The Scoop
Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Lunatic
Maggie composed herself, and took a deep breath. "Of course, Dick," she said very quietly. "But that has nothing to do with my personal life, and who I might or might not choose to spend time with when I am not at work or a company function. If you feel that my friend -" She glanced at the smirking Bill. "-Is inappropriate to bring to functions and parties, then that is fine and I will not do so; thank you for letting me know. But my own time is just that, my own time."
"Maggie, that's not the attitude of a company director," said Dick.
Maggie felt a roaring in her ears and she wondered if she were having a stroke, or perhaps a heart attack. She heard her own voice say, very calmly, "I see. Well, I'll certainly take that under advisement, Dick. Was there anything else?" She'd heard him say exactly the same thing to a board member in a situation that was laughably similar.
Dick blinked. "Ah, no, that was it," he said. Bill's smirk had fallen off his face.
Maggie felt her mouth curve in a cold smile. "Very well. I'll see you both in the morning, gentlemen. Have a wonderful evening." She stood up, and Dick scrambled to open the door for her. She strode out his door, out of the office, out of the building, and into the eternal rain. She had left her umbrella in her office, but she didn't care; the rain mixed with the tears running down her face.
Arn was there as usual when she arrived at her house, ready with a towel to dry her off. "Rough day, Maggie?" he asked, looking into her eyes.
Maggie collapsed into her easy chair. "Terrible," she said. "I can't believe what happened. It's all over the office, that we're seeing each other."
Arn sat down on the ottoman, put her feet in his lap, and slipped off her shoes. "How is that a bad thing?" he asked.
Maggie put her hands over her face. "It shouldn't be," she said. "But half the people there made fun of me," she said. "I told you they would. And then Dick…God…he called me into his office and dressed me down over it." She recounted the conversation.
Arn was amazed. "That's ridiculous," he said.
"I know," she said. "I guess Bill put him up to it, because I hurt his pride by not sleeping with him." She snorted. "How stupid. If I sleep with Bill, a much younger man, Dick will ease up about my seeing you."
Arn blinked. "Are you going to?" he asked.
Maggie snatched her feet away from him. "Are you insane?" she shouted.
Arn regarded her mildly. "Not that I know of," he replied. "I just asked. I didn't say it would be a good idea."
Maggie burst into tears. "I can't believe everybody is saying these incredibly insane things to me," she sobbed. Jumping up suddenly, she slid her shoes back on, and grabbed her things. "I'm going out," she said abruptly, and ran from the apartment, leaving an astonished Arn staring after her.