When you break girl code, p.6
When You Break Girl Code, page 6
“Are you okay?” He frowns. “You don’t look so good.”
“I had a migraine earlier but shook it off.”
His gaze narrows on my face. “Glad you’re feeling better. Are my alliterated ones ready for this afternoon?”
I grab a coffee pod and put it in the machine. “We are.”
He stares at me like he’s not buying it. “You sure? When I checked this morning, there were chunks of the presentation missing.”
“You should check now. All the pieces are complete. As always, we will hold up our end. Make sure you guys have your part ready.”
“Worry not, tigress. We got this.”
We share a laugh.
“Just making sure because, trust me, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of His critique.” He means our boss. He’s been on the receiving end of Grayson’s criticism when his team had a communication breakdown and failed to deliver. Greg’s been obsessed with perfection ever since.
No one wants to be in that position. That’s why I take his advice to heart.
“You know, Mila. You’re so good at this. You’re a great coworker and you got your priorities straight. You’re definitely going to get the promotion. Can’t wait to see you as the next Chief Marketing Officer.”
I’m stunned by his words, but I don’t dwell on them. I can’t. Little does he know I was already chosen, but I can’t say anything. I haven’t even thought about that today.
“Thank you for always being so supportive,” I say, flicking a cat hair from his jacket. I shoot him a smile, grab my coffee and head back to my office.
Five minutes before the presentation and still no Maddie. I put on my blazer and make my way to the conference room with in my brief in hand.
I’m prepared to present. I just wanted to be on the same page with her before we made another move. I guess that’s not going to happen.
6
Alis
The morning from hell keeps on giving. My father held me in a meeting for two hours. Thankfully, I could spit out the answers to all his questions from my report. Madison is not answering my calls or texts. Mila must have already told her. She was so wracked with guilt that I can picture her calling her the minute I left.
Mila Mila Mila.
The name has been in my thoughts all day. The last thing I should think about is her. I had her. It was better than I could ever have hoped but, from the way she looked at me today, I don’t think there’s a way I’ll get another chance like to be that close to her again.
My brain can’t accept there won’t be a repeat of everything that happened last night.
Accept it, though. You already fucked up way too much.
I dial Madison again and get her voicemail.
“Look, I get it. You’re pissed. I didn’t want to break up over text, but you keep disappearing or changing the topic on me. Someone had to call it so we don’t waste each other’s time. But we owe it to ourselves to talk about it in person. Name the time and place.”
I hang up just as a call comes through, but it’s not Maddie, it’s my Aunt Leila.
“Hi,” I say.
“What’s wrong?” She would figure it out from one word.
“Nothing.”
“Everything,” she insists. “I didn’t get a hello, my love, from you, and that’s not right.”
If there’s one person I can be honest with it’s her. “I’m having a rough morning, beautiful.”
“Hmmm. I know it’s not work because you have that company in your pocket. If only your father did the right thing and retired, you would be King Alis. So, the issue’s Madison. Again. What’s the problem this time?”
“It wasn’t working. I finally saw what you’ve been saying. I finally messaged her last night and told her I’m done.”
She’s silent, which is unlike her, but I don’t press.
“It’s about time you figured it out,” she finally says.
“I knew you would say that.”
“It’s the truth. You’ve been trying to show her you’re not a player anymore, but it shouldn’t be that hard. That girl has other priorities.”
“She was right all along about me, Leila.”
“It’s been a year, my boy. Your brother got engaged and married…” Her pause brings it home for me.
I sigh. “You don’t think she’s over Weston either?”
“I think she has an idealistic view of him, but they only went out a couple of times. I don’t know what’s going on with her, but it shouldn’t matter at this point. It’s too early for you to be trying to fix things between the two of you. You should be barely making it out of bed. Are you two even having sex?”
“Leila.” I hate how right she is.
“What? Sex is natural, healthy, and good for the soul. Makes your skin glow and all that.” She laughs.
“I’m not talking about that with you.” Because she’s too close to the truth. And because my soul had been singing at the top of its lungs last night. I needed that. “Anyway, I broke up with her and fucked up.”
“How did you fuck up?”
I rub a hand over my face. “You don’t want to know, but it’s bad.”
“Talk to her. Make sure you stay on good terms. Our families are close.”
It’s everything I’ve been telling myself. “I’m trying. She’s not returning my calls. I will get to her, eventually.”
“Good. So, who is this other woman you fucked up with?” Her voice is a little too intrigued.
“Bye, Leila.”
She laughs. “I hope it was good. But seriously, I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I thought the two of you would have a great chance once she realized she wasn’t compatible with Weston. She just has crazy ideas about him being a saint, like most of the girls in our town. It’s the doctor thing. Good luck with the new girl.”
“Stop. By the way, your brother wants you here for the next board meeting.”
She sighs. “I’ll book a flight, but only because I want to see my boys.”
That’s what Weston and I are to her. She’s the mom in our hearts because God knows my mother is something else.
“I love you.”
