Line Of Trust

“Get a hold of yourself Young. She is just doing her job. Maybe that is how she normally acts,”Desiree thought as she looked at Miranda who was keenly listening to Taylor. But as much as she tried, she could still see a few things that almost ticked her off. This Miranda woman was now crossing over to her threshold and she was beginning to be very uncomfortable. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms on her chest as she listened keenly.

“This is all we have and we would like to know that It’s safe and making money for us. Otherwise we would just put it away in some safety deposit box or one of those safes you put in the back room of your house but I don’t think that will be a good idea,” Desiree said.

“Yeah, you would be losing hundreds if not thousands in interest,” Miranda said.  “Okay, I have a number of suggestions. I just want to go over these options and see what would be the best way forward,” she added as she handed Desiree and Taylor each a folder.

“What am I looking at exactly?” Taylor asked.

“Tony and I sat down and decided that these were your top choices in investment options,” she said. “They are not many but we had to consider the lowest risk as well as what would maybe work faster in terms of returns. Though I must point out that the first payout won’t be for a few months,” Miranda said.

“How many months are we talking about here?” Desiree asked.

“It could be eight months but we can always make it work with six,” Miranda said. Again, Desiree noticed Miranda looking at Taylor. There was a smile playing at the corner of her mouth and the icing on the cake, was when Miranda put one leg over the other, as if the dress wasn’t short enough.

Desiree looked at Taylor and excused herself to go to the bathroom. In all honesty, the only reason she left was because she was feeling her inner serial killer rising to the surface. She wasn’t sure how long she was away but in the bathroom. She paced up and down for a good long minute calming herself down before she splashed some water on her face. After patting her face dry, she walked back to the office only to find Taylor on his feet and Miranda giggling at some joke – perhaps she had cracked it.

“Actually, now that you’ve mentioned it, I have been looking for a new landscaper. My old one decided to take a leave of absence,” Desiree heard her say.

“Hey Dee, I believe I just got a new client,” Taylor said smiling.

“This is great, babe. Trust me he is the best at what he does,” Desiree said as she looked at Miranda, who in turn looked at Taylor.

“Trust me when I say, I have every intention of finding that out,” she said smiling. Something about the tone of her voice made her really uncomfortable.

“Okay,” she said. “So you guys are on your feet. Have you already made a decision?” she asked.

“Taylor thought you guys would have a discussion and look over the folders and then get back to me,” Miranda said.

“Okay, guess we will be calling you then,” Desiree said.

“Sure. Here is my card. You can call me when you make up your mind,” Miranda said as she handed her card to Taylor. Desiree waited for her to hand her a card but it never happened.

“Yeah, I might need a card too,” she said. Miranda smiled and handed Desiree a card.

“Sorry about that. I am a bit out of it. Busy morning,” she said quickly.

“A bit smitten is more like it,”Desiree thought as she took the card from her. 

“Well, thank you very much, Miranda. We will be calling you as soon as we have everything figured out,” Taylor said as he shook hands with Miranda.

“I will be looking forward to it,” Miranda said smiling at Taylor.

“Man, it’s like I’m not even here,”Desiree thought. “Yeah, we’ll call you,” Desiree said as she began walking out of the office. As they walked out, Taylor slipped an arm around her waist and smiled at her.

“Everything okay, babe?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said shrugging.

“Really, because you seem pissed off,” he said. Desiree shook her head and walked the rest of the way in silence until they got to the car. “Seriously, you okay?” he asked again when they got in the car. Desiree turned and looked at him.

“What did you think of Miranda?” she asked.

“Miranda, she’s nice,” he said, shrugging.

“Really? You didn’t notice the way she was flirting with you?” Desiree asked.

“She was?” Taylor asked, surprised.

“Yeah, I’m surprised you didn’t notice. It was quite obvious,” she said almost angrily.

“Oh honey, I don’t care whether she had on a cat suit or her t*ts were hanging out. I only have eyes for you,” Taylor said. Desiree smiled and leaned her head against the seat and closed her eyes. Taylor was right, she had nothing to worry about.

            *********************************************************

At the end of the day, Desiree made her way to the apartment. She felt guilty for not going there for such a long time. When she got there, she found that Cynthia and Rochelle had just walked in a few minutes earlier.

“Hey there, stranger,” Rochelle said as Desiree walked towards where they were seated.

“Hey guys,” Desiree said as she sat down.

“Whoa, you look really fancy. Where are you coming from?” Cynthia asked.

“Work,” Desiree said. Rochelle raised an eyebrow.

“Looking like that? Did you get another job and forget to tell me about it?” she asked.

“We had to meet Tony first and I didn’t have time to change,” Desiree said.

“Whoa, you went to Tony’s office looking like that? What are you trying to do? Make me look bad?” she asked. Desiree shrugged.

“Why?” she asked.

“I am always in jeans and tops, you know, casual, and now my sister goes in looking all perfect,” Rochelle said.

“Well, you are sleeping with the boss. You would go in looking like crap and you would still be in everyone’s good books,” Cynthia said, laughing.

“Yeah, no one wants to piss off the boss’ girl,” Desiree said smiling.

“So anyway, did Tony help? Have you guys decided on what to do with the cash?” Rochelle asked,

“Yeah but he had to rush out. We were left in the good care of Miranda Littlejohn,” Desiree said.

“Who’s that?” Cynthia asked.

“Some woman in Tony’s office, apparently one of the top consultants,” Desiree said.

“She is not just a top consultant, she is the kind of person you give a raise to every time she asks because she brings in millions in billable hours,” Rochelle said. Desiree raised an eyebrow.

“Really?” she asked.

“Oh yeah. She is like the rainmaker in that firm. Tony’s told me all about her and if you ask me, she is perfect to handle Taylor’s cash,” Rochelle said. Desiree shrugged and leaned against the couch.

“Well, it’s now our cash,” she said.

“What? Are you already cashing in, sis? Naughty, naughty,” Rochelle said smiling.

“No, I have something little I thought I’d add on there. You know after selling the painting,” Desiree said.

“Wait hold up, what painting?” Rochelle asked. Desiree sighed when she remembered she had not told her sister of Leon’s little gift.

“Leon paid your sister a visit…” Cynthia started.

“…it was more like stalking, if you ask me,” Desiree said, interrupting Cynthia.

“Whatever you want to call it. So he gave Dee a painting, apparently he bought it for her some time before they broke up,” Cynthia said.

“And he was just giving it to her now? Why now? What is he up to?” Rochelle asked. Desiree shrugged.

“Search me,” Cynthia said.

“He said that he hated seeing it every time because it reminded him of me,” Desiree said.

“So what happened to it?” Rochelle asked.

“I sold it. He said I could if I wanted to and I did want to,” Desiree said.

“Wow,” Rochelle said. “When you really get over someone you go all out, don’t you?” she asked.

“Yeah she does,” Cynthia said. “Especially when she has twenty-two thousand reasons to get rid of it,” she added. Rochelle turned and looked at her sister, her jaw slightly open in disbelief.

“You sold it for twenty-two grand?” she asked. Desiree smiled and nodded.

“Where did you think I found the money for that pair of shoes I got you last week? Hint, overtime at the store doesn’t pay that well,” she said. Rochelle smiled and nodded.

“Well, now that I know we are rich, how about I talk to you about this gorgeous Chanel….” Rochelle never got to finish that sentence. Desiree shook her head and looked at her.

“Honey….we are not rich. Iam rich,” she said, smiling.