She dialed Mary and walked into Tiffany’s.
“What’s up? I’m on a big Zoom meeting,” Mary whispered.
“Can you step out? I need you.” Dot saw Ryan enter the elevator at the back of the store. She tried to hide behind a pillar until the doors closed.
Mary shot a note to her managing partner and said she’d be right back on the call. She picked the phone back up. “Okay, I’m here. What’s up?”
“I’m at Tiffany’s. Ryan is also here.”
“Oh! My goodness, Dot. This is so exciting!”
“No, it’s not. It’s not what you think! We aren’t here together. I happened to see him walk in. Now I’m following him to see where he’s going.”
“So do you think he’s...”
“Yes, I think he’s going to get it. Mary, what am I going to do?”
“Wait. Dot. Youdon’twant to marry Ryan?”
“Mary, I don’t even think I want todateRyan.”
“Oh. Well. This feels very new. When were you going to clue me in?”
“Ugh, don’t give me a hard time right now. My head’s a mess. This is a huge problem.”
“Okay. Okay. Did you see what floor he went to?”
“I’m checking. Hang on.” Dot moved through the iconic showroom and checked the directory by the elevators. She mouthed to the woman working the elevator. “Third floor, please.”
“Still with me?” Dot asked.
“Yes, where are you now?”
The doors opened onto the third floor. Fifteen feet from her was Ryan, his back to her, looking down into the glass display counter.
“Oh Lord!” Dot ducked behind the elevator operator, praying her boyfriend didn’t see her.
“May I help you, miss?” a smartly dressed Tiffany staff member asked her.
“No thank you,” she whispered loud enough for him to hear but not enough to get Ryan’s attention.
“Mary, he’s looking at rings!”
“Can you get out of there before he sees you?”
Dot scooted backward to return to the elevator bank. The elevator lady who had just brought her up tilted her head in confusion. “Shall I take you back down to the ground floor, miss?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Dot dived into the waiting car and pressed herself against the side wall. She was trying to keep it together. Into the phone she said, “Mary, I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t forget a single detail. I can’twaitto hear this story.”
When the elevator doors closed, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
In just one morning, both her career and her personal life had taken major turns.
And at that moment, she truly didn’t know which way to go.
Chapter 9