We hang up. Leila’s in Spain, and she could see from Europe it wasn’t working out with Madison. I still feel lower than dirt that it went down like it did last night. But I don’t regret it.
I just need her to call me back so we can put a bow on this and move on.
My thoughts drift to Mila. I can call her office and ask if Maddie called her. Maybe that’s why Maddie is not responding to me. She’ll see it as a douche move.
Instead I call Grayson Global and ask for Madison, but am told she is not in.
I give up for the moment. By the time I leave the office, I’m tired because I slept very little. I fucked my fill out of Mila, knowing it would be a one-night thing, wishing things were different, not wanting to leave anything behind.
A friend hits me up to go out for a drink, but I say no and head straight home. I spend some time in my home gym, trying to exhaust the little energy in my body. I check my phone between reps and nothing. I shower after, grab dinner, and go to bed.
My TV is on but I’m not paying much attention because my head is mostly in my memories. And it’s all about last night.
I re-live every moment like a hypnotic trance — from the time Mila walked into the restaurant, with that radiant smile and glossy lips. She was so open, the conversation so natural, sometimes I think I imagined the pull between us. The Dominican from Jersey who shows people how to treat her right. Everything about her was overwhelming, her brain, her sass, that body.
By the time I bent her over her couch, I was already mind-fucked by her. I’ve never been an ass man before. Tits and legs are my thing, but Jesus, I’m a convert now.
And before I know it, my cock is in my hand and I’m stroking, picturing her mouth around it with the water from the shower dripping down her face.
Why did I look at her? It would’ve been better if I hadn’t. If I had let it be a faceless blowjob, but how could I not? Everything about her is etched in my memory. I can see her arching her head for my mouth or grabbing my face and kissing me while her legs opened wider for me to go deeper.
This is not good.
I fucked the woman all night, and it hasn’t been a full day and I’m jacking off to the memory.
But I stroke and picture her tits swinging over my face. All the times I caught one in my mouth while she rode my dick hard.
I come so hard it rattles my body and there’s so much cum in my hands it shocks me. How the fuck is this possible?
If I’m already beating off to her, did I really get my fill? I really need to have my talk with Madison and figure out how to see Mila again. Or I could just wait. Yeah, I’ll just wait and see. It’s my last thought before I fall asleep.
Mila
Something's really wrong.
Madison never showed up for our presentation yesterday. She didn’t return any of my texts. She was AWOL all day. I was seething, thinking she was letting me hang professionally because of what happened with…
Nope, not thinking about him.
This morning our supervisor calls and asks me if I’ve heard from her. Since I don’t think she’d completely blow off work just because she’s pissed at me, I find her sister’s number and call her.
“Hi, Mila, thank you for your call. Maddie’s probably taking some time off. She’s been whining that she needs a vacation but didn’t want to come with me to Cabo. She does this kind of shit when she’s annoyed or tired.”
“Okay… But she would have never missed yesterday’s presentation.”
“Oh.” Pregnant pause. “Look, I got an appointment, but I’ll call her after and tell her to call you.”
Elias comes by an hour later. He looks at me but says nothing, but it’s like he expects me to provide whatever it is he’s seeking without having to ask.
He tilts his head toward Maddie’s desk. “Do you know where she is?”
I shake my head but don’t elaborate.
He doesn’t move.
“When was the last time you talked to her?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer me, just stands there like he wants to but doesn’t dare. Does he think I don’t know they’ve been hooking up for a while now? Everyone here knows.
He finally says, “I’ve been trying to get a hold of her.”
I’m tired of the bullshit so I’m not playing coy. “Well, last I heard she had a meeting with you.”
He shifts his gaze to the door and then back to me. His face goes red and there’s now an odd look in his eyes that I can’t decipher. The heavy feeling in my gut is instant. He takes a few steps forward, but he stops short of my desk and leans in. “You need to be careful about what you’re insinuating. Careers are on the line.”
I scoff. “I’m Maddie’s friend. She tells me everything.”
He smiles, mockingly, like he knows something I don’t. “Sure. Tell her to call me when she comes back.”
Like I’m his fucking secretary. “If I talk to her, I’ll let her know. If you talk to her first, please tell her to call me.”
He doesn’t even acknowledge my words, leaving me more confused than anything.
I don’t hear from her by nighttime when I leave work. My head is killing me, so I take a melatonin gummy and go to bed. I wake up in the middle of the night, sweaty, and panting. I had vivid dreams. My face was against my couch, but I wasn’t feeling claustrophobic or panicking. I was moaning and begging Alis to go deeper.
I don’t close my eyes after that because I don’t want to dream about it. I head to work early and there’s still no sign she’s been there. Our common files are untouched. I don’t want to keep texting her or annoy her family by calling again, so I log into my terminal and go over what we have coming. Now that we got the okay to move on, there are a million pieces to tie up. I begin to set up our campaign grid and files. It’s time consuming, and by the time I look up it’s ten in the morning.
