He wants my job.
As soon as it hits me I feel like a total idiot for not having worked that one out before. Of course he does. I leapfrogged over him. He roust totally loathe me underneath that polite, pleasant veneer. “I don't remember nothing” I exclaim quickly, as if the very idea's ridiculous. “Just... the last three years is a bit of a blank.” “The last three years?” Byron throws back his head and laughs incredulously. “I'm sorry, Lexi, but you know as well as I do, in this business three years is a lifetime!” “Well, I'll soon pick it all up again,” I say, trying to sound robust. “And the doctors said I might remember everything at any time.” “Or presumably you might not.” He adopts a concerned, sympathetic expression. “That must be a great worry for you, Lexi. That your head will be blank forever.” I meet his gaze with as much steel as I can muster. Nice try. But you're not going to freak me out that easily. “I'm sure I'll be back to normal very soon,” I say briskly. “Back to work, running the department... I was having a great chat with Simon Johnson earlier,” I throw in for good measure. “Uh-?huh.” He taps the water bottle thoughtfully. “So... what do you want to do about Tony Dukes?” Fuck. He's outmaneuvered me. There's nothing I can say about Tony Dukes, and he knows it. I shuffle the papers on my desk, playing for time. “Maybe... you could make a decision on that?” I say at last. “I'd be happy to.” He gives me a patronizing smile. “I'll take care of everything. You just look after yourself, Lexi. Get yourself better, take as much time as you need. Don't worry about a thing!” “Well... thank you.” I force a pleasant tone. “I appreciate it, Byron.” 146 “So!” Dana appears at the door. “Are you two having a nice chat? Catching up with things, Lexi?”
“Absolutely.” I smile, my teeth gritted. “Byron's being very helpful.” “Anything I can do to help...” He spreads his arms in a self-?deprecating gesture. “I'm right here. Memory intact!” “Super!” Dana glances at her watch. “Now, Lexi, I have to shoot off to lunch, but I can see you out if we leave now...”
“Don't worry, Dana,” I say quickly. “I'll stay on here a bit longer and read through some paperwork.” I'm not leaving this building without talking to Fi. No way.
“Okey-?doke.” She beams. “Well, lovely to see you, Lexi, and let's talk on the phone about when you want to return properly.” She does the phone-?under-?chin gesture and I find myself copying it.
“Talk soon!” The two of them walk away, and I hear Byron saying, “Dana, may I have a word? We need to discuss this situation. With the greatest respect to Lexi...” My office door shuts and I tiptoe toward it. I open it a chink and poke my head out. “...she's clearly not fit to lead this department...” Byron's voice is audible as he and Dana turn the corner toward the lifts. Bastard. He didn't even bother waiting until he was out of earshot. I head back into my office, slump down at the desk, and bury my head in my hands. All my euphoria has vanished. I have no idea how I ever got this job. I lift a paper at random from the heap in front of me and stare at it. It's something about insurance premiums. How do I know all this stuff, anyway? When did I learn it? I feel like I've woken up clinging to the top of Mount Everest and I don't even know what a crampon is. Heaving a huge sigh, I put the sheet down. I need to talk to someone. Fi. I lift the phone receiver and dial 352, which is her extension, unless they've changed the system. “Flooring department, Fiona Roper speaking.” “Fi, it's me!” I say. “Lexi. Listen, can we talk?” “Of course,” Fi says in formal tones. “Do you want me to come in and see you now? Or should I make an appointment with Clare?“ My heart sinks. She sounds s o . . . remote. ”I just meant we could have a chat! Unless you're busy...“ ”Actually, I was about to go to lunch.“ ”Well, I'll come too!“ I say eagerly. ”Like old times! I could die for a hot chocolate. And does Morellis still do those great paninis?“ ”Lexi...“ ”Fi, I really need to talk to you, okay?“ I clutch the phone tighter. ”I...I don't remember anything. And it's freaking me out a bit. The whole situation.“ I try to laugh. ”Just hang on, I'll be out in a moment...“ I thrust down the receiver and grab a piece of paper. I hesitate, then scrawl, ”Please action all these, Byron. Many thanks, Lexi.“ I know I'm playing right into his hands. But right now all I care about is seeing my friends. Seizing my bag and briefcase, I hurry out of my office, past Clare's desk, and into the main Flooring department. ”Hi, Lexi,“ says a nearby girl. ”Did you want something?“ 148 ”No, it's okay, thanks, I'm just meeting Fi for lunch...“ I trail off. I can't see Fi anywhere in the office. Or Carolyn. Or Debs. The girl looks surprised. ”I think they've already gone to lunch. You only just missed them, though...“ ”Oh right.“ I try to hide my discomfiture. ”Thanks. I expect they meant to meet in the lobby.“ I swivel on my heel, then walk as fast as I can in my spiky shoes along the corridorjust in time to see Debs disappearing into a lift. ”Wait!“ I cry out, breaking into a run. ”I'm here! Debs!” But the lift doors are already closing. She heard me. I know she did. Thoughts are spinning wildly around in my head as I shove open the door to the stairs and clatter down. They knew I was coming. Are they avoiding me? What the fuck has gone on these last three years? We're friends. Okay, I know I'm boss now... but you can be friends with your boss, can't you? Can't you? I arrive at the ground floor and almost tumble into the foyer. The first thing I see is Carolyn and Debs heading out the main glass doors, with Fi just in front of them.
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