Jude came into Daisy’s office about mid-morning and perched on the edge of Daisy’s desk.
“What are you working on?” she asked.
“An assignment,” Daisy replied tersely. It was none of Jude’s business, and she knew it would annoy Jude if she refused to give any information about it. “I’ve got a deadline, so if you don’t mind telling me what you need…”
“All right. I was wondering if you’d like to go out for lunch today.”
Now she had Daisy’s attention. “You want to go out for lunch with me?” she asked, not sure she had heard Jude correctly.
“Yes. My treat. I thought we should get to know each other a little better.” Strange, waiting until Daisy had worked at GHR for so long to seek to get to know her better, but Daisy agreed, curious about Jude’s motives.
“We can go to lunch, but only if I’m able to get this article written,” she said, hoping Jude would take the hint. She did. After telling Daisy she’d come by at one o’clock, Jude left, closing the door behind her. She didn’t mention Mark John’s earlier behavior, but Daisy figured she would learn more at lunch.
She was able to get right back into the paragraph she had been writing when Jude interrupted, choosing to focus solely on her work rather than the odd conversation that had just taken place.
But as lunchtime grew closer and her stomach started growling, Daisy’s thought began to turn toward lunch with Jude. She put a few finishing touches on her document, hit “send,” and cleaned up her desk, wondering all the while what was behind Jude’s seemingly innocent invitation. It was unlike her to seek to spend any time with Daisy outside the office, and the request to have lunch together had come out of nowhere. Come to think of it, I have no idea what Jude does for lunch every day. I don’t know where she lives or what she drives or what she likes and doesn’t like. I only know that she’s the senior editor because she doesn’t let me forget it.
Promptly at one o’clock Jude opened Daisy’s door. “Ready?” she asked brightly.
Daisy grabbed her canvas tote bag and slung it over her shoulder. Jude glanced at the bag but said nothing as she tucked her petite designer clutch under her arm. Daisy generally liked being tall because it made her feel powerful and confident, but next to Jude as they walked to lunch she felt frumpy, gangly, and underdressed.
When they reached the restaurant Jude had chosen, a doorman ushered them inside, where a cool, dark space provided a quiet, refined destination for diners who lunched on elegant entrées and sipped sparkling water or stronger libations. Daisy would have been happier with a visit to the Pita Palace and an iced tea, but this would have to do. She sat down across from Jude, wondering where the conversation would lead. Clearly Jude intended it to go somewhere.
But the niceties came first as they ordered from a small but expensive menu and the server laid napkins across their laps. Daisy couldn’t help but reach for hers to do it herself as the server’s hand came across her torso.
Once they had ordered, Jude gazed around at the other diners as if looking for someone she might recognize. This was definitely the type of place where one would go to see and be seen. Finally Daisy could stand it no longer.
“Jude, this lunch invitation was unexpected. Is there something you wanted to talk about?”
“Actually, yes. I was serious when I said we should get to know each other better, but it’s more than that. I wanted to talk to you in private about Mark John.”
Ah, now the truth comes out, Daisy thought. She hid her smile as she raised a glass of water to her lips.
“What, specifically, would you like to discuss about Mark John?”
Jude sighed. “I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I wanted to reiterate that you should probably look to spend less time with Mark John while you’re at work. It’s rather unseemly, to be honest.”
“Unseemly how?”
“You don’t want to be giving anyone the impression that you’re, shall we say, interested in Mark John for reasons that have nothing to do with work.”
“You mean like I’ve got romantic feelings for him?”
Jude shifted in her chair and looked around the room again. “Yes. That’s exactly what I mean. Do you have romantic feelings for him?” Jude turned an intent gaze on Daisy. Daisy almost laughed out loud.
“No, I can assure you of that. I have no romantic feelings for him whatsoever.” She was surprised when Jude tilted her head and gave her a confused look.
“May I ask why not? I mean, he’s certainly attractive. And smart.”
It was Daisy’s turn to tilt her head and stare at Jude for a moment. “So now you’re wondering why I don’t have feelings for Mark John? I’m afraid I don’t really understand where this is going.”
