Skeleton Key of Desires

Plan

"That b***h!" Tracy screamed. Her hands gripped the ceramic sink as she stared at her reddening face in the mirror. The sound of the toilet flushing brought her back to reality. A younger woman walked out looking at Tracy as she washed her hands in silence,

"I hope your day gets better," she said as she opened the door and exited the bathroom.

The plan to have Jewel back off of Ezra did not work. Weeks were passing by, and the more Jewel worked on the game the closer they got. Tracy needed another plan. She proceed out into the long hallway and leaned up against the grey walls. Her eyes focused on Ezra as he leaned over Jewel's desk looking at the drawings on her computer. Jewel had melted the ice as fire now burned in his blue eyes. His hand covered hers as he clicked away on the computer leaning down close to her ear to share the secrets between them. Jewel would shiver from the nearness but not dare move an inch.

Green flames shot from Tracy's hazel eyes. If it weren't for a hand that landed on her shoulder, the jealousy would have claimed her, turning her into the monster that she was already becoming.

"I think they make a cute couple," breathed out a low voice. The smoke reached her nostrils from the breath that resonated behind her.

"Henry. You better remove that repulsive hand of yours before I remove it for you," Tracy spat.

Henry quickly jerked his hand away from her shoulder hiding it behind his back as if she would bite it off at any minute.

"Why are you here, Henry?" Tracy asked.

"Have you ever noticed anything strange about Jewel?"

"The whole girl reeks of strange."

"I have been following her."

"You haven't been doing a very good job, Henry. She is suspicious of you."

"I've done a well enough job to notice one thing about her."

"And what's that?" asked Tracy rolling her eyes. She was starting to get annoyed by the constant yipping of the man in front of her.

"She is always wearing a necklace tucked into her shirt. Never taking it off. I've seen it once. There is a silver antique key that hangs around the chain."

"So what, Henry? That could be some sentimental gift that was given to her for all we know. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Aren't you the least bit curious that after you are alone with her, you wake up in some closet, by yourself, with feelings of pure bliss?" he asked.

The thoughts ran through Tracy's head like the water cascading through the wild rapids of a raging river. She had only ever woken up in a room like that twice. Each time was after she had talked with Jewel. Each room had a keyhole for a key to fit into it. But Jewel's key would never fit.

"You're not thinking her key has something to do with this, are you?" Tracy asked.

"That is precisely what I am thinking," Henry said.

Though as ridiculous as this sounded, she was in a desperate spot. Ezra was slipping further from her reach every second, and she was at war. This was a game of chess, not checkers.

"Okay, here's what I say we do," Tracy whispered.

Jewel breathed in the woodsy smell of the man that hovered over her. The scent alone intoxicated her senses sending her hormones into a frenzy. She clamped her legs together and focused on the monitor to keep her fantasies at bay. Every time Ezra spoke his minty hot breath would tickle her ear raising the tiny hairs on her legs and causing shivers to cascade down her body. She dared not to move an inch let alone breathe for if someone were watching them, they would surely see her true feelings.

"And this room looks better with this shade of blue, don't you think?" Ezra asked standing back up.

"Oh, yes. I see what you mean now," Jewel said letting out a low sigh of relief now that she could breathe a little more deeply.

Ezra chuckled at the nervousness that radiated from Jewel's quivering body.

"You can leave after you finish this up. Get some rest this weekend," He said noticing the dark rings that had formed underneath Jewel's emerald eyes.

"Thank you, CEO Ezra," Jewel said. Tiredness had struck her lately like a heavy stone to the face. She had been working endlessly on the game to prove her dedication to Ezra. Not to mention, her battle with Tracy.

Ezra turned and walked into his office shutting the door behind him. Now was Henry's chance. He slid a chair up beside Lily and rested a hand on top of hers while she was typing away at the keyboard. She pulled her hand back as if a venomous spider had crawled on top of it.

"Excuse me," she yelled.

"Sorry, I just thought you may have wanted to take a break," Henry said.

"That is not the way to ask me. You really need to get to know me before you get all handsy," Lily said dowsing her hands in sanitizer while trying to remain professional.

"I can do that. What's your favorite color?"

"Green,"

As Henry was distracting Lily, Jewel finished up her work and focused deeply on what was displayed on the screen. It was Tracy's lucky day as the key lay on the outside of Jewel's shirt. She slowly crept behind Jewel, lifted the necklace, and snapped the chain with a pair of pliers. She watched the jewelry fall to Jewel's lap. She was in trouble. Jewel whipped around in her swivel chair causing the necklace to fall to the floor. Tracy took her opportunity and quickly kicked it underneath Jewel's desk. Jewel's eyes met Tracy standing right behind the chair with her hands behind her back. She shoved the pliars into the back of her pants concealing them from any roaming eyes.

"Can I help you?" Jewel asked.

"I was just glancing at the rooms. Getting an idea of what the background music should sound like," Tracy said.

"Yeah, Okay. I'm leaving now so you will have to glance at it on Monday," Jewel spat out. "Come on Lily."

It didn't take long for Jewel and Lily to shut down their work area, gather their items, and leave the building. Henry watched as they walked out the door toward the parking garage.

"Their gone," Henry said.

"And Ezra?" Tracy asked.

Henry glanced at his office door still shut with the blinds down.

"You're good to go," Henry said.

Tracy bent down to slide her hand underneath the small crack of Jewel's desk to pull on the chain. The shiny silver key came trailing out on the end of the chain.

"Got it," Tracy said, smiling to herself.