Page 18 of The Wisdom of Bug

Maggie scrubbed her hands over her head in frustration. “Evelyn, you are vexing at times, woman. Are you going to call security?”

“Right, yes, of course.” Honestly, Evelyn had been so intrigued by the little guy she hadn’t thought about calling anyone after Maggie.

After a quick conversation with Terry, the building security manager, Evelyn dropped down to the settee, which sat across from her desk and inhaled her food.

“Ms Crawford?” Terry’s deep voice boomed.

“Come in, Terry.” Evelyn stood back up, brushing down her pencil skirt, hoping she hadn’t spilt any dressing on herself.

“Sorry about the break-in,” Terry laughed. “I’ll get this little fella back downstairs where he belongs.”

Evelyn didn’t understandanyof that sentence. Why would he belong downstairs? “Sorry, I’m confused. You know this dog?”

“Not personally, but I know he is with the others.”

“The others?” Evelyn looked at Maggie, who was equally perplexed.

“Yeah. There’s like twenty-six dogs all in all.”

“Twenty-six?” Maggie screeched. “Why in God’s name are there twenty-six dogs in the building?”

“What do you mean?” Terry asked, his eyebrows drawing in.

“Terry, why is there a pack of bloody dogs in my building?” Evelyn was tired of running round in circles.

“Well, they’re part of the partnership. Over Christmas.” Terry was looking at Evelyn and Maggie like they were idiots.

“Knock, knock,” another voice singsonged.

“Jesus Christ,” Evelyn moaned. Could this day get any worse?

“Mindy, what are you doing here?” Maggie growled.

“I’m here to talk, Evie. You owe me that.” She replied, staring pointedly at Evelyn.

Was this woman for real?

“She owes you nothing, you harlot,” Maggie shot back. Evelyn had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing.

“This has nothing to do with you, Margaret,” Mindy seethed.

“Alright, alright. That’s enough.” Evelyn was over this conversation already. “Mags, give me a minute, please. Terry, don’t go far. We still need to discuss this,” she said, pointing to the dog, who hadn’t moved an inch, seemingly unperturbed by everyone in the room. Maggie shot Mindy an icy glare before leaving, pulling Terry out the door by his elbow.

“Thanks, Evie,” Mindy cooed.

“Don’t thank me. I just want this over and done with. What do you want?”

“Evelyn, do you have to be so mean?” Mindy sauntered over to where Evelyn was perched against her desk. There was a time that Evelyn would have found her sultry walk sexy. Now it just pissed her off.

“I’m not being anything, Mindy. We’ve already talked. It’s done, we’re over, and I’d just like to get on with it now. I’m busy, and you dropping by the house and the office isn’t appropriate.”

“It’s the only way I can get you to talk to me, Evie,” Mindy whined. “What do I need to do to get you to forgive me?”

“I forgive you. There. Are we done?”

“Only if that means I get a second chance.”

Evelyn rubbed her forehead. A migraine was building rapidly. “Mindy, no. No second chance. You clearly weren’t happy if you had to find intimacy with another woman. Nothing has changed on my end. I’m still busy, still have a company to run.”