13: A cop, a billionaire, and Karma Ashcroft
They both jump and break away from each other. Karma leans against Amy's desk and holds her chest as it was beating out of its ribcage from the excitement. The sudden relief sentiment couldn't have reduced the pace of her rapid heartbeat quick enough.
Hera opens the door, "Ms. Raudenfeld, I…" she looks back from Amy to Karma and then back to Amy then quickly looks away, bringing a folder up so that she can hide her eyes from seeing her boss naked.
Amy looks down at her body and then takes refuge behind Karma immediately. Karma tries walking away but Amy pulls her right back.
"What is it Hera?" Karma rolls her eyes.
"I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to walk in like that. I am so sorry." Hera stutters still keeping the folder in front of her face.
Great! Just what I needed! A misunderstanding! "Oh Hera it is so not what you think." Karma drawls, pressing real hard on the 'not'. "This is not what it looks like - at all."
Amy frowns as she stares at Karma. She then whispers, "What the hell do you mean? It is exactly what it looks like."
"Do you want words running around this company? I don't think you fucking do!" Karma snarls lowly.
Hera starts turning on her heels. She doesn't want to know what's going on because the situation makes her uncomfortable and she just doesn't want to deal with the thought. "I think I better leave."
Karma stops her, "Hey wait a minute! Come back here. It's not what you're thinking. What is wrong with you? Nothing happened here. Ms. Raudenfeld and I worked late last night and we were stuck here all night. That's it!"
"Is that why you asked for the key this morning?" Hera asks.
"Exactly. Ms. Raudenfeld failed to remember the spare key in the cabinet so I thank you for letting me know."
Amy places her hand around Karma's waist pulling her body even more against her and Karma pushes Amy's hand away from her. A move that did not go unnoticed by Hera, "What do you want Hera?"
Hera takes the folder down and failed to make eye contact with either of them, "I am just bringing you a few more papers for you to sign."
"Give it to Karma and I'll forward them to you later." Amy orders.
Hera does as she's told and then leaves as soon as possible.
"Get your hands off me!" Karma pushes Amy off. "What the fuck were you doing?"
"Didn't you see me naked? I had to hide behind you. I couldn't let her see me like this."
"Then why didn't you just put your clothes on? It's been a while." Karma walks over to the couch and throws the clothes back at Amy. She looks at her watch, "You see. You're going to be late for your eleven o'clock meeting."
"It's only about ten. I still have time." Amy says as she puts on her shirt over her head, "I don't know what you are fussing over. I just have to take care of personal hygiene and I'll be ready in no time."
"Yes but I still have to go home, change and come back here. I'm not wearing the same thing from yesterday."
"You don't have to. Come take a shower with me and I will lend you some of my formal wear." She nonchalantly says.
Did she really just say that with a straight face? Karma looks at her wide-eyed while Amy just throws her a blank look, and shrugs.
"What?"
Karma laughs, "I'm sorry but…what?"
"Excuse you for what?" Amy grabs her trousers and pulls each leg one by one at a time.
"Take a shower with you? Amy, are you stupid by accident or on purpose?" Karma asks.
Amy blinks, "What's your deal? It's not like we haven't showered together before."
"That was before but this is now. And we're not fiancée or affiliated to each other in any way that would be appropriate for me to shower with you. We've crossed too many lines so far. You're my fucking boss!"
"Whatever!" Amy takes her shirt off again, unhooks her bra, takes off her pants, and slides down her underwear, and stands in front of Karma naked, "I'm going to take a shower. You're coming or what?"
Karma's eyes flutters shut as she looks away quickly, "Amy, come on! You have got to stop treating me like I'm not your employee. Have some respect!"
"I respect you Karma. I respect you very much. I just don't understand why you have to make such a big deal out of things."
"It's because you know me too much. This…" she points to them both, "…is not a healthy boss-employee relationship."
"Come on! It would be if you would just relax and go with the flow."
"Oh yeah? Would you act that way if it were another assistant standing in front of you right now?"
Amy couldn't find an answer to that.
"I thought so." Karma says.
"Listen Karma, we can discuss the boundaries of our professional relationship later OK. But right now, there's a very important investor coming in and we're already late for the meeting. So, as your boss, I am telling you, to minimize the time that we take in getting ready, that we take a shower together." She explains and then closes the distance in between them. I want to wash you. Amy thinks as she pictures Karma in a hot bubble bath and she's running a sponge all over her body, washing everywhere. "…um …let's just go and get this shower over with alright." Amy walks pass Karma and heads for the small apartment room, "And besides, didn't you notice that it was double shower last night? We don't necessarily have to be in the same shower stall."
