Page 31 of Manhattan State of Mind

I get it; it’s unbelievable.

Yes, I lost my memory. No, I don’t have a clue what I was up to last week. And sadly, I did not get my memory back overnight like some sort of amnesiac superhero.

I tell them that the doctor said they need to handle me with care.

They nod along, making sympathetic noises before jumping right into questions about work. It’s a good thing I busted my butt preparing. But all the attention makes me anxious, like I’m under a microscope. I put on a fake smile, faking a confidence I don’t feel.

“Luce, can you check if my feature matches the design now?”

“Luce, did you sort that copy issue I showed you?”

Posts-its and papers flap in my face. Laptop screens are set down in front of me because people need answers.

Heads peer down at me from all sides, making me feel claustrophobic. Politely demanding I hurry up and remember because I’ve been out of action for over two weeks, and work’s piling up.

“Matty!” I call out when I spot him in the aisle. I need him to act as my human shield from my coworkers.

He takes his seat beside me and gives me a quick hug. “Looks like you’re the center of attention.”

“Yeah, but not in a good way.”

“Listen up, show’s over,” he announces to everyone still looking at me. Mimicking Andy, he places both hands on his head, his sun-kissed surfer hair now long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail. “There’s work to be done here, people.”

I flash him a grin. Unless Matty’s had a brain transplant, I doubt he’s the poster boy for Workaholic of the Year.

“I still can’t believe you don’t remember the last year,” he says as he pours some cereal into a bowl before powering up his laptop. “Do you remember me visiting you in the hospital?”

I shake my head sadly. “No. But thanks anyway.”

“Probably for the best, you had drool all down your face.”

“Thanks.” I scowl at him while he pours yogurt over his cereal.

“So let me get this straight—you’ve got a sort of time-warping memory thing going on, remembering stuff from a year ago like it happened yesterday?” He furrows his brows, clearly confused. “That’s quite a neat trick. So do you remember what you were doing this time last year?”

“Not really. It’s like I took a two-week vacation then came back and forgot everything that happened before the trip. The memories are kind of foggy.”

“I don’t need a vacation for that. I walk out of this office each day and come next morning, I can’t remember what I was doing.”

I roll my eyes, smiling, and lean over toward his desk. “Hey, what did Andy’s email say about me? Hope he didn’t say I’ve lost the plot.”

“Nah, it was the opposite.” He shrugs and shovels yogurt into his mouth. “Y’know what he’s like,” he mumbles between mouthfuls. “Basically, you’ve lost your memory but it’s business as usual… oh, and the IT team meeting has been bumped up an hour today. In fact, that was the headlining message.”

Typical Andy. “Well, I guess it’s good Andy’s being blasé. I don’t need the entire office gawking at the strange girl with no memory.” I pause, chewing on my bottom lip. “I saw Wolfe in the elevator. He was moody as usual but started interrogating me about my memory loss. I think he sees me as a liability or something.”

“You must have the worst luck.” Matty grimaces. “He’s been in a shitty mood all week. Not that anyone would notice the difference. Lucky for us, he’s been around less than usual.”

“Oh God, I wasn’t expecting him to be around at all?” The thought of running into Wolfe again makes my stomach churn.

He jerks his head toward the glass-enclosed corner office. “Sometimes he uses that office when he’s here. Usually when he’s coming to talk to us about the project.”

“Shit.” I eye the office warily. I won’t feel at ease knowing he could appear at any moment. What’s he doing slumming it with us instead of being up with the Quinn brothers on the exec. floor? “What’s he been like with us?”

“The cold-hearted bastard we all know and loathe,” Matty says wryly. “I may be exaggerating slightly—he’s actually softened over the past few months. But, man, when a deadline slips and affects his bottom line, he’s brutal.”

“I take it I’ve stayed out of his way?” I ask, hoping against hope that I’ve somehow remained off his radar since the doodle fiasco. Matty already told me I wasn’t axed from the project so that’s something. “Have we crossed paths much or not really?”

He sucks air through his teeth. “Weird vibe. He seemed to hate you for a long time. I think it softened a bit to indifference.”