"We're just in love is what I meant." Oh, God. That was way over-correcting, but now I've opened my mouth and I can't stop. "He's crazy about me. It's embarrassing really, how into me he is. Really enthusiastically into me." I end on a shrug like I'm just as surprised as anyone by this development. Then I focus all my energy on not slamming my forehead into the table.
Enthusiastically into me sounded like a sex thing, right? No one says someone is enthusiastically into them because of a trip to the Goodwill. A quick look around the table confirms that I might have oversold that because everyone is staring at their laps, except Rhys who is looking at me without blinking, his head tilted to the side and an expression I can't quite identify on his face.
"Any promotion, demotion, salary change or disciplinary action involving Miss Clark will need to be submitted in writing with a copy to Harrison, Lawson and the board," Rhys continues after clearing his throat as if I haven't said a word. "As well as each of her reviews, as they occur."
As they occur? But our relationship will be over before I'm due for a review. Unless he's feeling something too? Unless he finally gets it.
"Obviously these requirements will continue throughout Miss Clark's employment regardless of any future involvement with me."
Oh.
So once we're over I'm still protected from any retaliation in the workplace. That's what this speech is about. He's not telling everyone we're dating. He's telling everyone we're having sex. For now. Sex for now.
While I'm telling everyone we're in love.
Good Lord, he's a lot of work.
Another glance around the table confirms everyone is still staring at their laps except for Lawson. I'm almost certain I just saw him rolling his eyes at Rhys.
There's a moment of dead painful silence and then Rhys excuses us from his office. I don't linger and he doesn't ask me to. Instead, I'm the first to rise, politely push my chair in and bolt from the room.
I'm starting to suspect this grand plan of mine wasn't so grand after all. By the time I get back to my desk I have another meeting, but luckily this one is just a meeting Payton put on my schedule telling me to meet her in the cafeteria, which is perfect timing because I need to decompress. Also I really hope she brought a new badge for me because I could use the confidence boost.
Twenty-Six
RHYS
"Where's the report I asked for on Lydia?" I ask as I walk into Canon's office. I move past his desk without stopping or acknowledging him other than my barked demand and head towards the door that connects his office directly to the security bullpen. There's room for up to twenty people to work in this space, with a glass-encased command center on an elevated platform overlooking them. That's where I head.
I stop in front of the largest monitor. It's mounted on the wall, surrounded by smaller monitors all trained on different areas of the property. Canon strolls in behind me as I'm staring at the controls trying to figure out how to get what I want on the largest monitor.
"Hello to you too, asshole," Canon quips.
"Help me with the cameras." I ignore his dig at my lack of social skills and gesture towards the wall of monitors.
"Finally, you've taken an interest in security." Canon taps at the glass desktop and a control panel appears. "What would you like to see? The casino floor? Loading docks? One of the vaults?" Canon zips images across the large monitor as he talks. I drop into a chair and run a hand over my jaw.
"The employee cafeteria. We've got cameras there, right?"
“The cafeteria," Canon repeats. "Sure. Did you want to know what they're serving for lunch today? Let's see if we can view the menu board from here. What a fantastic use of my time," he adds sarcastically. "I can calculate guest capacity on the casino floor or read the license plate of the armored bank truck arriving, but sure, let's take a look at the cafeteria."
Canon picks up a handheld device and sits, the cafeteria appearing on no fewer than six monitors in front of us from different angles. Lydia's employee ID appears on the main monitor, Canon taps something onto the handheld and a moment later the image flips to a live feed of Lydia. She's sitting at a four-person table in the cafeteria with her friend Payton.
"This is what you are looking for, I assume."
"Shit, how did you find her that fast?"
"I synced the employee IDs with the facial recognition software then created a program that backs the photos into the security feeds. I can tell you where anyone is, what time they arrived on property and what time they left."
"Hmm," I murmur. I'm not that interested in any of this shit but it's because I know Canon has it covered and I don't have to be. "Zoom in."
Canon zooms and the surrounding monitors all redirect to different camera angles of Lydia's table.
"Do we have audio?"
"In the cafeteria?" Canon looks at me like I'm an idiot. "No, we didn't invest in audio on any of the cafeteria security cameras. I can get it installed if stalking Lydia while she's having lunch is going to be your new hobby."
"No, it's fine."
On the monitor ahead of us Payton is holding her hands up, palms facing each other and drawing them apart, then pushing them back together as Lydia blushes and covers her eyes with one hand.
"Payton's really something," Canon says.
"How do you know Payton?"
"Double Diamonds. She was there on Saturday. She's a bit of a handful."
"Did something happen that night?"
"What didn't happen?" Canon exhales with a low whistle. "But that's Vince's problem, thank fuck."
"Right." I wonder if I want him to elaborate on that. I decide I don't. "Do you have my report?"
"I emailed it to you while you were in your meeting."
"What do you know about my meeting?"
"Lawson texted me. He said it was a shit show."
"It was fine."
"He said it's a miracle you've ever gotten laid without paying for it and that Lydia is in love with you and you're fucking it up."
"First of all, I am paying for it. Second of all, Lydia is not in love with me."
"Sure."
On the surveillance monitor Payton has pulled something from her purse and laid it on the table, pushing it towards Lydia.
"Zoom in on that," I tell Canon but he's changed the camera angle to a direct overhead shot before I've finished speaking.
"Blow job," Canon reads the words off the item. It looks like a seed packet. A cucumber seed packet glued to a piece of felt with ‘blow job’ written across the top in glitter.
Next Payton slaps down a round circle of denim with 'butt stuff' stamped onto it in black ink and then finally a piece of canvas cut into the shape of a shield with ‘SEX’ spelled out across the surface. In blue sequins.
"Are these"—Canon sounds a bit incredulously impressed, which is no small feat—"dirty Girl Trooper badges?"
"I think so."
I watch Lydia blush on monitor two and slap her hand over the sex badge and pull it towards her on monitor one. She shakes her head and shoves the ‘blow job’ and ‘butt stuff’ badges back towards Payton.