"Oh." What a pity!
Dallas Police Department
"Call her." giving her a sympathetic look, Yang drops the folders from his hands on his desk. He then leans over to straighten the mess that the folders made as the papers from inside spread all over. "Well," he said, also shifting the monitor to a better angle and now he has a neat desk, "if worst comes to worst and she rejects you, I have this cousin. She's new in town and…"
When Yang didn't finish, Sam glances over her shoulder and saw that he was staring into space as if he discovered the mystery in its endless pit, "And…what?"
"Forget it. I just got a better idea and I don't know why we didn't think of that before because it just makes sense." Yang gives Sam a bright smile. "Go by the company after work and pick her up."
"Are you nuts?" Sam throws her pen and notebook down on the desk. She takes her feet off her desk and sits upright, "I can't do that."
"That girl makes you the shyest human being ever. Why can't you?"
With an embarrassed laugh, Sam turned back towards Yang, "I know she agreed to go out with me today but we haven't set any plans as to where we would meet or what we would do."
"You are not serious. You did not talk to her ever since?"
Any minute now, Sam assured herself, she was just thinking rash and that Karma hadn't forgotten about her and the date already because that would be hurtful, "I gave her my phone number but she hasn't called me."
Yang whistles as he shakes his head negatively. He places his feet on his desk and shifts his body back on his reclining chair, "You shouldn't have done that. Giving up your number first is the worst kind of punishment. You are giving her all power."
Sam waves dismissively, "I don't think Karma is like that. Maybe something happened or she's extremely busy and can't find the time to call me."
"It's been forty eight hours."
"Maybe I should call her." Sam suggests, looking down at the cordless phone at the edge of her desk, "What do you think?"
"But you don't have her number." Yang says.
"A good thing about being a cop, you can pull out a dossier on about everyone." Sam opens her computer and starts opening the database software, "Hopefully I find her."
"Hopefully, now." Yang sighs.
"She's been out of the country for years, will I find anything recent on there?" Sam breaks Yang out of his reverie as she sifts through the files with the Ashcroft last name as label. As soon as she falls on Karma's folder, which was within seconds because Karma is a unique name, she clicks on it. "I found her."
Yang walks over to his friend and looks over her shoulder. "Are you sure that's her number?"
Reaching for the handset of the cordless telephone, she shrugs, "Only one way to find out." She dials the number on the screen while her heart beats right out of her chest and she breathes deeply when she brings the phone to her ear. She looks up at Yang who gives her a reassuring smile and she smiles back.
"It's ringing." Sam shrieks like an adolescent just growing in to puberty. After two rings, Karma picks up. "Hello Karma, it's me…I'm fine, about you? I'm glad…I was calling just to check if we were still on for tonight. You didn't forget about me, did you? I'd be heartbroken…" she blushes, "I am glad that you didn't…I saw you on TV…" Sam laughs, "…Don't worry, I think you looked great. I agree with what you said… You are on your way to a meeting? Ok…so, I can pick you up at work around eight? Good…See ya later!"
Sam hangs up and looks up at Yang who was looking down at with his one hand crossed over his chest while the other hand is propped against the forearm and cupping on his chin. "I'm picking her up at work at eight." Sam beams.
Yang gives her two thumbs up, "you see. Was that so hard?"
RG Holdings
They showered together.
It is not every day that you get to shower with your boss. Well, not together – together but you know, close enough.
Amy had been in one stall and Karma had been in the other stall – obviously something is wrong. Amy had noticed. She wanted to leave her stall and crossed into Karma's stall and shower together – as they should be. She's right next to her. She's so close to her – yet so far from her. They stay separated even though they are together under one of the most unusual circumstances.
Amy is now Karma's boss.
Never in a million years would she have imagined that life would place them where they are right now. Six years ago, they had been in a weird, twisted relationship built on a lie and they fell in love – at least on her part, she did. They ran away together and had made promises that they were about to accomplish and then…BAM! Life's many surprising plot twists. Each went their separate way and lived life apart to only walk back into each other's life as boss and employee
Is it fate? Amy refuses to believe that it is so. Because if fate wanted them to be together then fate would have made Karma fall in love with her. It kills her to know that she doesn't have her love and that they'd been together just because she wanted money out of her like some type of extortionist. And Amy had blindly fallen in love and believed her too. With that entire romantic talk with her stepsister Lauren and crying for her because she had too many women and feeling insecure. She was a good actress. Amy has to admit. Her performance is Emmy award worthy.
