The Den: Keeping Secrets

Episode 3: Kara

I don't know why I said yes to him. I guess it's because if I went home and walked through my house, alone, I'd probably just cry and eat copious amounts of ice cream. "Where would you like to go?" Putting his keys in his pocket he replied, "Let's go to Joe's. It's close and we can grab a few appetizers." Joe's was only a couple blocks from the office. Joe's is a sports bar type place. It had giant TV's on every wall and some of the greatest people in the whole city. Joe and his wife Ava had run the place for over 20 years. They had become like an Aunt and Uncle over the years. I got lunch from there A LOT. I'm not much of a cook. I can bake anything but cooking, well, I burn water. Literally. Caught the pan on fire. Eating nearly every dinner out for the last couple months since mom passed away hasn't really helped my figure much. I didn't mind thoigh. I've never been super thin. I love my curves.

We made the short walk to Joe's and Liam held the door for me to enter. He was an awesome boss. He could be a bear at times but I could handle him. Most of the time he's very pleasant and has always treated me well. He doesn't mind when I accidentally let some snark slip through. I am very professional but there is something comfortable about him. Some times I forget he's my boss and not a friend. The first time I slipped I will never forget. He had come in to the office in quite the mood all week. I had only been there a couple months and felt things were going well. We had just put Grandma in the assisted care facility and I was pretty broken up about it. I was thankful it was Friday because I needed a weekend of mindless tasks to keep me occupied and not think about Gram. A little gardening or maybe some of the to-do list items mom had written down would do the trick. We were finishing up for the day when he rang my intercom. "Can you come in here, please?" His tone was gruff so I knew to enter with caution. I rushed down the hall and entered his office without knocking. "I asked you for the city permit paperwork yesterday for the Regions deal. Can you explain to me why I still don't have it on my desk?" he barked out before I even got fully in to his office. His desk was a mess and he looked like a child throwing a temper tantrum. This deal wasn't a difficult one so I knew something else was bothering him. "Mr. McKenzie, it's rig..."

"Again, don't call me that. My name is Liam. Mr. McKenzie is my father and I sure as hell am not him. If you're going to make it around here you're going to have to pick up your game. Get me the Regions files!" He was barking at me by this point and I didn't even realize what was happening. "Listen up cranky pants! I don't know what has gotten your panties in a wad lately but it be great if you're taking it out on other people. It makes you come off as a total jack ass!" I stomped around his desk to stand beside where he was seated. I reached for the bright green folder I sat on his desk yesterday that had found it's way under a bunch of scattered papers. I slapped it down right in front of him and said, "Maybe I need to schedule you and optometrist appointment because clearly you're going blind. You big baby." The instant I realized what I had just said all the warmth left my body. I was surely dead now. He slowly turned in his chair now facing me. I dropped my gaze to the floor so that I didn't have to see his face when he fires me.

"Well, Miss Layne, I apologize for my outburst. And it's nice to see you can hold your own. Thank you for the Regions paperwork. Have some lunch sent over for us. That will be all." I stood there for a second in utter shock. I couldn't believe I had slipped in my professionalism but to not get canned for it was a whole different shocker. He looked back up at me with a small smirk and I turned on my heel and escaped the office as fast as I could.

He later explained that he liked a sassy independent and strong woman. That his mother is a force and he was not upset with my outburst. He even admitted that he deserved it. He is constantly surprising me. I admire him. Through the years I've been able to figure out what his special project is. He started a charity to help the crisis of childhood hunger. Ive never let on that I know what he's up to. He wants to keep it a secret for his owb reasons. But it makes my heart flutter every time I enter the words in to his schedule. He's also grown the business since taking over for his father. I was thankfully hired right after he left the firm. Dealing with him when he interjects is bad enough.

We walked in to Joe's and it is quite busy for a friday night. The Knicks were playing so it wasn't just packed, it was loud. "How about that table back there? Or we can sit at the bar," he semi-shouted at me. I pointed towards the table and we made our way through the crowd. After we were settled at our table a young man came by to take our order. Liam ordered a whiskey while I order tea. He asked what I wanted from the menu. "I'm down with anything." He chuckled and ordered a couple different appitizer options. We made small talk while we waited for things to arrive. We talked about current events, a few comments on the game to which I surprised him by actually knowing about the sport. "My grandpa was a big sports guy. We used to watch football every Sunday. It was our thing. When I started dancing I still made sure that Sundays were our day. I missed him so much. The waiter brought our drinks and rushed away. He was busy and we weren't needy customers. Liam asked me about dancing and I couldn't help but express my passion. "I love it. I started with ballet when I was a kid but as I got older I branched out. I fell in love with all aspects. Jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, contemporary and anything else a choreographer would toss at me. I tried it all. I dance in high school for the school team and that helped me get a scholarship to NYU. It was incredible while it lasted." My tone dropped from my usual chipper demure but I hoped he didn't notice. "What do you mean while it lasted?" He asked with a furrow to his brow. ""I had to leave in the middle of my freshman year. I left to take car of my grandpa when he fell ill. After he passed I got a job for this mean, drill sergeant and evil boss who never let's me go home so I didn't go back to school." I daid with the light joking tone I liked to.hide behind when someone brings up a touchy subject. "Kara, I'm so sorry. You should quit that job and tell that mean boss to shove it," he replied with a laugh. Joe brought out the appetizers Liam ordered and I have never been more thankful for an interruption in my life. "Well if it isn't the most beautiful customer we have. Hi Sunshine!"

"Hi Joe. Looks like you guys are having a great night." I replied cheerily. "Yeah. It's great. I had to stay late tonight to help out we're so busy. If y'all need anything flag someone down. Good to see you Liam." Liam nodded in agreement and Joe bustled off. "He's such a nice guy. A great cook too." I said as I grabbed a loaded cheese fry and put the whole thing in my mouth. Liam followed suite and let a quiet moan escape his lips. I'm not going to lie. It was pretty damn sexy. "Do you have any big plans for the weekend?" He asked. I took a big drink of my tea before responding to make sure there wasn't any food in my teeth. "Not really. I've got to do some things around the house. Probably cry a bunch and eat everything in my cabinets. Definitely watch something I can lose myself in." I was surprised at my candor and so was he by the expression on his face. My hand shot to my mouth and I mumbled out, "I'm so sorry. I don't know why I said that." I took another drink and grabbed a chicken strip to shove in my mouth before I said something else stupid. "It's ok Kara. Don't worry about it. It's probably the tea." he chuckled. I didn't understand what he meant but was glad he wasn't going to press what I said. We talked about the Millwood project and the issues his father had with our ideas. He ordered another drink and I had the waiter refill my tea. I knew I would be up for a while with even this little bit of caffeine this late . The tea tasted a bit like it was at the bottom of the container but I didn't want to make a fuss. "What did you mean by, it's the tea?" I asked with a bit of a slur. "Kara, you've had two Long Islands. Even I would be loose lipped and tipsy. That's like ten shots." My eyes shot open before I had even realized they were closed. "What do you mean ten shots?!?!?!?! I just had tea! I don'tdrink!" I managed to get out. The room was spinning at this point and I was NOT feeling great. "s**t! Let's get you out of here." He took his wallet out and tossed down some cash. I was starting to feel like the floor was dropping out from under me. He put his arm around my shoulders and grabbed my bag from my hands. He weaved me through the bar till we hit the door. The cool night air was a rush to the senses. I looked to the sky and quickly realized that that was a major mistake. I felt like every bit of anything I had put in my stomach was heading north. I doubled over getting sick to my stomach. I heard a distant oh f**k! and then everything went black.