Chapter 366: Red Bedroom Records

Friday, February 3rd, Afternoon (Eastern Standard Time)

She crossed the open floor; no one paid her any mind. Once and a while, a person would pause and look at Candi. After the third or fourth time this happened, Candi held up her building pass. The only other one with the same color, Candi saw only one other person wearing one with the same color was Haley. They were used to seeing someone with this type of building pass.

Candi found the other corner office. Looking around the office, she sighed and knocked on the door. After a moment, Candi was about to knock again.

"Come in," Fallon Stafford said from behind the door.

Candi opened the door and stepped in. The office was rather bare compared to Haley's office. Behind the simple desk Fallon sat, she was dressed casually, and around her neck was a red-lined building pass.

"Hey Candi, what brings you here?" Fallon asked.

"Haley said I should kidnap you for lunch," Candi said.

Fallon laughed, "That sounds like Haley," she said.

"Yeah, it does," Candi said, "because she said it."

"So, where are we going to hide while waiting for the ransom?" Fallon asked.

"I don't know, but since I'm kidnapping you, you're paying," Candi said.

"I'm being kidnapped, and I have to pay?" Fallon asked.

"That's how it works," Candi said.

Fallon laughed and stood up. "There's a good cafeteria downstairs," she said.

"I saw that on the building directory," Candi said.

"So, we'll go there," Fallon said.

"Why there?" Candi asked.

"Good food, and it's not far," Fallon said.

"Is that all?" Candi asked.

"The straights will get scared when they see two red badgers talking," Fallon said.

Candi shook her head, "Somethings never change," she said.

"Don't tell me you wouldn't miss it if it did," Fallon said.

Candi shook her head, "I guess you're right," she said.

Fallon stood up and grabbed her smartphone. She smiled at Candi. "Let's go," she said.

The two women left the room and headed to the elevator lobby. They rode the elevator down to the lobby, and Candi followed Fallon to the cafeteria.

It looked like a basic cafeteria, with tables and a cafeteria line. Candi was about to get online, but Fallon grabbed Candi's elbow.

"No, follow me; there's a cook to order grill," Fallon said.

"Oh yeah?" Candi asked.

"Yeah, a little taste of home," Fallon said.

Fallon led Candi to the grill and the ordered lunch. Once they gave their orders, they went to a table and started their lunch.

"So, what's been going on with you?" Fallon asked.

"Not much; I'm about halfway through my program to get my second specialty," Candi said.

"How much of a personal life are you able to have?" Fallon asked.

"Not much of one. I'm sort of banned from playing basketball on the local park's court," Candi said.

"Why?" Fallon asked.

"I'm too goods," Candi said.

"No dating?" Fallon asked.

"No time," Candi said.

"C'mon Candi, give me something," Fallon said.

Candi sighed, "I live on Hermosa Beach, so there's plenty of talent on display. My roommates and I play a little game; I have the best body of the roommates. So, I stand out on the patio in a bathing suit and get attention," she said.

Fallon laughed, "I'll have to head out there and play that game with you," she said.

"Oh really?" Candi asked.

"Yeah," Fallon said and paused, "Nah!"

"Nah? What's up?" Candi asked.

"I, Ummm, well…." Fallon said.

"Fallon," Candi said.

"Oh, okay," Fallon said.

"What, Fallon?" Candi asked.

"I'm sort of seeing a guy," Fallon said.

"So, tell me about him," Candi said as she stabbed at her food.

"His name is Grant Coyle; he works at an art gallery," Fallon said, pulled out her smartphone, and put it on the table.

"Oh really?" Candi asked.

"Yeah," Fallon said, and slid her smartphone over, opened to a selfie of Fallon and Grant.

Candi looked at the phone and nodded. "What's he like?" Candi asked.

"He's a good guy, caring, and likes hockey," Fallon said.

"My god, hockey, he got the wrong woman," Candi said.

Fallon shrugged, "He bought me an Islander's jersey," she said.

"Oh, yeah," Candi said, chuckling, "What number?"

"Seventeen," Fallon said.

"Seventeen, really?" Candi asked.

"Nice," Candi said and smiled.

Fallon nodded and poked at her lunch. Candi looked at one of her oldest friends. There is an old saying about familiarity. Fallon looked up at Candi and gave her a look with a canted head.

"What?" Fallon asked.

"What aren't you telling me?" Candi asked.

"Fallon, we've known each other for how long?" Candi asked.

"I'm not," Fallon said.

"Fallon," Candi said.

"He doesn't know I'm Fallon Stafford," Fallon said.

"What?" Candi said, "Fallon, what name did you give him?"

"Adams, he thinks I'm Fallon Adams," Fallon said.

"Who's Fallon Adams?" Candi asked casually.

"A woman, slugging her way through a non-profit," Fallon said.

"Not the thirty-two-year-old billionaire you are?" Candi asked.

"No, I have a good feeling about this one," Fallon said.

"You can lose him because of this," Candi said.

"What do you know? You don't date," Fallon said.

"You know why I don't date," Candi said.

"You also know why I don't share who I am," Fallon said.

"It's I don't want you to miss out," Candi said.

"What about you?" Fallon asked.

"I'm too far gone," Candi said.

"That's not fair to say about yourself," Fallon said.

"You'll be surprised," Fallon said.

"Right," Candi said.

The two women smiled, shook their heads, and turned back to their lunches. Another classic example of their friendship, where they argue, then cool down and be good.