Karma was that good at faking it.
Amy gets out of the shower first while Karma was still in her stall. She wrapped herself around in a towel and heads to the restroom to quickly change into formal wear. Seconds later, Karma walks out and the awkwardness with which they dressed up was real. When was the last time they showered and dressed together again? Six years ago when they were kids in love and thoughtless of the future? Amy lends Karma one of her clothes and they dress in silence. Both stealing slight glimpses of each other as they go.
Karma then receives a phone call. She's never seen that number before. She picks up to answer, "Hello…?" Karma face palms herself and makes a face. She had completely forgotten about Sam. "…Sam, how are you?"
Amy stops doing what she was doing as soon as she heard the name 'Sam'. Who the heck is Sam?
"I'm alright…what's up? Of course I didn't forget about you Sam…Don't remind me about that horrible protest. I looked so bad on TV…Thank you…" Karma blushes bright red. "…Look Sam, I'd stay longer and chat with you but I am about to go to a meeting…yes…pick me up at eight…OK…see you too!" Karma hangs up.
Amy nonchalantly throws on her leather vest as if she was not about to interrogate Karma, "What's going on at eight?"
Karma answers as she saves Sam's phone number on her cell and then drops the phone on the bed when she's done, "I'm going on a date." She grins at Amy carefully.
Amy purses her lips in annoyance, "on a date, huh?"
"Yup!"
"Who said that you were going to finish working here as early as eight o'clock?" Amy buttons her leather vest, "I may have plans for you to work until ten tonight."
"Oh really? You do now?" Karma slides up the formal trousers that Amy had borrowed her. "As I know from the schedule this morning, you have nothing planned past six o'clock."
One of the bad things of having both a secretary and an assistant, they know things about your own day before you do. "Well, you have to do another research."
"On what? And if I do, I can always go home and start on it when I get there. I don't have to stay at the office." Karma says.
"That's not for you to decide. I'm the one who lets you know where you should or shouldn't work."
"Well, wouldn't that be a pain for me? If the security system comes on and switches off the electronic software everywhere in the building at night, I won't be able to get any work done." Karma finishes buttoning the silk shirt and tucking it in inside of the black trousers.
"And that's why you leave at ten. As soon as it switches off." And you miss that date.
As Karma walks around the bed, she says, "Give up Amy. Jealousy has never been your most attractive trait." And then she walks out of the room. She doesn't need to deal with Amy's idiosyncrasy.
Amy wanted to be mad at her for what she just said but she feels her lips lifting up in a smile instead. She did it again. She made her feel like a complete idiotic moron and she hates it, every time.
She saunters quickly after Karma, with derisive eyes that could not catch the smile that she put on her face, hiding her annoyance. "Who said that I was jealous? I'm not jealous." Amy scoffs, "In fact, I'm so not jealous that I will give you and your date a ride to wherever and pay for everything. I'm not in the least bit jealous. I don't care who you date or who you don't date. That's not my problem. You could be dating an alien from outer space; I still wouldn't give a damn. Who the fuck is Sam?" and that smile forcefully recedes off her features fast.
"Oh. As you said, you don't give a damn so why would knowing who Sam is any different?" Karma arranges Amy's desk presentable enough for when the investor shows up in about ten minutes. "I made sure to prepare him a folder for the presentation of the project plan. Hera will bring in refreshments during the meeting."
Amy did not give a damn about the meeting. She was more preoccupied about that date, "Who is Sam?"
Karma sifts through the folder to see if there were anything amiss within the presentation, barely paying attention to Amy's inquiry, "What's it to you Ms. Raudenfeld?" She lazily looks over the folder and gives Amy a quick glance, "My private life is off-limits to you. I'm your employee."
Hera opens the door and walks a man in. The man was old, did not really look like a foreign big time investor looking to expand his business over the American continent. He was in his fifties, a bit sardonic in his demeanor of speaking and scruffy in presentation of his appearance. Amy welcomes him in with her most warming and professional smile and offers him a seat. Karma sits right next to the investor as Amy sits behind her desk and leaves her jealous obsessive character and switch to her unaltered, professional attitude and starts off the meeting.
The meeting lasted for a few hours as the man spoke little English and had not brought along a translator. Amy spoke his language and walked him through the explanations of Karma and gave him her own opinions as well. Each time Karma had to speak to her so that she can translate the words to the investor, Amy scowls at her and Karma gladly ignores her.
