To: paigedineensings
From: drewbakermanagerinchief
Subject: Update
Hello, Paige,
I was just checking in to see how you were doing. Your last e – mail said that you might be coming home early, but I have heard nothing else since then. Please just let me know how the job is going.
Thanks, Drew.
Paige flipped her hair over her shoulder and took a sip of coffee before clicking the reply button, angling the laptop away from the other desks even though no one in the common area was even looking in her direction.
Hey Drew,
Things are going very well, actually. Sorry I didn't keep you posted on the situation. As you probably have guessed, given that it's been over a week now, that was a false alarm.
I have many ideas for a record that I would like to talk to you with in more detail when you have time. It could wait until I get back but I am quite excited about it and I don't particularly want to wait several months. This music wouldn't be all that like what my selection for the bars have been. But I have a passion for it, I think. For the ideas specifically, and if this is what this is, that hasn't happened to me before. Is it too early to have a title in mind? Because I'm thinking "Humans." Or should I just keep it to my name? That's what Taylor Swift did, right?
Anyway, I'm sure I'll talk to you soon.
Paige.
She clicked send, clicking her tongue once and glancing up as Walter crossed in front of her, even though he wasn't trying to see her screen. She felt bad that she hadn't been in better contact with Drew, but she was out here to find herself, and all that, right? Constantly talking to people from home wasn't going to help her figure out her identity. But she was getting excited about the new ideas she had for an album. An album. Her album. She could feel the excitement all the way down to her toes.
Maybe this was the feeling Drew had sent her to find.
Walter had just joined Sylvester to the side of the room, both of them studying a white board. Their postures were relaxed.
Paige smiled. Obviously nothing was going to be fixed immediately. But there had been a conscious effort on Walter's part these past days to connect more with his team, and they were responding to it. Toby was a little less snarky, Sylvester a little less anxious, and Happy a little less closed off. It was only baby steps, but Paige could see the potential. They already all loved each other. It was just a matter of fully embracing that.
And now that she had seen Walter and Ray interact, it was clear that her boss was genuinely fond of the strange man. Ray clearly was no genius – he had succeeded in breaking several appliances in the garage in the week he had been here – but that almost didn't seem to matter. Paige supposed she shouldn't be surprised. His sister hadn't been a genius either, although Walter had told Paige that she had been "in her own way." For someone who wasn't good at connecting with people, and who claimed he didn't want to, Walter sure found himself developing attachments to those around him.
He really was quite fascinating.
Although fascinating wasn't the word that Paige would use to describe his relationship with Janice. That was confusing as all get out. It was so clear to Paige that Janice had some sort of real feelings for Walter – she smiled whenever he was speaking and would touch his shoulder when they stood next to each other, something that bothered Paige – and yet Walter seemed to return none of her affectionate feelings. He didn't seem to pay attention when she spoke, he lightly flinched at her touch, and it seemed as if sometimes he had to be reminded to give her any attention at all.
Maybe they were just together for the companionship? There didn't have to be passion in a relationship. Sometimes two people were just comfortable with each other and decided to be together and there was no weak knees or warm eyes and that worked. Maybe, Paige thought, that was what was going on with Walter and Janice. The team had told her, after all, that he didn't start dating her due to feelings but because that was what people did. So maybe that was it. Companionship.
Except she saw nothing special in his eyes when he looked at her and there was the whole flinching thing. Paige shook her head. She was back to confused.
"Hey, team," Cabe said, marching into the garage and letting the door swing behind him. "I got us a job, and it's pretty cushy."
"Cushy like the tushy," Toby said, leaning over and patting Happy on the bottom.
She swatted him. "We are at work."
"What's the job?" Walter asked, capping a marker and walking over with Sylvester.
"There's this rich fella out in the Beverly Hills area," Cabe said, "name is Lebeau. Rumor has it he has some stolen artwork in his mansion and he's using a big party tonight as a smoke screen for smuggling it out of the country. A wealthy private party is willing to pay us a big wad of cash if we manage to catch him and recover the painting."
"I've never understood why things like that are so valued," Walter said.
"But…" Paige jumped up, holding up a hand to hopefully silence him before he told Cabe they weren't interested, "we have a chance to earn a lot of money here, and that's what a lucrative business does, right?"
Walter looked at her for a few moments, and then shrugged. "I suppose. This party is tonight?"
"Yep," Cabe said. "It starts in six hours. All of you able to take part?"
"I mean, I don't have anything to wear," Paige said, biting her lip. "I'm not being a diva," she protested when five heads turned toward her. "I'm poor. I don't have nice clothes. And I assume this isn't casual."
"You would be correct," Cabe said. "Our client has some uniforms that would suit Happy and Toby. Walter, I assume you have a suit?"
Walter grunted and nodded.
"Good. Paige, the client can provide you with an appropriate dress, so don't worry about that. But I gotta get an official okay before I tell them." His eyes scanned the team, eyebrows raised. Everyone took turns glancing at each other and nodding, and then all eyes fell on Walter.
He was quiet a moment, then nodded. "Sure. Let's go make some money."