Read Online No Return (The Internal Defense Series) by Zoe Cannon - Free Book Online Page B

lips. “I wanted to celebrate your new job. I figured you were too busy to go out to lunch, but I brought you something.” She held up the small bag she had brought and set it down on the desk. She pulled out two giant chocolate cupcakes, dripping with frosting, and placed one in front of Vivian with a flourish. “Congratulations.”
    Vivian’s smile grew strained. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” She didn’t move to pick up the cupcake.
    Becca had said something wrong, done something wrong, but she didn’t know what. “If you have a few minutes, we could…” Becca scanned the room for a second chair, but found only bare carpet and blank walls.
    “Actually, I should get back to work.” Vivian took a bite of the cupcake—more for show than anything else, it looked like. “But thanks for coming by.”
    Becca couldn’t leave. Not yet. Not without doing what she had come here to do. And what had happened? What had she done to offend Vivian, to switch her enthusiasm off like a light? She studied Vivian—not as a friend, but as an evaluator, letting her training come to the forefront of her mind. She took in the way Vivian held herself, the lines of her face, the cadence of her words.
    And she saw what she had missed.
    Vivian wasn’t offended.
    She was terrified.
    “So I guess I’ll see you at Lucky’s next week.” Vivian’s mouth spasmed into a brief smile as she turned back to her computer.
    Becca didn’t move. “Something is wrong. What is it?”
    “Nothing. It’s the new job, that’s all. There’s a lot of work to do.” Vivian didn’t look at her.
    If this were an evaluation, her job would be done. She would make her report— Evasive. High levels of fear. No dissident tendencies present —and move on to the next appointment. But that didn’t help her here.
    She didn’t need to know Vivian was hiding something. She didn’t need to know Vivian was afraid.
    She needed Vivian to let her stay.
    “Remember when my mom was arrested?” she asked.
    Vivian nodded, face tense, gaze flicking between Becca and her computer screen. “What does that—”
    “I tried to shut you out. You wouldn’t let me. And now I won’t let you.” She crossed her arms. “Something is wrong,” she repeated. “What is it?”
    Playing the concerned friend so she could get what she needed. She ignored the flicker of guilt. The resistance came first.
    “It’s nothing like that,” said Vivian. “Nothing serious. It’s just…” She stopped.
    “I know what you think of the support groups,” said Becca. “But—”
    “Waste of time,” Vivian interrupted. “A bunch of people sitting around talking about their feelings when they could be doing something useful.”
    “But I’m good at listening,” Becca continued as if Vivian hadn’t interrupted. “I have practice. And whatever the problem is, I won’t hold it against you.”
    Another twinge of guilt.
    If she had said all this to Vivian a couple of years ago, she would have meant every word.
    Vivian hesitated.
    Then she nodded once, sharply. “Close the door.”
    It felt like it took Becca twice as many steps to cross Vivian’s office as it did to cross her own. She pushed the door closed; the slam echoed through the empty space.
    “I don’t have a chair for you.” Vivian scowled, as though the lack of furniture were Becca’s fault.
    “It doesn’t matter.” Becca lowered herself to the carpet and motioned for Vivian to join her. After a moment, Vivian did.
    “It’s stupid.” Vivian spoke to the floor. “I’m being stupid. I shouldn’t have asked you to stay.”
    “Is it about—” Becca glanced up at the camera. She couldn’t say Micah’s name. Not here. “I meant what I said last night. It’s okay.”
    “You can’t really think I could do this job as well as anyone else here,” Vivian blurted.
    Was that all that was bothering Vivian? Simple insecurity? “You’re smart enough for it,” Becca assured her. “You were wasted in filing.