Aftermath and isolation

The moment Vince's car disappeared down the street, Kay arrived, her face a mask of grim determination. She barely made it through the front door before the first news vans began to pull up, their satellite dishes already whirring to life, cameras flashing like a sudden, unwelcome storm. The quiet morning shattered under the jarring cacophony of reporters and camera crews descending upon my street.

Kay knew the full extent of what had transpired with Tomas. Our immediate concern was the unknown: we couldn't be certain if he had co-conspirators, though we'd learn days later it was just him. For now, we had to maintain a strict, unified public stance.

For the first few days, even a quick trip to the mailbox became an ordeal. Reporters swarmed, microphones thrust into my face, questions fired relentlessly.

"Ms. Smith! Did you have any prior knowledge of Tomas Ezekial's illegal activities?" one shouted, his voice grating.

"Were you complicit in his schemes?" another yelled.

I kept my answers consistent, my voice calm and measured despite the frantic pounding in my chest. "I suspected nothing. This was all a complete surprise to me, just as it was to everyone else." I repeated variations of this, offering no further comment, retreating quickly back inside the perceived safety of my home.

By day two, the relentless media presence became unbearable. Kay, witnessing my frayed nerves, took decisive action. She called Darnell.

"Darnell, it's Kay. We need some assistance over at Deppgrl's residence," she stated, her voice tight with suppressed frustration. "The media circus is completely out of control. We need a few officers to keep them off the property. She can barely breathe out here."

Within the hour, three patrol cars arrived. A few officers began politely, but firmly, establishing a perimeter, instructing reporters to move back from the property line. It offered some relief, but they still lingered, shouting questions from the sidewalk, their cameras perpetually aimed at my house.

By day four, the situation escalated further. Chief Miller, the no-nonsense Chief of Police, arrived herself. She took one look at the persistent crowd and her jaw tightened.

"Alright, listen up!" Chief Miller's voice boomed, cutting through the persistent chatter. "This is private property. You've had your time. Pack up your gear and leave. Now."

A reporter, bolder than the rest, stepped forward. "Chief, we have a right to cover this story! The public deserves answers!"

Chief Miller's eyes narrowed, a steely glint in them. "You have a right to cover the story from public property. This is private property. If you are not completely off this property, every single one of you, in the next five minutes, I will have you arrested for trespassing. Is that clear?"

The threat was unmistakable. Grumbling, the reporters began to pack up their equipment, their briefcases, and their cameras. Within minutes, the street was clear, leaving an eerie, blessed silence in its wake.

That entire week, I maintained a complete radio silence with Vince and Randy. Any and every message they sent went through Kay, who acted as my sole intermediary. She'd relay their concerns, their well-wishes, and their questions with a professional detachment that did little to ease my longing.

"Vince wants to know if you're eating," Kay would say, reading from her phone, "He's worried about you."

"Randy asked if you need anything from the store," she'd add later, "He sounds pretty concerned."

I missed their voices—the way they'd deepen when they were serious or lighten when they teased. I missed their touches—the comforting brush of a hand, the warmth of an embrace. And more than anything, I missed the way they said my name as they released in me. The silence from them, even by proxy, was deafening.

"Hey," Kay said, pulling me from my thoughts as she was reading from her phone. "Do you remember that day, a while back, when you had both Randy and Vince over, and then a few days later, you asked Vince not to be put in the same position?"

I sighed, the memory a mix of embarrassment and lingering heat. "Yes," I mumbled, facepalming myself and groaning. "Why?"

"Well," Kay continued, undeterred, "they want to put you in that spot again. Mostly to get your mind off how things have been since Tomas's arrest."

"Oh, God," I groaned, my face still in my hands.

"What happened that night, anyway?" Kay pressed, her voice laced with curiosity.

I lowered my hands, looking at her. "You don't want to know."

"Oh, but I do," she insisted, leaning forward, her eyes bright. "Tell me. What happened that night?"

I took a deep breath, resigning myself. "We had a threesome."

Kay's eyebrows shot up. "The three of you had sex?"

"More like they spent the night fucking me," I corrected, a wry smile playing on my lips. "Why do you want to know, Kay?”

Kay leaned back, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Because they're interested in doing that again."

"No!" I exclaimed. "Tell them I said no."

Kay didn't hesitate. She immediately got on her phone and walked into the next room. I could hear the muffled intensity of her voice, though I couldn't make out the words. She was clearly laying into them. A few minutes later, she stomped back into the living room, fuming and muttering under her breath, "Honestly, what do she see in them?"

I laughed out loud, a genuine, unburdened laugh that felt foreign after the past week. "Half the time, I ask myself the exact same question."

We talked for a bit longer, mostly about the ongoing fallout from Tomas's arrest and the sudden influx of new business inquiries. Kay gave me updates on the legal proceedings and reassured me that my public image was, surprisingly, untarnished. Eventually, she stood to leave. "Alright, I'm heading out for a bit. Try to get some rest, okay? You've earned it."

