Page 11 of Cabin Fever Baby
I was barely hanging on to the overflowing inbox I already had. I wasn’t looking to add more work for myself.
Hell, I was just tired all-around.
When I’d gone to school to be an illustrator, I’d tacked on graphic design just to make myself more marketable.
Now I barely did any work with a pen or a brush these days—digital or physical.
I gripped the edge of the sink. “You do need to go home.”
My tired brown eyes had baggage enough for five people under them.
With a sigh, I shoved my kit back into the cabinet and retied my scarlet tie before heading back to my office. Today really had been more performative than work-heavy when it came to the eyes of the big wigs. My emails would always be waiting for me, but nothing was truly pressing until January.
Maybe I could slip away for just a little more than the long weekend I’d planned.
I’m sure my mother would be happy with that. I did miss her and my dad. And I couldn’t complain about extra TLC from my mom. Maybe I’d spend some time getting to know my little sister, Cara.
Hell, I had a niece about the same age.
Family sounded really nice after the last four years of work insanity.
“Fuck it.” I shut my computer down, ignoring the now 111 emails, then I grabbed my phone, suit jacket, and overcoat before I headed out of my office.
I shut off my light and glanced over my shoulder at the darkening skyline of Chicago before locking the door behind me.
I made a quick trip down to the lobby and found everyone buzzing about something. I ran into Paul in the food line.
“What’s got everyone so happy? Did they let us have alcohol back at the holiday party?”
Paul laughed. His long ebony fingers held two plates, one full of pasta and the other a whole lot of chocolate confections. “No such luck. Where were you?”
“Still working.”
He rolled his eyes. “You never stop. We got free food, and you missed the gifts.”
“Gift card to O’Henry’s?” I guessed. A familiar pub a block away from our building that many of us ended up at for quick and easy food or an after-work drink.
“Yes.” Paul laughed and pointed to one of the white and black garbed tables that had taken over the lobby of the building. The whole space had been decked out in a silver and gold winterscape to cover the multitude of religions that made up the different choices of the Eden employees. “But I also won a sweet espresso machine. I’ll even share since I’m setting it up in my office.”
“You better.” The scent of really good sauce had me grabbing a plate and joining the shuffle of people around the stenos full of food.
“The best part,” Paul said as he nipped a bon bon off his plate, “is that old man Eden announced he’s closing the offices for the next two weeks. We can work remote, of course, but he’s encouraged us all to take some downtime.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Is someone sick?”
“No.” Paul shook his head and popped the cocoa powdered treat in his mouth. “Think his wife convinced him to go to some island. He was feeling benevolent.”
I hacked off a healthy piece of lasagna and a few garlic knots, snaked a Coke out of the cooler, and followed Paul back to his table. A few people were lingering around the raffles that took place every hour, but most were just chatting amiably with each other.
Jack Eden put on a helluva spread, and we all enjoyed the free food.
What he wasn’t overly generous with was time.
“Are you sure he offered us all time off?” I asked as I sat down.
When a hand came down on my shoulder, I turned to find the man himself behind me. “I sure did, MacGregor. You especially earned it.”
“Sir. Thank you, sir.”