ENEMIES PART 2

Walking through the doors of Kenmore Agency, I was freshly showered and dressed to kill. My mind wondering if what’s-his-face still had the cojones, or at least some feeling left  in them, to show up to work today. 

“Daisy!” 

My steady stride slowed at the sound of Gil Kenmore yelling my name. Knowing full well the price my parents paid to have my teeth straightened, I smiled confidently, putting them to good use. “Heeeey, Gil,” I sang. 

His face scrunched, lowering the wire rimmed glasses on his nose. “Are you okay?”

I felt my smile began to waver as I questioned my decision to be so chipper this morning. “Yeah, why?”

“You’re cheery disposition…” Gil cleared his throat as my sharp eyebrow warned him to choose his words wisely. “Can you pencil me in for a meeting later this afternoon?” 

“You know that’s no problem. Did you want to quickly chat now?” I asked knowing from past experience that he was going to insist on an afternoon meeting. It would give him time to rehearse whatever agenda he had.

He smiled stiffly. “No, no, this afternoon is perfect.” He adjusted his suit jacket and nodded, ending our conversation that lasted a few seconds longer than usual. 

“See you then!” I said cheerfully. I turned around, ready to be on my merry way only to find Evan scowling in my direction.

“Good Morning, Evan,” I greeted sweetly.

“Can I speak to you privately?” He asked through gritted teeth. He looked like wolf enticing little red riding hood.

I glanced at my watch. “You can set up something for later in the week.” I smiled and breezed by him only to have pull me into his office. “What’s your damage?!” I yelled as he slammed the door behind him. 

“Oh, you know what my damage is.” His voice was on the verge of hysteria and it warned me to shut up. He stalked slowly towards me. “I had to ice my balls this morning,” he explained. I snorted but sobered up quickly as I saw his jaw tighten to the point I thought his teeth would crack. “Oh, you find it funny?” he asked with a slight raise of his eyebrows. I hadn’t realized he was still coming toward me until I bumped into the frosty window.

“Evan, don’t do anything that would regret down the road…”

He threw his head back in laughter. “You think I’d regret doing anything to you after the beating my dick took?”  My breathing came faster as the awareness spread through my belly. I don’t know if it was the smell of coffee and mint on his breath or his foul language but my body was fully aware of him. With a mind of their own, my eyes darted to his manhood. “Take a look sweetheart because after what you did today, you’ll never go near it again.” 

His breathing matched mine. Evan stood frozen, standing his ground. I pushed lightly against his chest, barely moving him. “Evan, relax. I’m sorry. Is that what you wanted to hear?” 

“Dammit, Daisy. I consider myself a good guy. I’ve been nothing but nice to you. I don’t have one mean bone in my body…”

I picked at imaginary lint on his shoulder. “Yeah, I know. Everybody looooves you.” 

Evan pulled his shoulder back. “I didn’t have a mean bone in my body until you took away my ability to have kids.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. I bet with some therapy you’ll gain the feeling back.”

He stared at me blankly. “You really think this is funny.”

“No, it’s not funny. I think it’s bullshit.”

“Bullshit.” He began to shake his head and just for a second I thought I broke him. “How? I didn’t kick you in your vagina."

I decided to air it all out. “I think it’s bullshit that I’ve been working here for almost five years, busting my ass, and you’re the one getting promoted.”

With hands on his hips, Evan began to pace. “I didn’t ask for it.”

“And you didn’t decline it either.”

He racked one hand through his hair. How obtuse of him to not see how easy it all was for him. “Why would I decline it? It’s more money, more pay and a bigger office.”

I sighed. “Congratulations. I think we’re done here.” I began to walk to the door, when a knock sounded. I opened the door to find Gil waiting patiently for wonder boy.

“Oh, good, you’re both here.”

The feeling of impending doom began to blossom in my gut and my palms began to sweat. “Hey, Gil, what’s up?” I threw a few playful fists his way, trying to keep the mood light like I’ve seen he and Evan do a million times before. Instead of reciprocating with a few playful punches of his own, he cowered as if I was beating him down. “Oh, I’m sorry, Gil. I wasn’t really going to hit you…”

He pushed his glasses up his nose as he stood back up to his full five feet six inches. “Yes, well…” he cleared his throat. “I wanted to inform you that there is a big campaign that Nomads is launching. I want the two of you to take it on.”

My heart beat at such an alarming rate I thought I was having a heart attack. Nomads was the largest luxury sneaker brand and our biggest client. I wanted to work with them for the longest time, but I always got assigned as an assistant. I didn’t even care if Evan tagged along. “Oh, that’s great!” I exclaimed. “I can have the first—”

Gil looked past me to Evan. “Evan, I’m leaving you and Daisy in charge. Please have the first drafts handed to me by the end of the week.”

“Sure, no problem, Gil. Thank you for the opportunity,” Evan answered dutifully.

Gil smiled at Evan easily. There was no forced reaction. “You deserve it.” They shook hands, I held out my hand to partake in a shake; do what my male counterparts do. I was met with a puzzled look as Gil exited the office.

I gave Evan my best death stare. He held up both hands in surrender. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Do you still hate me?” he asked in return.

“Yes, I do. but…why does he hate me?”

Evan let out a heavy sigh. “I wouldn’t say hate…but it doesn’t help that you tried to beat him down just now.”

“I did no such thing! I was trying to be playful.”

Evan scrunched his face. “Why?”

“Because you do it!” How many times have I walked by to see Gil patting Evan on the back or telling jokes that weren’t funny but they giggled like school girls anyway. It was frustrating to witness. While I put in hours of work, Evan had time to be the fun guy. I wanted to be the fun guy!

“Don’t be me. Be you.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t have time for this,” I mumbled.

“When do you want to meet up to brainstorm?” he yelled at my back as I proceeded to make my exit.

“I’ll send you what I come up with later today. We can keep the interaction to a minimum.”

Evan walked past me to shut the door again. “I will not jeopardize my career because you have some chip on your shoulder.”

“I have the chip?”

“Yes, you do. We can meet after lunch today, if that’s okay with you.”

I waved him off with a flick of my hand. “Fine. Whatever.”

“Daisy, I’m trying to be nice. Meet me half way.”

I eyed him from head to toe. “No.” I walked out the door without a backwards glance. I just needed to make it through the day without losing my shit.

Let’s pray.