Page 60 of Strings

“You didn’t see her leave?”

“No. I didn’t. She was here but now she’s… gone. It’s weird.”

“Alright, well, tell her I stopped by. Ask her to come upstairs to see me. We have some catching up to do.”

“Will do.”

I hear his footsteps grow faint and breathe a sigh of relief.

Amy steps around my desk and reaches for a piece of paper. She pulls out my chair and yelps when she sees me. I’m holding my legs, sweating and biting my lip. I may have drawn blood.

“Oh my God, Talia. What in the world?”

“Shh… Is he gone?” I whisper.

Amy darts around my desk and I assume she goes out into the seating area because it’s very quiet. I hear my office door close. “He’s gone.”

Slowly, I crawl out from under my desk. Amy rushes over to offer me a hand, her face etched in concern.

“Um… yeah, so. Obviously, I should explain.”

She tugs on a piece of her hair and her eyes start to dance as she helps me stand. I brush off my skirt and straighten it. She presses her lips together to keep from smiling.

“You hid… under your desk… from the CEO.”

I throw my hands in the air. “I did and you know what? I’d do it again if it meant I didn’t have to ever see him or talk to him. He makes my skin crawl.”

Amy attempts to hug me, but it’s not a full-on hug. It’s more a side hug and it comes off awkward more than comforting. She reaches out her arm, then recoils as I reach out to accept it, and then I pull back.

“Can I go home now?” I ask as I plop into my chair. Amy sits on the corner of my desk.

“So, you don’t like him?”

“Between us?”

She offers an understanding nod.

“No. I loathe him.” I probably should give her some kind of explanation, but the last thing I want to do is confirm to anyone why I got the job. “Can we leave it at that? I know I probably owe you more of a reason, but I’d rather not discuss him.”

Amy smiles, her appearance lighter somehow. “If it helps, I can’t stand him either. I don’t think there’s a single man, woman, or child on this Earth that does more than tolerate him.”

I release a deep breath. “I’m relieved to hear that.” I reach out and take Amy’s hand. “I’m going to need your help.”

“What can I do?”

“Help me stay as far away from him as possible.”

“I can do that.”

I hold out my fist to her and she bumps it.

Project Avoid Mercer has officially begun.

Let the games begin—again.

Amy is a master game player. She makes excuses for me at every turn. She even goes so far as to draw me a map of the building and show me hiding places and exit routes. Although it’s going well, I wonder how long I’ll be able to continue to avoid him. He’s searching for me. That much is obvious. He calls me, shows up unexpectedly at odd times, and once even walked into a meeting, looking for me. Thank God I happened to be in the bathroom. I’m surprised he didn’t come looking for me there too, pervert that he is.

We bring in a large tree-like plant into my office from the seating area. It gives me another thing to hide behind. I’ve been running from people my whole life. This “game” feels more like a part of everyday existence. I just never expected it to be Talia’s, too.