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Copyright © Imogene Nix 2014. All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Totally Bound Publishing.
Monday 9th
Dear Diary,
Some days are just not meant to work out right, are they? Of all the days for my alarm clock to fail…
We had a new client turn up today. M.A. She’s a seriously horsey-looking female, with a long face and solid teeth. This is her third divorce. Apparently Nathan came highly recommended to her—or so she says. Which is really odd, as he’s a criminal lawyer.
I had to meet Nathan at the courthouse and he wasn’t amused with my being late, but at least I’d packed up the case files on Friday, so they were ready to go.
At lunch I broke the heel on my favorite shoes. The gorgeous silver pair with metal stilettos. I got them caught in the grate outside the courthouse. Talk about bad luck, I mean, I’d been avoiding that grate for the last few months! Then this woman pushed past me and I stumbled. At least I always carry a spare pair in the car.
Nathan had to cancel our dinner, which topped off my day. Business comes first, I get that. I miss him.
S
Monday morning, Simone rose, having somehow managed to break the alarm clock the day before. It didn’t beep as it usually did. So there was nothing tugging her from the arms of Morpheus, except the buzz of her phone. It woke her from the pleasant dream she’d been lost in. The one where she’d been lying on the beach next to the man of her dreams. Only he didn’t look anything like Nathan. He had red hair!
She groped for her phone hoping to quell the mechanical buzzing of the alarm, which she’d wisely set to tell her she had ten minutes to be out of the door and on the way to work.
“Shit!” She scurried out of the bed, tearing off her pug print pajamas, hurried through her ablutions, thankful that her personality required having everything laid out the night before. Within twenty minutes she ran out of the door, hair scraped back in a bun and with immaculate makeup. Simone had scooped up her phone, purse and keys.
In the car, she quickly dialed Nathan—her boss and lover. “Hey, Nathan! You won’t believe this. The alarm didn’t go off this morning, so I’m running late.” An expletive met her comments and she winced.
“What? Simone, I can’t condone you being late. I explained that when we started.” It was an ongoing source of irritation that things others did purely by accident always seemed to end up being associated with their relationship and her taking advantage, somehow.
A deep blush burned her cheeks and her stomach tightened into a hard knot. “Yes, I know that. It wasn’t my fault. Honestly. The good news is, the case files are packed and on my desk.” Simone braked at the red light, waited while Nathan muttered loudly and as soon as it turned green, she moved the car forward. “If you grab the briefcase, I’ll meet you at the courthouse. That way neither of us will be late.” She knew she was pleading with him—surely he’d respect that she’d had everything ready?
“Fine.” He sighed heavily and she had to fight her own reaction to his comment.
“I’ll park and be on my way. I’m only about ten minutes away from the courthouse.”
“Right.” His curt answer angered her slightly, but she shoved aside the emotion. Instead she breathed deeply, letting her nostrils flare a little.
The multi-story car park was just ahead and she nipped in, finding the first available spot. At least it was easier, now that they had little green lights alerting her to the next vacant space. She noted the level, area and number, quickly typing the details into the memo section on her phone, and bag in hand, she moved quickly toward the exit sign.
Her feet tapped on the concrete as she hurried down the steps, long experience telling her she’d gain no extra time with the lift.
“Oh, man!” At a red walk sign, she checked the time on the phone and relaxed slightly. She still had time to make it before they had to be in place for their first meeting of the day.
When the lights clicked to walk, she scurried over the road in the direction of her destination. Within minutes the imposing courthouse rose in her vision. She hurried up the steps and there he was, waiting for her—scowling.
“Made it.” She beamed, hoping to make Nathan smile. Instead he frowned and turned away. It wasn’t the greeting she had hoped for and her stomach plunged.
Simone trailed behind him as they headed inside and over to the lift. People crowded and voices echoed. Refusing to catch Nathan’s eye, she fished in her bag and dragged out her diary. “So the nine o’clock is the Wilkerson case. Room three-two-two.”
The doors opened and once inside, Nathan punched the button without a word. No one else joined them and Simone leaned in his direction.
“Would you like to say good morning?”
Normally she would have expected him to bend down and accept her kiss. Not today. Instead, he turned away and she sighed. “Right then.” Her stomach roiled just a little at his reaction and a dull pulse began in her head.
As the doors opened they stepped out.
