Page 9

PIPER

I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, courtesy of my best friend, as I swayed heavily from the wine lingering in my system. Note to self: Do not drink all the wine in New York City in one night. It always turned out bad.

“What are you doing?” Jeanie asked. “Shouldn’t you be hanging over a toilet right now?”

She strode over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of earrings, slipping them on as she watched me struggle to look like anything other than a baby giraffe. Flip flops were definitely not a good thing to wear when I was hungover.

“You’re not going out in that, are you?”

I looked down at myself and frowned. “Why? What’s wrong with it?”

Cocking an eyebrow at me, she walked over to the window and pulled apart the curtains. “Other than the fact that it’s raining? Honestly, you look like a hooker who just stumbled out of her latest John’s apartment.”

Sighing, I flopped back on the bed. “Ugh, I don’t have the energy to put on anything else.”

“Then, I would definitely recommend staying inside. Besides, you quit. What could you possibly need to leave for?”

I rolled my head and winced at the bright, dim light shining through the window. “I need to sneak into the office.”

She snorted. “Good luck with that. They’ll have stripped your access by now.”

I continued to stare at her, knowing she would catch on eventually.

“No,” she said, backing away as she realized what I was saying. “I’ll get fired!”

“You won’t get caught.”

“Puh-huh! I’m literally your only friend in the office. There’s no way they’ll believe Fat Suzy let you in. She hates you more than salads!”

“Maybe I snuck in of my own accord.”

“Your own accord? Right now, you can’t even spell that!”

“Look, I just need you to distract Jerry so I can slip through the lobby unnoticed. He likes you. He’ll flirt with you while I get on the elevator. Then we can ride up together and?—”

She held up her hand, stopping me before I could continue. “Ride up in an elevator with cameras. Where they will see me riding with you. Where I won’t be able to deny that I saw you,” she pushed.

“Right. So, I’ll take the stairs. Granted, it’ll suck and I’ll probably puke?—”

“Leaving behind DNA evidence.”

“In puke?”

“Could be. I’ve never tested it, but it seems like something you wouldn’t want to leave behind.”

“I’ll risk it,” I muttered. “I need to get in his office.”

“Why?” She sighed, sitting down on the bed. “Piper, he dumped you. Or…you dumped him?” She cocked her head to the side in thought, then shook her head. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. You’re over. Let him go.”

“Oh, believe me. I’m letting him go, but he threw out all my stuff or sent them off to Buffalo.”

“Why would he do that? Did you used to live in Buffalo?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “No, it’s the saying. Shuffle off to Buffalo .”

“That’s not a saying.”

“It’s totally a saying,” I argued.

“Fine, then tell me who says that.”

I ignored the way she crossed her arms over her chest, daring me to come up with some shitty excuse of a person. “My mother used to say it.”

The grimace on her face said it all. “Aside from your mother’s horrible references to bison, which doesn’t even make sense, there is no reason to go to his office. It’s just asking for trouble.”

“First, it doesn’t reference bison. Second, he took things from me that I want returned. Important things. And I’m not leaving until I have my things back.”

“And you think he kept it on his desk?”

“He made all the arrangements while I was out of the office, which means wherever he sent my things, there could be verification in his office. If I leave now, I can get in before him and slip out without him ever knowing I was there.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “I’ll help you, but for the love of sexy men everywhere, put on something other than yoga pants and a t-shirt. If he sees you, he should regret letting you go, not thank his lucky stars that he dropped your ass for a well-mannered London girl.”

“Trust me, there is nothing well-mannered about her. Besides, what does it matter if I look beautiful? It’s not like I want him back, and I can’t show up in a ball gown.”

“Fine. Dress like a slob. Walk in with raccoon eyes. Maybe it’ll disguise who you really are.”

She walked out of the bedroom and I rushed over to the bathroom, gasping when I saw the horrible makeup smears on my face. “I look like a zombie,” I whispered.

“Five minutes!” Jeanie called out.

I rushed through washing my face and smearing on lotion, then rummaged through her closet for something that didn’t make me look like I was doing the walk of shame at the end of a long night of partying.

She had a point about looking good when I saw James.

Not that I cared. I didn’t want to admit that I cared what he thought of me, but those feelings didn’t just disappear overnight.

