Chapter 8: Sunset Discoveries

Saz never returned from his little excursion to Palm Beach. Not that I was super eager to see Miss Priss again, but still. I wait around for a while before concluding that he's not going to show and making my way downstairs. The Ocean Tech lobby is more alive than it was this morning. People bustle in and out of the security doors, eyes either glued to their phones or their watches as they numbly scan their name badges. A few people stand near the front desk engrossed in conversation as I make my way up to Holly.

"Hi, Ms. Demarco." She greets me. "How are you adjusting to working with Mr. Fairweather?"

"It's like a dream," I gush, knowing that's what she wants to hear. "Real quick, though. Mr. Fairweather left me without a key for the office. I was wondering if you had a spare so I could lock up."

She smiles at me the way you smile at a child that tries on mom's shoes and walks around yelling they're an adult. "You don't have to worry about things like that here, Ms. Demarco."

I nod, not even surprised at this point. "Right. Thanks, Holly."

I step out into the bright afternoon, the setting sun bouncing off the buildings towering above me. My mind is still in research mode, the statistics and addresses I combed through running in the background of my subconscious. If I hadn't noticed the large shadow of Ocean Tech stretching out on the bay, I would have kept working until Saz finally returned. It's been a while since I've been able to enjoy this time of the day. Normally I'd be in the middle of the early dinner rush, bustling around tables and feeling lucky if I see the sun glint off a car passing by. But that life feels like a million miles away after today. I cross the street, watching as a group of girls dressed in short dresses and high heels crosses in the opposite direction. Probably to go enjoy a night of fun and drunk memories. I sigh. I need to get myself some real friends. The blue sky has blended into a mix of orange and purple as I make my way across the city. Suited men and women make their way in droves towards the train station as I walk past it towards the street of The Shady Pub.

My foot lifts to leave the sidewalk and a sleek, black car stops right in front of me, blocking my path. The window of the passenger side rolls down, Saz's smiling face appearing on the driver's side. "Walking alone again?"

"I happen to be a very self-sufficient person," I huff. "Plus, it's just a few more blocks."

"No assistant of mine is going to walk around this city if they don't have to. Come on."

He motions for me to hop in. I have half a mind to walk around the car and keep walking home. He probably would just follow me until I got there anyway. I swallow my pride and open the door, sliding into that soft leather for the third time this week. The car smells like seafood as we drive down the bustling streets.

"What little place did you go to this time? Let me guess, they had dolphins deliver you the food on their flippers?"

"No, but the manatees' performance was fantastic." I gawk at him as he glances at me, and busts out laughing. "Allie, I'm kidding. Not every place I go to is fantastical."

"Oh really." I cock my eyebrow. "What did you eat?"

He clears his throat and mumbles, "Lobster buffet."

"See!"

He reaches in the backseat and pulls out a plastic bag with the name "Allie" scribbled across the top in sharpie. "I got you a doggie bag."

I shake my head with a smile and snatch it from him. "Thanks."

"So." He nudges me. "How far did you get in the project? I was thinking tomorrow we could meet up in the morning and come up with an outline. I know it's a lot to cover so we can work small—"

"Oh, I already did that."

"Did what?"

"The outline." I look at him, hiding my smug smile. "I've reviewed the entire project and already emailed you a shortlist of the top sections that need my attention. I've also attached a detailed outline that predicts that the bulk of the project can be completed within the next three months."

"Three months?" Saz gawks, trying to keep his eyes on the road. "Allie this project is huge. There's no way we can pull off a presentation like this in that amount of time."

"You were the one that said this job required long hours and dedication to the research. I've crunched the numbers and unless you want to drag your heels, we can be showing this to the board by the time fall rolls around."

We roll up in front of my house and Saz double-parks the car with a firm thud. He reaches into the backseat and pulls out a tablet.

"Jeez, you just have everything back there, huh?" I laugh as he opens the screen.

"I make it a point to have everything I need accessible at all times." His fingers fly across the screen. I peek over his shoulder and notice he's already in his email, sifting through to find mine. "Alright, let's see what crazy scheme you've created."

We sit there for half an hour combing through everything I laid out. Saz looks for any holes and comes up short. The longer we talk, the broader my smile becomes. I have him on the ropes and he knows it. Despite the weary look in his eyes, this plan is going to work.

"Allie, to say that I'm impressed is an understatement," Saz breathes, closing his tablet screen. "I'm so excited I could kiss you!"

My heart skips. I feel the heat rush to my face and Saz puts his hands up in defense. "Sorry. Sorry. Bad choice of words. What I mean is, allow me to show you my gratitude for putting this together so quickly."

"No that's okay." I laugh nervously, "This lobster doggie bag and a decent paycheck are more than enough. Really." I step out of the car and wave at him. "Thanks for the ride."

"Tomorrow morning, get ready to have your socks knocked off from my gratitude," he declares. "I'm serious."

"Okay." I laugh, closing the door.

He rolls down the window and yells my way as I walk up to my lobby. "You just wait, Allie!"

"Goodbye Saz." I laugh, walking inside. I make it up the stairs and into the apartment, the smell of buttery lobster seeping out of the plastic bag. I plop it on the counter and unwrap it, revealing two lobster tails and a bunch of side dishes packaged in neat, clear containers. The last time someone got me a doggie bag it had a hard biscuit and a half-eaten turkey leg. If this is his version of a doggie bag, I'm terrified to see what his version of gratitude will look like in the morning. But that was the future Allie's problem. For now, all I can see before me is a nice, warm shower and then a food coma induced by lobster and the idea of another long day at Ocean Tech. How did life change so quickly? And how much more could it possibly change?