It’s driving me nuts.
Laura buzzes, and I’m so tightly wound thinking about Clara that I jump in my chair.
“Yes?” I ask.
“Debbie Harris is here to see you,” she says. “I told her that you’re in a meeting, but she said it’s urgent.”
Clara looks up, cocking a brow.
I sigh. “Let her through.”
A second later, Debbie storms into my office, a vision in her lime pantsuit. She has gone for a darker lipstick than is her custom, and darkly lined eyes narrow on me from across the room.
Laura walks in behind her. “Can I get anyone a drink?”
“No, that will be all, Laura,” I say, my eyes never leaving Debbie’s.
Laura leaves, and Debbie perches on the chair next to Clara. I am suddenly very nervous. The two of them have never met but are aware of each other. I can’t remember if Debbie knows that Clara knows the truth about Gabriel.
“What can I help you with, Debbie?” I lean back in my chair, feigning nonchalance.
Debbie slaps her phone onto the desk and taps the screen. From the speaker, I hear my voice.
“Listen, bitch. I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you might want to think for a second about who I am. What I can do. You ought to be careful what you say around me if you want to avoid any trouble.”
I am getting tired of talking about this recording.
Clara, who has never heard the recording before, looks up in surprise. I meet her eyes and try to communicate telepathically that I will explain later.
“I see you’ve been cozying up to Ruby Flint,” I remark.
“Aye, we’re like two bugs snug in a rug,” Debbie snaps. She sounds even more Scottish when she’s angry. “Would you care to explain yourself?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Debbie’s attention flicks to Clara. “You’re the best friend, aren’t you? Did you know that your girl has gotten in deep with the Italian mob?”
“I’m not in deep with anybody,” I reply smoothly.
Debbie whips around to snarl at me, making her fluffy hair bounce. “You’re in over your fecking head!” She returns her attention to Clara. “And are you just okay with the fact that your best friend is turning into an utter psychopath?”
Clara furrows her brow. “Number one, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Number two, I’m not sure how it would be any of my business if I did. Alexis and I were literally sitting here discussing renovations to several drug rehabilitation centers throughout the city. She’s a good person.”
Debbie rolls her eyes. “Lord have mercy. You’ve drunk the Kool-Aid too, hmm?”
“Debbie,” I say firmly. “What do you want?”
She purses her lips and slides her phone back into her pocket. “I want information,” she says. “And I will release this recording online if I don’t get it.”
“I’ve got a hot tip for you.” Clara grins. “Never eat yellow snow.”
I giggle. Debbie frowns.
“You should take me more seriously, girls. This recording will be devastating if it gets out.”
I take a breath and stifle another laugh. “What kind of information do you want?”
“I don’t want much, hen. Your man’s empire is cracking as we speak, I just want to get ahead of it. You don’t have to confirm that he’s the leader of the Italian mob, but at least give me some evidence of his involvement. That’ll be enough for now.”
I stare at her long and hard and then let out a bark of laughter. “You’re nuts, Debbie. Absolutely nuts.”
It wouldn’t have mattered if Debbie had just asked me to reveal what color boxers Gabriel wears. I’m not giving away even a crumb of information on him, not after everything we’ve been through together.
Debbie is not the kind of person who likes being laughed at. The corners of her mouth sink down, and she narrows her eyes. “You know, you’re not the only one who can settle things unconventionally. I have my ways.”
“I’m sure you do.” I open the top drawer of my desk and rifle inside.
Debbie leans over, staring hopefully into the drawer. Her expression folds into irritation when I merely pull out a tube of salt and vinegar Pringles. Clara snorts.
“Clara, could you excuse us?” I ask, opening the lid and pulling back the paper seal. “And please ask Angelo to join us in here.”
Clara nods and leaves, and I sit back in my chair and pop the first Pringle into my mouth. Debbie watches me sourly. The room is silent, except for the sound of my crunching.
Angelo glides into the room a minute later. He stops in the center of the room, hands clasped behind him, and awaits my instructions.
“Debbie, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but the amount I trust you has recently taken a nosedive. Angelo is going to check you for bugs. If you want to continue our conversation, you will oblige.”
Debbie brushes the wrinkles out of her pantsuit and stands up, walking over to Angelo. She spreads her arms. I sit and devour a quarter of a can of Pringles while I wait for Angelo to give me the all-clear. Debbie obviously thinks I’m about to tell her something incriminating, otherwise she would have told me to “feck off.” She’s about to be very disappointed.
Debbie sits back down, and Angelo leaves. I tilt the can toward her. “Pringle?”
“No.”
“Fine. More for me.” I set the can aside and lean over the desk, staring deep into her eyes while I finish chewing and swallow. I like this. I like commanding the room. I like that we are in here on my time, and I am calling the shots. Debbie isn’t used to this dynamic between us, and I can see that it bothers her.
“It was very nice to see you, Debbie, but I’m afraid you’ll be leaving here empty-handed,” I begin. “I have to say I’m quite disappointed with you. I thought we were friends.”
“I was friends with a different Alexis,” she sniffs. “One who wanted to do good in the world.”
“I am doing good.” I smile tightly. “But if you want to see my bad side, I can easily arrange that. In fact, how about this?” I lean in a little closer and hone my words so they come out razor-sharp. “If you ever threaten my family again, I will make sure you live to regret it. Do not test me, Debbie.”
Debbie shakes her head sadly. “You could have been so much more, Alexis.”
She goes to stand, and I sit back in my chair as though her words haven’t gotten to me at all. I toss another Pringle in my mouth and wave jovially as she leaves, Angelo following close behind.
When I am finally alone, I let my eyes flutter closed, and my head falls back against the chair. I did the right thing. Well, I did the wrong thing objectively speaking, but for the right reasons. Right?
I am committed to my family. To Gabriel. To building a good life for our two children. Debbie thinks she knows me, but she doesn’t, and she certainly doesn’t know what’s best for me. Then why has her visit shaken me so much?
I guess it’s just that at one point Debbie and I were in this together, and now, seeing her so disappointed in me…It’s hard. But that doesn’t mean I regret it.
I flick my eyes back open just as Clara reenters the room. She puffs air in her cheeks and blows it out, eyes wide. “Oof, she seemed mad.”