Page 171 of By A Thread

“Shall we all get back to our day?” Dalessandra asked with a smile.

56

Everyone

Gola: Girl, why am I Dominic Russo’s new acting assistant? Did you spell something out in his breakfast burrito?

Ruth: The entire office is whispering right now! Most popular rumors: Ally punched Dominic in the face. Dominic told his mother that it was him or you, she chose you, and now he’s packing.

Gola: Can confirm that Boss Man is NOT packing. Repeat. Not packing. Also, he knows my name.

Ruth: Video footage from the admin pool shows Malina sharpening her claws in anticipation of a new hunt.

Gola: I’m concerned. There hasn’t been an Ally sighting on this floor since she left Dalessandra’s office.

Ruth: You don’t think she’s dead in a ditch somewhere, do you? Did Malina finally snap?

Gola: ALLY, WHERE ARE YOU? DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE?

Ruth: I’ll check the stairwells.

Gola: I’ll check my old stomping grounds… AKA the 42nd floor.

Ruth: Ally sighting report! Sources confirm she just took a desk in the graphics department!

Gola: Is she happy? Crying? Does she look like she’s being held against her will?

Ruth: Stand by for confirmation…

Ally: You guys! I lost my phone in my meager box of possessions that I’ve packed and unpacked four times since I started here. Everything is fine. I’ve been reassigned because…*going through a tunnel*

Gola: ?

Ruth: Don’t you do the fade away thing on us! We will hunt you down in Graphics and make you spill everything!

Ally: Hehe. I was just messing with you. Ladies, I’d like you two to be the first to know that Dominic Russo and I are…

Gola: Going to jail?

Ruth: Being fired for embezzlement?

Gola: Donating your paychecks to a worthy cause?

Ruth: Moving to Kentucky to start a bourbon distillery?

Ally: Dating.

Ally: OMG! Ruth, was that you screaming?

Ruth: Oops. You heard that? I got your text in the stairwell. It was more of a squeal.

Gola: Dominic just came out and asked me if I was okay because I choked on my green juice when I read your text. He almost tried to clear my airway. Then he told me I should probably start calling him Dominic.

Ruth: Now we really need to go for drinks tonight.

Gola: Drinks after dance? Count me in.

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