly until I stalk over. “Don’t stop on my account.” As long as they’re not talking about me, I’m happy.
“We’ll be back in a bit,” Emerson says to Ariella. Mom leads me outside, and I’m waiting to get scolded.
Just because she’s not technically my biological mother, the woman still can give a tongue-lashing as good as my dad.
She unlocks the Subaru, and I climb into the passenger seat.