Chapter 5
Stellar Energy Corporate Offices – The Finance Unit
‘Hello Kate, Have a brew-tiful day!’ -Lucy
Kate smiles radiantly as she reads the handwritten note on the cup of chagaccino waiting on her desk. Amused and not surprised anymore to see one after skipping another coffee run at Boone’s this morning. Skipped. Intentionally. To avoid Lucy. Who’s been bold and unabashed on her display of affection for Kate. Impressive and within professional boundaries too when they are in the workplace. However, Lucy’s work ethics are subpar to normal. She’s always on time turning in accounts for Kate to review. Which are done proficiently, leaving Kate with nothing to adjust or correct. Lucy comes in and out of work on time but often disappears from her desk the whole day. Sometimes, she would walk over to Kate’s desk with a printed worksheet, seeking advice when she could have just attached the file in an email.
Lucy is a striking woman and Kate is not one to deny that fact. Or that she is not immune to Lucy’s enticing eyes. She could have completely given into the undeniable attraction between them under different circumstances. But she can’t risk that. She can’t care too much. Lucy is a Tara. To care for her or anyone for that matter is a total betrayal to Noah. And no matter how fun and nice it is and could be with Lucy is, they can not be. They will never happen. Lucy for sure is just like the rest of her family. Arrogant. Reckless. Good at covering both with money.
Kate picks up the cup and reads Lucy’s written note again. “Maybe,” she whispers to herself, her thumb tracing Lucy's name, “in another life.”
— — —
An impatient rap on her door followed by hurried clanking of heels had Jane peeling off her eyes from her screen to an enraged Kate.
“My trainee disappeared on me. Again!” A muscle clenched her jaw. “She’s not at her desk nor the restrooms,” she crosses her arms, “and I will not be scouring the cafeteria for her. It’s a total waste of my time.”
Jane leans back, stretching her shoulders. “Have you tried the set of stairs along the fire exits? Leading to the rooftop?”
“Ugh! Really?!” she says, pivots and stomps out of her office.
“And, Kate,” Jane calls that had Kate doubling back. “Don’t give her simple balancing accounts,” she adds, drawing a mirthless smile.
Kate finds Lucy sitting on the sill of a large window overlooking the streets. A gaming console in hand, her deep set eyes locked on the screen. Errant strands of curls framing her face. Lollipop in her mouth.
“Miss Tara!” She grits her teeth. “Are you aware that you are overdue to be back at work an hour ago?”
Lucy regards her with a faint smile, hits a button on the console then slowly draws out the lolly out of her mouth. “I’m sorry. Lost track of the time. Missed me?” She asks, wiggling her eyebrows.
Kate lets out the breath she was holding and waves an index finger between them. “You are getting paid by the hour here, Miss Tara. Like everybody else. There’s no added benefit that goes with your last name.”
“Miss Tara is too limiting, don’t ya think? I am more than my father’s last name.”
“Well then, Lucy,” Kate scoffs. “Are you done with the accounts I told you to look into?” The sharpness in her tone got Lucy throwing her head back. Her eyes were searching Kate’s, sizing her up then Lucy’s lips curved up in a jovial smile.
“I did. Well, half of the second batch of accounts at least. The easy ones are back in your inbox by now. But this,” she reaches to a folder behind her and hands it to Kate, “is raising a lot of red flags.”
Kate flips the folder open, scrutinizing every detail as she turns over pages and pages of the account Lucy handed. She looked over the numbers underlined and circled in red and an engineer's name circled in blue.
“That guy,” Lucy points the lolly to Kate. “He always rents a car and returns it on Monday the following week. Project sites and operations are closed on weekends, right? Are they allowed to keep the car at home over the weekends?” Lucy asks. “Take a look at the last page.” She waves the lolly in air, mimicking turning a page of a book. “The receipt from the rental company indicates that the car ran for more than 1,500 miles.”
