Chapter 2

The company housing list went up, and within minutes Vincent was calling.

"You canceled Yannie's apartment? Just because she accidentally cropped you out when she was editing a photo?"

"I don't want to pull strings for her. Is that a problem?"

"Ramona, don't you think you're being petty? Over one little thing, you take away Yannie's apartment."

"Yannie's really hurt. She's been crying nonstop."

"So she's upset she didn't get a free ride off the company? If she's got time to cry, she'd be better off asking herself whether she qualifies in the first place. She shouldn't be eyeing something that isn't hers."

I hung up, done wasting my time on him.

A moment later my assistant knocked and came in.

"Ms. Sanchez, Yannie Ford from Admin wants to see you."

"Send her in."

Her eyes were red and swollen. "Ms. Sanchez, I'm sorry. I didn't know one photo would make you this angry."

"But work is work and personal life is personal. Bringing your feelings from your personal life into work, isn't that unfair to me?"

"You've got the nerve to talk about fair? Then let me ask you. What qualifies you for a company apartment?"

"Under company policy, you need five years with the company and a director-level position or higher to qualify."

"And the location and size are decided by how much an employee has contributed over their years here. What have you contributed? On what grounds do you get a thirteen-hundred-square-foot riverfront place downtown?"

Yannie had nothing to say. Then she suddenly burst into tears.

"If you want to cry, cry outside. I'm busy."

The office door was shoved open, and Vincent barged in.

"Yannie, are you okay?"

He pulled her in against him. "Ramona, you're bullying Yannie again!"

I actually laughed.

"Vince, you do remember who your fiancée is, right?"

He soothed her gently. "Don't cry. Go on out first. I'll talk to Ramona. I promise you'll be happy with how this ends."

Once Yannie was gone, Vincent's tone softened a great deal.

"Ramona, stop throwing your rich-girl tantrum. Work isn't easy for Yannie. And that apartment's a company perk for employees anyway. What difference does it make who gets it?"

"She doesn't qualify."

His face turned impatient at once. "Whether she qualifies is one word from you and it's done!"

"Yannie's my childhood friend. She's like a little sister to me. I'm just getting a few benefits for my own sister. Don't be so stingy."

"Your sister, or your sweetheart?"

"Ramona, that's a nasty thing to say! If there were really something between me and Yannie, do you think it'd ever be your turn?"

"What Yannie did was wrong, I'll apologize to you on her behalf. Tonight I'll have her treat you to dinner. I'll bring all my friends, we'll take the photo again, and we'll put you in the middle!"

I looked at him coldly.

"Are you finished? If you're finished, get out. Stop holding up my work."

"Ramona, there's just no getting through to you, is there!"

"If you won't give Yannie the perk she's owed, then I'll buy her an apartment myself!"

I let out a soft laugh. "Suit yourself."

Vincent snorted and slammed the door on his way out.

Once things were quiet, I went back to work.

When I finished, I glanced at my phone. Yannie had posted to her feed again.

The picture was a property deed.

The caption read: "Paid in full for a fifteen-hundred-square-foot riverfront flat. Thank you, Vince, for the gift! No matter when, we'll always be the most important person to each other."

I called the head of Admin at once. "Did Yannie ask you for time off this afternoon?"

"No, she didn't."

"Left her post and skipped half a day of work. Tell her not to bother coming in tomorrow."