“I just mean that in my opinion Mark John would hold a certain appeal for any woman. Don’t you agree?” Daisy took her time before answering. Something was beginning to dawn on her--something she should have seen before now.
Jude had feelings for Mark John. Suddenly Daisy recalled the looks Jude gave him at work. The smiles, the flirtatious eyelash-batting, the eagerness to please him.
Now this conversation was beginning to make a little more sense. Jude was both jealous and insecure in her feelings; she was wondering if there was something about Mark John that other women didn’t find attractive. She was the type, thought Daisy, who would fall for someone just because every other woman wanted him. If someone didn’t want him, Jude would naturally want to know if there was something she was missing.
“Oh, he’s definitely attractive,” Daisy replied after several moments. “It’s just that I have no interest in men whatsoever at this point.”
“Are you a lesbian?” Jude asked. Daisy was glad the food hadn’t come yet because she would have choked over the extremely personal nature of the question.
“No, Jude. I’m not, though I can’t think how that might be any business of yours. I’m just not interested right now. I love my work and that’s enough for me.” Jude gave Daisy a bewildered look as Daisy sat back to allow the server to place her lunch in front of her.
When he had slipped away, Daisy picked up her fork, then put it down again. “Jude, I think it’s time we come clean with each other about everything. If we’re going to continue working together we should not keep workplace secrets from each other.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I think you have feelings for Mark John. I’ve seen how you look at him. It’s obvious that you like him, and I’m embarrassed to think I didn’t realize it before now. So don’t worry about me. I am completely uninterested in workplace romance, and whatever you and Mark John choose to do is your own business. But I also want you to understand that I don’t appreciate being interrogated over my feelings about my boss. It makes me feel uncomfortable and it’s just plain weird.”
Jude’s shoulders relaxed as she took a sip of her drink. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m very sensitive about my feelings for Mark John.”
“Well, if you’re worried about me trying to compete against you for his affection, you can cross that off your list.” Daisy smiled. Jude actually looked like she was beginning to relax. Maybe she should give some thought to Mark John’s marital status, though, thought Daisy.
“Do you feel better now that everything is in the open between us? I know I do,” Daisy said.
“Yes, I do feel better,” Jude admitted, a sheepish look replacing her smile. “Thanks for understanding.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Just keep me out of it,” Daisy said.
“I will, I promise.”
For the next several minutes the two women ate lunch, talking only about the food and the decor of the restaurant. All the while, though, questions were swirling in Daisy’s mind and finally her curiosity took over.
“How do you feel about Mark John being married?”
Jude set her fork down slowly. She didn’t answer right away, though she stared at Daisy, almost inviting a challenge.
“I’m not all that concerned.”
Daisy decided to change the subject. “Was Mark John okay when he came in this morning?” she asked.
Again, Jude was silent for several moments before answering. Finally, after folding her napkin and placing it in a tidy square on the table next to her, she spoke.
“He found out his wife is having an affair.”
Since noticing the picture of Fiona was missing in Mark John’s office and given his behavior, Daisy had harbored a hunch that he had somehow found out. Her secret about Fiona was apparently no longer a secret.
“How did he find out?” Daisy asked.
“Fiona’s lover called him and told him,” Jude said, toying with her spoon. Daisy raised her eyebrows, inviting further explanation, but none was forthcoming. She figured it might be wise to stop asking questions.
The meal, which had started on an uncomfortable note, had come full circle. Jude signaled for the bill and paid it, quickly scrawling her name on the credit card receipt while Daisy waited, noticing with a glance that Jude was a stingy tipper. When the elegant senior editor of Global Human Rights Journal preceded Daisy out the door, Daisy took a ten dollar bill from her tote bag and placed it on the table next to the receipt. Outside, Jude told Daisy that she had to run to the drugstore before returning to work and headed in the opposite direction. Daisy was sure Jude simply wanted to walk back to work alone.
When Jude returned to the office, she closed her door and didn’t emerge before Daisy left for the evening. Daisy was not disappointed--she hoped Tuesday would be a better day.
It wasn’t.