“And…”
“By my calculations, that’s not possible. Because the distance between his house, the corporate office and the project site his team is currently working on is less than 20 miles apart.”
“Even if he drives it everyday?”
“Even if he drives it everyday. It won’t add up to 1,500 miles or more. Unless he drives it somewhere else over the weekend.” Lucy pops the lolly back in her mouth.
Kate scans the pages of the account one more time. Efficient. Effective. I like it. “We have to loop in Jane on this.” She turns to leave, doubles back at Lucy who returns to her gaming console. “Lucy!”
“Huh? Yesh?”
“Let’s go. I am not gonna do the explaining alone.”
“Yeah?” Lucy’s eyes shine with delight. “Yesh!” She says scrambling to stand, tosses the lollipop in a nearby bin and catches up to Kate.
It didn’t take long for Jane to decide on the next course of action. A dialogue with her counterpart at the Operations Unit was scheduled to do a joint investigation and a final disciplinary action on the engineer will be proposed to the executive in charge. Jane commended both Kate and Lucy for catching the delinquent account.
“Great job you two! Keep up the good teamwork,” Jane praises them, putting as much stress on ‘teamwork’ as she could and shifting her eyes between them. The act didn’t escape Kate but she rolled with it anyway for Lucy truly did a remarkable job amidst the large load of accounts she gave her to work with.
“Hey boss,” Lucy faces Jane. “As much as I find the work fun and all. I hope the guy doesn’t lose his job?” She asks, much to Kate’s astonishment. “Maybe a warning? Suspension without pay even?”
“Are you suggesting giving this guy a second chance?” Kate asks confoundingly. “He is spending money that could’ve been diverted to fund more important things.”
“He has a family, Kate,” Lucy says.
“That’s why he should’ve thought of the consequences of his action first. Are you defending him? You,” Kate, red in rage, extends an open palm to Lucy, “caught him red handed.”
“I am not… He might have reasons, is all I am saying.”
Jane amused, arches her eyebrows. “It’s out of our hands,” she says, a smile of pride on her lips. “Alistair, will have the final say on it. Let’s hope he decides for the best.”
“Yup. Yeah, of course,” Lucy nods and clasps her hands together in agreement.
— — —
After bringing the delinquent account to Jane’s attention. Lucy found a renewed energy that kept her busy for the rest of the day. Meanwhile, Kate took the whole afternoon tracking the trail of the missing money she raised in their last team huddle at The Bluebonnet Garden . She combed through every single account with painstaking attention to detail.
By the time Kate paused to stretch her strained neck, the last streaks of the orange sun were chased by the dark hued sky. She takes off her glasses, lays them gently on her desk, folded at the temples, lenses up. She pinches the sore spot where the nose pads sat the whole day. She loosens the buttons of her coat and leans to push her shoulders against the backrest. She extends her neck back to lay her head completely on her chair’s headrest and closes her eyes. Her mind starts collecting snapshots of Lucy’s image for the day. The cloud of vexation in her face at first when she calls her out for spending too much time away from her desk. The swift transition in her mood after with that playful smile like she knows something that Kate does not. Her compassion for the offending engineer. That took Kate by surprise. The guy was at fault and Lucy suggested suspension without pay when it’s a clear ground for termination.
She reaches to move the mouse on her desk. Checks her work emails one more time before heading home. Her face lights up and smiles on the name listed on top of her list, Lucille Ann Tara , sent twelve minutes ago. Her forehead wrinkles in the middle. She’s still here? Kate closes the browser, logs off from Stellar’s system completely, puts on her glasses and gets off her chair. She buttoned up her coat, slings her bag across her body and hops to Lucy’s desk.
Kate cranes her neck to check the office when she doesn’t see Lucy behind the computer monitor. She was about to retrace her steps when she noticed folded arms through the space between the computer’s base and the keyboard. She inches forward and finds Lucy hunched on the table. Her head on folded forearms. Her curls gathered on one side and hung over her shoulder. Her lips and chin are partially covered by an upper arm. Kate stood there. Lost in the moment of a sleeping Lucy. Kate indulges herself to freely watch Lucy this close. Her eyes are closed. Her lashes’ natural curling. Her perfect nose. The dimpling above her right eyebrow when she wrinkles it. Lucy was annoyingly beguiling even when sleeping.
