45 Modern - Chapter 15

I woke up Thursday morning with the kind of headache that only came from crying myself to sleep. I hadn't cried over a man in at least a year, but having to firmly set Derren in the friendzone had really set me off.

I knew it was a bad idea to get mixed up with him, but my heart was not in agreement with my head on this. Even after hearing that he wasn't planning to stick around after he solved this case of his, my heart was shouting to give him a chance, that the possibility of a future together was worth the risk of heartbreak.

So I made a peace offering to my heart of homemade cookies and chocolate milk, dressed in my most comfortable office clothes (stretchy, gray dress pants and a loose, blue top), and headed to work.

Even though I knew it wasn't going to be much different than any other work day, I suddenly felt very anxious. It had sounded like a good plan, last night, ensconced safely in Derren's living room. Now, facing the reality of actually having to spy on the employees around me and look for some sign that someone was engaged in criminal activities, I was scared.

How did one look for criminals? I was on edge all day, seeing criminal intent in everyone around me, even those I had known and been friends with for years.

By the time the work day finally ended, I had had four people ask if I was doing okay, including Mr. Crawford himself. I had also accidentally spilled my lunch because my hands were shaky with nerves as I tried to remember how to engage in casual conversation with my coworkers and somehow managed to cut myself with a staple remover.

Derren called as I was driving home and I couldn't keep my frustration from the day out of my voice as I picked up with a harsh, "What's up?"

"Sorry, is this a bad time? I can call later. I was just going to talk to you about dinner."

I sighed, trying to let some of my irritation out with my breath. "Now is fine. Sorry. It's been a long day."

"I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"

The sincerity and sympathy in his tone broke me open and I was soon pouring out my grievances.

"And I just feel stupid! Like, I should know how to talk to my coworkers. Nothing should really be any different except that I should maybe pay more attention to what they're saying, but I just lost my nerve, I guess. I felt so much unexpected pressure and I totally flopped."

Derren was silent for a moment before answering in a caution tone, "I have some good news."

"What is it?"

"You can try again tomorrow and today won't even matter."

"You sound like a freaking motivational poster."

"Sorry. Does my treating you to BBQ for dinner count as good news?"

"Only if it includes dessert," I answered, feeling a little better.

"Deal. I was thinking we could go out. Can I pick you up in 20 minutes?"

"Better give me 30. After the day I've had, I don't want to rush my shower."

He laughed. "Fair enough. I'll be by in 30. See you then."

"See you then. Thanks for listening."

"Anytime. Isn't that what friends are for?"

I smiled. "Yeah, I guess it is. Bye."

"Bye."

I pulled into the parking lot a minute later and hurried up to my apartment. In spite of saying I didn't want to rush my shower, I went faster than I had planned. The thought of Derren showing up before I was dressed made me too nervous to stand in the warm water and relax.

By the time he arrived, I was ready in jeans and a t-shirt, my still-wet hair pulled into a braid. My appearance screamed 'I don't care', which would hopefully help my heart remember that this was, in fact, NOT A DATE.

Having him take me to his car, open the passenger door for me, and help me in certainly didn't help. When we arrived at the restaurant, he grabbed my hand, pulling me along and not letting go until we were seated. It was a booth and he almost slid in next to me, but I put my purse on the seat and sat in the middle, leaving him no room.

The food was delicious. We chatted casually about all kinds of random things while we ate. I learned more about what got him interested in this company and about his college years.

Finally, over dessert (cheesecake), I asked him how his day had gone.

He sighed. "I don't know that I made any great progress. I did find out that there's a group from accounting who go out clubbing together Friday nights. I'm going to try and get invited, somehow. Or maybe just figure out where they go and casually bump into them."

I nodded. "That sounds like a good idea." I was going to say more, but I caught sight of two familiar faces. "Oh!"

"What?" Derren looked over at the table I was watching and his eyebrows furrowed. "That's Gavin."

"Right, I forgot his name."

"Do you know who he's with? He said he didn't have a girlfriend."

"That's Raquel. She manages the design team."

"So she's pretty high up?"

"Yeah. . ." I answered thoughtfully. "She attends most of the important meetings."

"Then someone from accounting and someone from the management team are having dinner together. . . at a low key restaurant a ways from the office."

"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" I asked.

"That that's pretty suspicious?"

"And that we should follow them," I added with an excited smile.

Derren looked at me with a frown. "Follow them?"

"How else will we figure out what they're up to?"

"But what if they see us and we tip our hand?"

"Oh come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. We'll follow them."