Being Me(Inside Out 02)(33)

pain he’s experiencing is driving him. Will that pain, together
with all the rest he has inside, drive him to the brink of disaster?
We end our call a few minutes later, and I lie back on the
floor and stare at the tiny white stars painted on the ceiling, but I see the painting of me, and I hear Chris’s claim it is symbolic of trust. He asked me if it scared me. Could it be that this powerful, confident, talented man is scared himself ? And if so, of what?
Morning, and my a.m. starting time at the gallery comes way too early despite my love for my new job, considering a second night of no sleep. Fortunately, Mark isn’t in early, and my several stops by the coffeepot come without encounters.
By ten o’clock I’m jittery and on cup number three but the heaviness in my limbs persists. The “Master” has yet to show up to work. I’m reviewing information on Alvarez to prepare for the evening meeting when an e-mail from Mark hits my box, proving he’s not sleeping late after all. Or he just got up, one or the other. It’s short and sweet. I snort, Mark is anything but
“sweet.”
He’s sent me a cheat sheet of topics and answers to wade successfully through small talk related to wine, opera, and classical music and allow me to impress clientele. The information
is actually quite good and I wonder why he didn’t give me
this instead of insisting I had to learn these extensive topics in record-breaking time.
In contemplating this answer, the journal entry I’d slipped
and read before locking them away in the safe comes to mind.
I wonder what it would feel like to wake up feeling that passionate about life again, instead of just wondering what the new game will be. I don’t want any part of his games and I hope this switch in Mark’s approach to my work indicates I’ve established this with him.
By ten thirty, I’ve done a light review of the information from Mark and tried calling Ella three more times but I only get the fast busy signal. I take it a step further and call David’s office again, frustrated when my needling the operator for information is unsuccessful. On top of that, I haven’t talked to Chris. I have no idea why this bothers me. It’s not like he has to call me when he starts his day and again I think maybe he hopes I’ll call him.
Or maybe he’d think I’m overbearing. I’m a mess when Mary stops by my door, looking as pale as her blond hair and my white suit-dress, but no less hostile as her gaze falls on me.
“You’re not coming to the event tonight?”
“I have an off-site meeting.”
“And I have the flu. What if I can’t stay?”
Mary has snubbed me up to this point but she’s never been hostile, and my brow furrows. “It’s with Ricco Alvarez about a large sale. I’d reschedule if I could, but I’m not sure he’ll agree. If you’re still sick and want me to try, I can.”
“Ricco Alvarez,” she repeats, and her lips thin. “Of course it is.” She walks away.
I frown. What the heck?
Ralph walks into my office and puts a packet of papers on my desk. “An inventory listing with the price lists I create monthly.” He lowers his voice, saying, “Steer clear of Mary when she’s sick. She’s been known to rip heads off and leave you bleeding.”
“Thanks for the warning, but it’s a little too late,” I hiss softly.
“Better late than never.”
“Not in this case, and why did she act funny about me seeing Alvarez?”
“She’s ambitious and competitive and he wouldn’t give her the time of the day before Rebecca or after.”
“Why?”
“Her personality just doesn’t jibe with certain people.”
“But everyone says Alvarez is difficult.”
“I guess that’s why Bossman hires charmers like Rebecca and yourself. To get past the difficult to the payday. He knows Mary is a personality time bomb.”
“Then why keep her?”
He glances over his shoulder and then back at me. “She was close to being fired after a blowup with Rebecca but she did some kick-butt scouting and found a couple of unpriced pieces
Bossman snatched up for the next Riptide auction. She earned a safety pass.”
“Wait. She’s working with Riptide?”
“Oh no. Remember, I said she’s a personality time bomb.
She was told to hand over all the management of the pieces to Rebecca.”
Amanda appears in the doorway. “The Riptide accountant is on the line for you.”
Ralph pops to his feet and gives me an apologetic look. I watch him leave and my thoughts are going to bad places. How much did Mary hate Rebecca? How certain was she that getting rid of her would lead her to her career goals? I don’t want to think about what that might mean for me.