A twinge of guilt washes over Kate. She loaded Lucy with a ton of accounts to work with on purpose to avoid the tiniest attempt of any physical interaction. She never once heard Lucy complain. And she never missed a day to leave Kate a warm chagaccino by her table everyday with varying coffee puns scribbled in Lucy’s own handwriting. Kate loosens the buttons on her coat, slides it off her weary shoulders and places it gently over Lucy’s. She gives Lucy one more pained look as waves of conflicting emotions start hitting her chest then walks away before she can do something she knows she might eventually regret.
— — —
Lucy’s steps from Boone’s to Stellar have been lighter as days pass by. She doesn’t mind the elevator ride to her unit if that would mean getting alone time with Kate. No matter how quiet or awkward it gets. Kate. The only person not intimidated to be in the same space with her. The only person who doesn’t give her a special treatment just because she is a Tara. The other person, aside from Jane Tennant, who shows confidence in her ability to do her job. That makes her feel good about herself. She likes that. And she likes Kate. A lot. But recently, for some reason, Kate hasn’t been at Boone’s to pick up her coffee. Nor does she take the elevator to the Finance unit. Is Kate avoiding her? Did she make her uncomfortable with the gestures? Today, Lucy is going to get her answers.
She does a three sixty scan of the lobby. There she is . Dressed in a matching maroon blazer and pencil skirt. Her blonde waves flowing behind her shoulders. Kate takes the opposite direction to the elevators. Lucy treads behind Kate across the hallways. She walks through the double doors that lead to the stairs. Lucy ran back to the lobby then took the elevators. “Y’all have a good day, okay? I’m in a hurry. It’s an emergency!” She tells the employees who step aside to make way for her. She pushed the button to a floor higher then leaps out of the elevator as soon as the doors open. She cut in through double doors to the next batch of stairs just in time to catch Kate on her tracks. “Hello there!” she says, drawing in a sharp breath. “Are you avoiding me?”
Kate startled, steps back and places a hand over her chest. “No! Why would I?”
“You tell me. Is the coffee that bad?”
“No!”
“Don’t like the puns?”
“You can do better. But that is not it,” Kate shakes her head.
“Why are you taking the stairs?”
“It’s healthy that way!”
“It’s a dozen sets of steps. No one takes the stairs, Kate. What is it?”
“Lucy! I told you I don’t have time for those.”
“Well, I am not ‘those’. I don’t back down easily.” She takes Kate's left hand, pulling her close. Her gaze up straight through Kate’s glasses then glides down to her lips. “Am I reading this whole thing between us, all wrong?”
Kate stares deep in Lucy’s eyes and then steps back. “I can’t.” She says, looks at her feet but grips Lucy’s right hand tight.
“You can’t? Or you won’t?” Lucy lowers her head, eyes chasing after Kate’s own. “Why?”
Kate lifts her head, hardens her eyes. Because your brother killed mine. “I am leaving Fort Worth in a few months,” she says instead, which is half true. She’ll go back to DC in no time once they’re done investigating Stellar.
Lucy tugs their joined hands. “Hmm…” She leans close. “Will you be out of the States?” She asks, pulling in Kate, inches closer.
“Lucy…” Kate’s skin warms beneath Lucy’s sweeping breath. Her heart thumping an irregular beat. Her brain is screaming at her, push Lucy away!Now! But her eyes drop to Lucy’s lips, tracing its perfect shape.
The loud, startling ring of Lucy’s phone jolts them apart. Lucy raises her left index finger between them. Her eyes are not leaving Kate’s. Her right hand is still holding Kate’s left. She pulls out her phone from her pocket, glances at the name on the screen. Liam. The Traitor.