I snagged a modest black dress that didn’t say I was trying too hard. It would also help me blend in with the other employees. I snorted to myself. Like no one would notice me because I was wearing a black dress. Sure. I tugged it on and examined myself in the mirror. I didn’t look too bad.

“Are you coming?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow at me from the doorway.

“I just need to find some shoes.”

Grumbling to herself, she walked over to her closet and pulled out a pair of red high-heeled shoes, looking at them longingly before handing them over. “These are my favorite pair. Don’t ruin them.”

I stared at them in wonder. They were the coveted heels that she got at a sale, barely snatching them from some grabby bitch who would have cut her hand off to get them first. They had to cost at least five hundred dollars, but she got them for a hundred.

“Really?”

“Don’t make me regret this. And if you tear a hole in my dress, we’re gonna have a big problem.”

I perked up immediately, smiling brightly at her. “I swear, it’ll be returned in pristine condition.”

I sat down on the edge of the bed and bit my lip as I very carefully pulled on the beautiful heels. They fit perfectly, and the moment I stood, I felt like Cinderella.

If Cinderella hadn’t just been dumped by her cheating fiancé.

“Piper!”

“Coming!”

I rushed after her to the elevator, already sweating from the way the armpits of the dress pressed into my skin.

But it would be worth it if I ran into James, which I was totally not planning.

She tossed my purse at me just as I stepped on.

The large brown hobo bag was also something James hadn’t liked, but I’d had it for years and I didn’t want to give it up.

“Are you ready for this?”

“I was born for this.”

“This is going to fail,” she muttered. “I’m going to get caught and lose my job.”

“Not a chance. I’m like a ninja.”

“A drunk ninja.” She turned to me, grasping me by the arms. “Just promise me that whatever you do, you won’t leave any evidence behind.”

“I swear it.”

We stepped off the elevators, and I was relieved when she flagged down a cab. “You’re too hungover for walking today,” she said as she slipped inside. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“I’ll pay you back for all of this. I swear.”

“Don’t lose my shoes and we’ll call it square. Johnson Tower, please.”

I snorted in amusement. “You know, I never realized how ridiculous that sounded until right now. Johnson Tower? Seriously, not only do they think they’re the Vanderbilts, they also named their building after a dick.”

“I just love it when you’re drunk. You always make things so interesting.”

“Not drunk,” I corrected. “Hungover and in desperate need of another drink.”

At that, the cabbie opened the partition between us and handed me a flask. I looked at it warily for all of two seconds before I snatched it and took a swig, coughing when I swallowed whiskey.

“Holy shit. That burns.”

“I can’t believe you did that!” Jeanie scoffed. “He could be a rapist, drugging you to take you back to his lair!” She eyed the cabbie. “No offense.”

“None taken. Just trying to stay warm today.”

“With alcohol while you drive around unsuspecting tourists. Nice,” she muttered.

“Don’t be so judgmental. He’s a person, too. He has feelings.”

“And possibly diseases. You just put your lips on his flask!”

I smiled at the cabbie. “Don’t mind her. She’s a bit of a germaphobe.”

He shrugged, not really caring.

“But I do thank you for the alcohol. It was just what I needed to stab my ex-fiancé in the eye.”

“You’re not stabbing anyone. Remember, I want my heels back.”

I shot Jeanie a disappointed look. “You never want me to have any fun.”

“What I want is to not lose my favorite heels.”

“Relax. Geez, it’s like you care about these heels more than me.”

“I do. They’re worth more than your life.”

“Hardly.”

The cabbie pulled over to the side of the road and turned to face us. “Good luck with your stabbing.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. “You’re so sweet.”

He shrugged again. Jeanie paid just before we got out, and I made sure to glare at her until he gave him a super nice tip.

“I can’t believe you made me give him twenty dollars! That was my lunch money.”

“Yeah, like twenty dollars could get you lunch in this neighborhood. Besides, he was really nice.”

She swung her purse up over her shoulder and stood up straight. “Alright. We’re gonna do this. I will not get fired today.”

“No more than I will,” I said as I slunk off to the alley.

I was in luck when I found the side door open.

Someone had propped it open for a smoke break and forgot to close it all the way.

The cigarette was still burning in the tray, and for a moment, I considered taking a drag just to calm my nerves.

But seeing as how I’d never actually smoked before, I might end up throwing up instead.

And if I got vomit on Jeanie’s heels, I knew she’d never forgive me.