Just a Number (Downtown #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

just say that I believe your name could possibly be carved in the men’s bathroom.” She snickered softly. Thankfully.
    “Please tell me my clothes stayed on and there was no dancing involved.”
    “Wellll… Just kidding. Nothing like that. Not to worry, you did not perform a big theatrical number for all to see. Although, a certain handsome man, at the bar, probably had blue balls, courtesy of you molesting him.”
    “You’re kidding, again?” For some reason I had a feeling that did happen. I did wake up with the taste of men’s cologne in my mouth.
    “Nope. That really happened. I knew you were gone after that move.”
    I shook my head carefully. “Thanks for staying with me. Thanks for the hangover cure. But please, don’t tell me anymore about my naughty status.”
    “It wasn’t that bad. I pulled you off of him before you got out of hand.” She laughed loudly this time and I buried my head in my hands.
    Saying goodbye to Tomasina, I wondered if the day could get any worse.
    Oh yes. It could . The meeting with Suze. Something was going on. Tensions amongst higher ups were beginning to flare once they began to receive the final word. People were starting to pace up and down the hallways. What was the situation; was our company taking over another? Were we merging as one, to form a new company? What would happen with our job security? Was anyone safe? Was there someone equivalent to me? Would they be in charge of me or me in charge of them? Would we co-exist or would one of us be eliminated?
    I was beyond stressed. I needed to relax. I needed yoga.
    I was leaving soon for a four day retreat. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Or was it? Maybe the timing wasn’t right. I needed to make a point to talk… to remind Suze. Did she forget I was leaving? I couldn’t wait to talk to her.
    I knew she would set me straight. There was absolutely no bullshit with her. She told it how it was in her own fashion. Wacky and high strung one moment, then cool as a cucumber the next. Maybe it was all the music she listened to—upbeat to mellow—that ruled her delivery. After all, I rarely saw her without her ears filled with earbuds and cords hanging down the front of her crisp, designer clothing.
    Rumor was: our buxom-blonde CEO was performing DJ gigs on the weekends. You’d think it would shock us, but after seeing the way she took over the DJ booth at our last holiday party; she knew her shit and rocked it until the club cut the power and asked us all to leave. Since then, behind her back or right in front of her face with her music thumping in her ears, we call her DJSuze. I loved her. She was the best boss I ever had.
    After reading Suze’s text “Ready!” I made my way to her office. I was somewhat at ease when I walked in on the woman-in-charge shaking her booty in my direction. In her hands she held an open folder filled with document that looked like contracts.
    “Come in, Willow. Have a seat.” Obviously she knew it was me, my reflection visible in the floor-to-ceiling glass before her, as she had not turned around. She had, however, stopped wiggling her JLO backside.
    “How can you be so calm?” I asked as she freed her ears to give me her attention.
    “Listen to the rhythm. Go with the flow.” I was afraid the beat might land me on my ass right out the front door onto the cold, hard sidewalk.
    “Speaking of flow, or possibly relaxing, I’m supposed to be leaving for a retreat in a couple days. I will be away for almost a week. Should I, maybe, re-schedule?”
    “Of course not. There’s nothing we can do at this point. It is what it is…” Removing the cords of her earbuds completely from around her neck, she sat down, and started filling me in on the meeting she had attended. The good news was that we would remain in our building as she had stated earlier in her email. Details needed to be worked out if we would move to another floor. I would have my own office, but I may have to move to