Kate seizes the chance at Lucy’s momentary distraction, pulls her hand from her hold and runs up the staircase. Not once, glancing back down to where Lucy is standing.
Lucy grunts. She hits the call button and places the phone on her ear. “This better be a good reason for ya to call, ya jerk.” I just lost a heart stopping kiss . And Lucy hopes it’s just a kiss she lost and not the girl.
Liam: Bad time? Oh, wait. When is it a good time to call yah, anyway? Ya’ve been ghosting me for weeks!
Lucy (squeezes her eyes tight): Oh.. kay. What do ya want?
Liam: I’m having lunch at dad’s this Sunday. It’s time you and Lenny meet my wife to be.
Lucy: At dad’s?! With Lenny?! Y’all out of ya fucking mind!
Liam: Uh.. No. Lauren and Alistair are also coming. As buffers. So, ya don’t get to make excuses. Come’n Luce… Y’all have to bury the hatchet for a bit. I’m getting married.
Lucy exhales to calm her nerves and stays silent on the other line.
Liam: Mom will not be happy seeing ya two like this in what should be a harmonious family affair.
Lucy: Ya really be dragging mom into this?
Liam (teasing): Did it work?
Lucy: Ya didn’t have to. I’m going. For ya. Better give ya bride a heads up though. I’ll be ridiculously polite (she chuckles).
Liam: Thanks, Luce. Oh, and bring your rollerblades and gear with ya!
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Kate and Abbie’s Apartment - Fort Worth, Texas
Kate is surprised to see Abbie’s car parked in the garage. She pulls up beside her roommate’s car and is welcomed in by Abbie’s chili con carne. Her stomach grumbles. She was not able to get a proper meal after that almost compromising incident with Lucy at the staircases this morning. She buried herself with work to distract her all day. Lucy was good enough at reading between the lines. She was considerate not to annoy Kate any further. A surge of heat courses through her as she recalls how her body betrayed her at the very last second. That can’t happen again! She resents. She kicks her heels off and throws her keys on the bowl where she usually lays them down carefully.
“Hmm.. Somebody’s not having it today, huh?” Abbie quips.
Kate rolls her eyes and slumps on the couch.
Abbie walks over. “Here,” she says and lays a bowl of chili on the center table across from Kate. “I can hear your stomach complaining from the front door. What happened?”
Kate tips her glasses by its nose bridge. She reaches for the bowl of chili. “Don’t mind me. How are you home early?” She takes in a spoonful of chili.
“Well,” she looks at Kate. Reticence all over her face. “Liam is hosting a lunch at the Tara’s home this Sunday.”
“Uh-huh..” Kate takes another scoop of the chili in her mouth.
“It's to meet and greet his siblings. Lenny and Lucy in particular. I’ve met Lauren many times on a lot of occasions.”
Lenny and Lucy . “And, why are you telling me this? With that look on your face?” She leans forward. Points the spoon at Abbie.
“Kate, I need a wingman. Wingwoman.” She clasps her fingers together. “I’ve never bothered you about your bridesmaid’s duties ‘coz I know you are busy. And responsible enough to be ready by the day of my wedding. But for this one, I need you. I need someone in my corner. Liam—”
Kate raises an open palm. “Is there a dress code? Since these are Fort Worth’s elite we are talking about?”
“Oh, my… Thank you. Thank you,” Abbie close to tears, covers her mouth then exhales in relief. “Liam said casual, comfortable clothes. By the way, do you know how to skate?”
“Skate as in skateboard? No. Why?”
“Skates as in rollerblades or rollerskates. We are going to play a game the Taras used to play every Sunday when they were younger,” Abbie says. “It’s my husband-to-be's attempt at fixing whatever is going on between Lenny and Lucy and will also serve as an icebreaker for me. Don’t worry. I’ll ask him to team you up with us.”
So, Lenny and Lucy have a strained relationship? Interesting!
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