And my heart drops. Now I know something’s wrong.
I close my computer, jump to my feet, and head to human resources. They try to brush me off, but I insist on talking to someone about Maddie. Our assigned rep tells me we needed to wait until the family files a police report, that she is probably just taking time away.
I don’t want to sit on my hands and do nothing. I call the Chevy Chase Village Police myself. She’s been missing for too long and someone needs to do something about it.
“When was the last time you saw Ms. Summerville?” an officer asks.
“Two days ago, at work.”
“What makes you think something’s wrong, and she’s not just taking some time off?”
Is time off everyone’s go-to answer?
“This is not like her when it comes to work. I spoke to her sister, and she doesn’t know where Maddie is. I don’t think they realize the gravity.”
“And what’s the gravity, Ms…”
“Rosario. I’m Milagros Rosario.”
“And what is your relationship with Ms. Summerville?” he asks.
“I’m her friend and coworker.”
“Do you have any reason to believe Ms. Summerville could be hurt?” He’s popping his gum in my ear and it’s annoying me like his questions.
I shake my head like he can see me. “I just know this doesn’t feel right. Can you just please do a welfare check?”
As I say the word welfare, it hits me why this feels so weird and why I’m all knots. I’m worried she may be hurt at her place. It’s my uncle Felipe all over again. I was too busy here at work. Mami had long days at the hospital. Neither of us realized how much time had passed since we heard from him.
“Okay, Ms. Rosario. We will do that. Please give me her address and a contact number for you.”
I give him the address to Maddie’s place and my contact information.
“You live in Baltimore?” He sounds like it’s the weirdest thing he heard.
“Yes.”
“But the missing woman lives in Chevy Chase?”
WTF does this have to do with anything? I don’t get angry and yell because I’m sure this man already thinks I’m neurotic or even crazy. They won’t look for my friend if I prove him right.
I turn on the charm instead. “Yes, she does, but she works here in Baltimore. She’s a responsible employee who would never disappear from work without calling. I know I may be wrong, but I’m just so worried about my friend. Can you please check?”
“Sure, ma’am. We will try to reach Ms. Summerville at her residence and will contact you with our findings.”
I hang up and go back to work, but my mind is not on it. Has Alis heard from her? Maybe I should contact him and see if he has.
I don’t have his number but could find it by googling his company.
My fingers freeze halfway to the keyboard. Nope.
God, I need a distraction.
It comes in the most unexpected way when I get the proof photos and the models are all wrong for the campaign. I walk to the graphics department. Jerrod, my usual graphic designer, the one who gets all my concepts, is not there. I have to deal with his substitute. And God knows I hate working with this guy.
He questions every fucking thing, never understands a pun, and if you so much as look at him sternly, he calls his supervisor. Unfortunately, I haven’t taken over as his boss yet, so I have to suck it up and tap into my patient side.
After an hour of explaining that we didn’t want brushed up stock models and clarifying our concept to the designer, I return to my office. I have little faith in Tim, but thankfully, Jerrod will be back tomorrow.
I shoot him a text just to make sure and head upstairs.
When I get to the office, I find our HR representative waiting for me. Her face is unusually serious. She signals to the office I share with Maddie and closes the door behind us.
“Madison’s family called. They reported her missing.”
The air goes straight out of me. “Missing?”
“Yes, it seems you were right. Nobody’s heard from her in two days and her phone goes straight to voicemail.”
“Oh God. I was hoping she was just somewhere mad or with a friend, but she’s actually missing.”
She nods. “You did a good thing alerting us.”
I shake my head. “It accomplished nothing. No one has heard from her.”
“Well, hon. Now everyone’s looking for her. You hang tight. They’ll find her.”
But there’s a feeling deep in my chest that cuts off my breath. I hope I’m worrying about nothing. Except something tells me this will not end well.
7
Alis
I’m throwing the shirt over my head when my alarm system pings. Weston called thirty minutes ago and told me he was on his way. That’s not enough time to get here from Baltimore, which means he must have been nearby when he called.
I leave my bedroom and meet him halfway to the living room.
I’m not shocked to see him inside. He and Aunt Leila have keys to my house. The part that stops me dead in my tracks is the lack of color on his face.
“Good, you’re here still. I was afraid you had gone to the office.”
I frown. “You told me to wait.”
He nods and swallows thickly.
Dread creeps up my spine. “What’s wrong?”
He breathes, and just like that, he schools his feature and his body.
“Let’s go sit.”
He’s got the doctor's face, which means he’s about to give me bad news. Someone’s dead.
“Is it Mom or Dad?” Even as I hear myself ask the question, I know it’s dumb. I would know before he does because I still live in the same area as our parents. Then my stomach turns and I’m rooted in place. No. “Something’s happened to Leila.”
He shakes his head and turns toward the family room.
“Just fucking talk, Weston.”
“Dahlia came with me. She and Matt are on the way to the Summerville home.”
I snort. “What the fuck for?”
“They have news about Maddie. Al, they found her.”
