12.
"My fault! How is it my fault?" Ed exclaimed.
"You really have to ask that?"
"Yes, really. I'm anxious to hear your explanation on how the door malfunction is my fault. Why me? Why not the service company? Or their workers? Their supervisor? WHY. ME."
The tall woman threw her hands up in exasperation and Emily rolled her eyes at the overly dramatic gesture.
"Now you're acting like a four year old, on the verge of throwing a tantrum."
"Excuse me?"
Emily sighed and shook her head. She was getting tired of this drama filled day and unfortunately it was far from the end. Blow number one, running across a one night stand. Blow number two, finding out she is the big boss. Blow number three, getting stuck with her in the Closet. Seconds after they had stepped into the room, the door had closed and stayed that way. Blow number four, none of them had carried their cell phones. Seeing the flashing error message, Emily's mood switched and she wasn't in danger of jumping the other woman's bones anymore. She wanted to scream. Actually she wanted to scream and hit Ed, or just do both at the same time. Considering hitting your boss was not the best recipe for long-term employment, she decided against it. Without a word, she grabbed a Ralph Lauren shirt and tossed it to Ed. Ignoring the other woman's chatter, Emily stepped into a pair of Manolo Blahnik, and walked to the other side of the room. The further the better. Ed didn't take the hint and went after her, inquiring why the redhead refused to talk to her. Oddly enough, Emily managed to stay calm and sweetly told Ed, that the shit they were in, was all her fault. She used colorful words to describe how she felt about Ed and her precious door. While there was no real hitting, the figurative punches worked and at the end Ed looked almost defeated.
"You heard me. We are stuck in here, thanks to you and your brilliant idea. Have you realized that it's Christmas Day and no one is going to find us until tomorrow, if ever?"
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Red."
"Why did you have this bloody door installed? It has absolutely no use. And stop calling me that."
"You are wrong, RED." Answered the CEO, not just simply ignoring Emily's request, but making sure to put an emphasis on the nickname. "It is needed to protect the company's property."
"The company's property? What property? And most importantly, from who?"
"From you, and from others who use these clothes, shoes and other accessories like their own. I happen to know, that it costs the company millions."
"Bollocks. What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about these for example." She pointed at Emily's shoes. "Or the shirt you so generously gave me. I've been informed that this has been going on for a while, but it ends now. I ordered a catalog of everything in here, and there will be limited access to this room."
Emily couldn't believe her ears. Company property. Catalog. Limited access. Oh boy. Miranda will be furious and she will want the head of who was responsible for this. Emily snickered at the thought of the confrontation between Miranda and Edna Martin. The CEO clearly had no clue how things worked here, someone deliberately led her on. Adding the coming out scenario to the math, that could have meant only one thing. Someone worked hard to pit two powerful women against each other. For a split second she considered warning Ed about her serious mistake but then she decided against it. There was only one person Emily was loyal to, no matter how delicious Edna Martin looked in her tailored pants.
"What's so funny Red?"
"You. I was right. You are a bloody idiot, Ed."
"Now wait a minute…" Only one person dared to call her an idiot before. She could still hear her little sister's trembling voice. She could see the tears in those soulful brown eyes, her eyes, when she was leaving after their last, big argument years ago. "You are an idiot Ed." No, she didn't needed these memories right now.
"Let me guess. Your informant also warned you about Miranda. Told you how she will try everything, even dirty tricks to get on your good side, to secure her position at Runway. Then you read about her "coming out" in the papers and now you believe everything that so called well-wisher whispered in your ears. "
One look at the older woman's face confirmed Emily's suspicion.
"They are feeding you load of horseshit, Ed. You are the owner of a mult-imillion dollar company, yet you make decisions based on hearsay?
"How I operate my company is none of your concern, Red. And you curse a lot, aren't you supposed to be polite or something?"
"I'm British not Canadian." Emily rolled her eyes. This woman was ridiculous. And annoying. And sexy. That cute half-smile in the corner of her mouth. And the way she gesticulated with her hands, those fingers. Those strong, long fingers…no. It was not going to work. She needed to put some distance between the two of them. What was it with this woman? She wanted to throttle her one minute, then tear her clothes off and ravage that divine body the next.
"This room is big enough to stay out of each other's way." Emily said as she walked past the other woman, mindful of avoiding any contact. "I'll settle down over there and mind my own business. And you can stay here and do the same."
"Agreed. We are both professionals after all."
That statement earned a loud snort from Emily.
"I'm a professional. Not quite sure about you."
Ed was completely lost. There it was again. That look on the redhead's face. And that comment. What was it about?
"Am I missing something here?"
"You said that it was not my concern how you lead your company. You may be the main shareholder of Elias-Clark, but it doesn't make you the only top dog here. I don't doubt that you have power, connections and you can accomplish many things. But this is not your game Ed. In this game you're merely the dark pawn and someone is using you to get rid of the white queen."
"The white queen? Give me break…"
Emily didn't bother to answer, just shrugged and turned away. She regretted getting into this debate with the other woman. Edna Martin was as thickheaded they come. She wouldn't just change her mind based on the word of a lowly assistant. First assistant. As if it that made any difference.
"I get it. You are Miranda's first assistant and you think you have to represent her interests. That's lovely. You confuse me. Maybe it's you who is feeding me a load of horseshit, as you so eloquently put it. Don't think that just because we slept together you have anything on me. Besides, it wasn't that good, that I would be so easily taken in."
Ed winced mentally. It was a low blow, she knew that. Emily didn't deserve it. In truth, what the assistant said raised some red flags and the tall CEO began to question her decisions. At the same time she couldn't let some silly sexual attraction blur her judgment. She's been there done that before. She sacrificed the most important person in her life to it and almost lost her company too.
Emily spun around and with two long strides she was standing in front of the older woman.
"Fuck. You." She hissed.
Seeing the fury in the redhead's eyes, Ed involuntarily stepped back but not fast enough. Her face made an unwanted connection with Emily's palm. There was an unexpected beeping signal coming from the console and the door slid open. Emily starred at the swollen, angry mark her ring caused on Ed's face in horror. Then she turned and ran.