Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I have never been so relieved to complete a case. Usually I’m excited about repairing the technology that D.I.C. is hired for, but this one was way more difficult for me. I’m not sure if it was because the team was divided, and by divided, I mean team me versus Team Julian’s of four. Although Shontae stayed behind to troubleshoot in the house with me, we didn’t see each other for the duration of the repair. I will not apologize, because I was not wrong. There were only two customer systems that gave us trouble. One was resolved with a new add-on patch installed remotely. The other has to be installed onsite because of their security firewall. Mr. Grant asked me if I could resolve this without the team, because no one could work over the weekend because of prior plans. The customer could only accommodate us by closing their leasing offices early on Saturday, when they are predicted to be slow. I gather my purse and laptop, because I won’t come into the office but set up at the customer’s site before they close tomorrow. As I leave my office, I notice Julian standing at Shontae’s desk. From a distance it looks as if he’s smiling, as I get closer, I confirm that he’s definitely smiling. It’s a hard smile, exposing his strong chin and deep dimples. My stomach reacts, but I walk pass without looking at either of them. Before I get to the elevators, Julian voice startles me. “Goodnight Enya, I hope you enjoy your Friday night.” Before I can respond I hear Shontae’s sarcastic ass.

“I know we will.”

I turn to reply, but the elevator doors open and Julian has start to walk away from Shontae’s desk shaking his head. I don’t bother, but I take a few steps backwards to enter the elevator. Shontae is occupied on her computer as I stare in her direction. She finally looks up from what she’s doing as the elevator doors close. We make eye contact, and I see the sarcasm in her eyes as she’s the anger in mine, and for a second I see something else.

My phone rings just as I’m walking into my house.

“Hello?”

“Hi sweetheart, how are you?” My mom’s voice calms me even when I don’t need calming.

“Hi momma, how are you, how’s daddy?”

“We’re good, just missing our baby girl.”

“I’ll be to visit soon. I have to make sure work is clear.”

“Your father and I saw that really bad outage. They’re saying someone planned and there’s a data breach.”

“Momma, where did you hear that? I don’t believe that’s one hundred percent accurate.”

“I’m just repeating what the news is reporting.”

“I know. It was bad. I lost a friend over it.”

“What friend, a boyfriend?”

“No momma, no.”

“I know you’re not talking about Shontae?” I go quiet because I don’t want to admit it. “Enya, what happened?”

“Can we talk about it later? I have a long day tomorrow and I need to shower and prep.”

“Yes, but don’t you forget. You’re working tomorrow? ”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Okay then, I’ll let you go. You better call me tomorrow young lady.”

“I will momma, I love you.”

“I love you more.”

That was a phone call I didn’t know I needed. My momma would call it God. My daddy would call it St. Patrick. Either way I needed it.