Finally, the meeting reached its end and they managed to secure the account from the investor who was more than pleased with Amy's clear translation and sincerity, and unequivocal eloquence that was more than convincing and along with Karma's amazing presentation. The man rises off his seat and compliments Amy, "I'm sure your mother would have been proud of you. And your father too, may he rest in peace. I've done business with him and he handles things just like you."
Amy flatteringly smiles at the man but she couldn't fool Karma. She had noticed the brief hurtful nuance behind her smiling eyes, "you have no idea how pleased I am with your words Sir. It is an honor to know that I take from my father and my mother."
The man shakes her hand and then leaves satisfied.
Amy sighs as she drops down on her seat, "Finally! I seriously thought that I was going to screw this up."
"You were awesome. I knew you'd convince him." Karma says, shying her eyes away from Amy's own blushing face. She'd always had faith in Amy's business capabilities. She has faith in Amy period.
"Thanks." Amy says. "You did a great job with the project plan Karma and the presentation was amazing."
Karma shrugs, "Thanks."
They both stare at each other for a while before Amy breaks the spell, "Let's get to work. We have a long day ahead of us. What's next on my schedule?"
Karma coughs, "um…yes, next, you have a formal lunch meeting with one of the conglomerate's companies' president, Mr. Jacobson…"
Amy groans. "Not that moron. He always complains about stuff."
Karma continues, "…in about half an hour at one of your mother's hotels. So we should head out now."
Amy rises off her seat, grabbing her car keys and phone off the glass desk, "Alright. Let's see what that president will be complaining about." Amy walks out of the office with Karma following right behind.
"Hera. I'm heading off to my meeting with one of the companies' president." Amy says.
"Oh. With Mr. Jacobson ma'am?"
Amy nods, "so since it is him, I will probably be a while. So push back the rest of my appointments for the day an hour."
"Alright Ms. Raudenfeld." Hera then goes back to do her job as Amy and Karma leaves for the formal lunch.
The rest of the day went by quickly after Amy and Karma had gotten out of that dreadful meeting with this president. As Amy said, the man did nothing but complain throughout the entire meeting about how the other company presidents were breaching contract. Amy gave him the attention on that he wanted and like the good Chairwoman that her mother trained her to be, she gave the man reassurance that she'll soon follow with presidents meeting in order to discuss the issues at hand. The man agreed and thanked her for the consideration. They went through Amy's booked day in quick and by the time it was time for them to go back to the company, it was already near close to eight o'clock. Karma realizes that Sam must be close to pick her up right now. They run up to secure their belongings in the office before they head out to leave.
"Amy, don't forget that you still need to get those documents signed in order to permit shipments." Karma grabs her purse by the side of her desk and puts in her belongings.
"Yes, I'll do. You have your stuff?" Amy stands in front of the door, waiting for Karma so that she can close the office.
Karma nods, "I do. Let's go."
They leave the office and heads out to wait in front of the building. Amy was waiting for the valet to bring her car while Karma was waiting for Sam.
"You know, I can give you a ride home." Amy said, swiping up and down her phone, "I don't mind driving you."
Karma refuses, "No, that's not necessary. Someone is picking me up."
"And who might this be?"
"You don't need to know."
The valet brings Amy's car and parks it right in front of Amy. He then throws Amy the keys and she grabs it, "I can also be concerned for the welfare of my employees. That's not crossing the lines of our boss-employee relationship Karma."
"Well, I don't see the reason why you should preoccupy yourself with futile details like that. So, I'll just wait right here." Karma steps a few meters away from Amy who just stares at her go.
"Are you serious right now?" Amy asks.
"Serious how?"
Amy steps closer to where Karma had moved, "I'm taking you home."
"I said you don't have to."
"I want to take you home." She reaches for Karma's hand but Karma pulls back, "What are you doing?"
"I am waiting for someone to pick me up." Karma repeats.
"And who is this person that you are waiting for – your imaginary date Sam?" Amy crosses her arms, "Stop kidding around. I'm giving you a ride home."
"I'll be taking her home. Not you."
Karma whips her head to the side in direction of the voice and sees Sam walking up to the both of them. Amy feels like she had met that person somewhere before but couldn't quite remember where.
Sam approaches them both, kisses Karma's cheek and then brings her arm around her waist, pulling Karma in. "I'm taking her home."
And the glaring contest between the two commenced…. And Karma finds herself in between.