"Thanks, Kay. For everything," I said, genuinely grateful. "I'll try."

Kay left, promising to return later. True to her word, about two hours later, I heard her key in the lock. She'd gone home, showered, seen her husband, and was back to help.

Not long after Kay left for the first time, my phone rang. It was Tara.

"Hey boss, I know you're not comfortable leaving the house with the possibility of a remaining reporter hanging around, so I wanted to ask if I could bring the full team over for a meeting here?" Tara asked, her voice a little breathless.

"The full team?" I asked, surprised. "That's... a lot of people."

"It's important," she insisted. "We've got a lot to go over, and it's better if we're all together."

I thought for a moment. "Okay. Give me an hour. I need to do a quick clean-up. Then you can bring everyone over."

"Perfect!" Tara chirped. "See you then!"

I hung up and immediately started a whirlwind cleaning spree, focusing on the main areas of the house. As I tidied, I pulled out my phone and initiated a three-way call.

"Aditi, Dominic, it's me," I said when they both answered. "Listen, I have a food emergency. I need food for about thirty people, total. How soon can you get it to me?"

"Thirty people?" Aditi's voice came through, a hint of surprise. "It'll be an hour and a half, tops, but we'll get it to you as fast as we can. Don't worry about a thing."

"You guys are lifesavers," I said, genuinely relieved. "Thank you so much."

"Anything for you, Deppgrl," Dominic said, and we hung up.

Precisely an hour later, Tara and my entire staff arrived, a veritable army carrying boxes, backpacks, computer bags, and various electronic devices. My jaw dropped.

"Tara, what is all this?" I asked, gesturing at the mountain of gear.

"It's a takeover!" she declared, laughing, a mischievous glint in her eye.

I sighed, feeling a familiar weariness. "Tara, please. Just tell me what's going on."

"Okay, okay," she relented, still grinning. "Since Tomas's arrest, we've had sixty legitimate companies reach out to us. Yvette and I have been vetting them non-stop since day one. We've got a box here with the strongest competitors, and another with the weakest." She paused, her expression turning serious. "Since it's your business and your reputation on the line, you have the final say on who we pursue."

For the second time that day, I facepalmed myself. "Sixty? Tara, you're telling me you've already whittled down sixty potential clients?"

"We've been busy," she said, shrugging. "This is a huge opportunity, boss."

As the staff began to unpack their backpacks and set up their electronics, Tara, Kay, and I went to the basement. We started lugging cases of water bottles up to the main floor, stacking them near the kitchen. Kay then helped Tara take out and organize the files for the companies my staff thought I should pick.

"Where are the middle runners?" I asked, looking at the two distinct piles.

"Oh, I packed those in my bag, just in case," Tara said, patting a large tote bag.

"Good thinking," I said, grateful for her foresight.

We gathered around the dining table, spreading out the files. We went through each of the companies one by one, meticulously writing out a list of pros and cons for each one. After a while, the initial excitement wore off, and the snippiness began to creep in.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang, a welcome interruption. I went to the door to find Aditi and Dominic standing there, flanked by some of their staff, all carrying enormous trays of food. Food for at least 100 people.

"We brought reinforcements!" Aditi announced, a wide smile on her face.

"And enough to feed an army, it seems," Dominic added with a chuckle.

They and their staff began bringing in the food, filling my kitchen counters. "Where's your second fridge?" Aditi asked, looking around.

"It's in the basement," I replied, pointing downstairs. Some of my male staff, sensing the need, immediately jumped in to help carry the heavy trays down.

Before Aditi and Dominic—along with their staff—left, I stopped them. "How much do I owe you for all this?"

They looked at each other, then at me, then back at each other, and burst out laughing.

"You don't owe a single thing, Deppgrl," Aditi said, still chuckling.

I hugged them both tightly. "Thank you. Seriously. You guys are the best." They waved goodbye and left.

Back in the kitchen, Tara and Kay were doing their best to keep the hungry staff from digging into the mountain of food before I did. I looked at the spread, then at the limited plates and utensils I owned, and wondered how I was going to feed that many people. Then I noticed the large boxes Aditi and Dominic had left. Disposable plates, plastic ware, cans of soda, and other soft drinks. They were too good to me, I thought to myself, a wave of affection washing over me.

"Alright, everyone, hold on a minute!" Tara called out, just as I grabbed a plate. "Boss lady eats first!"

I dug in, savoring the delicious Italian food but my mouth was watering over the wonderful smell of Aditi’s food. Only after I had taken a generous portion did Kay and Tara give the signal, and the staff descended upon the food like a pack of hungry wolves.

We all ate and eat and ate some more, until we were too stuffed to argue about anything. The snippiness from earlier had completely vanished, replaced by a comfortable, food-induced haze.

"So," I said, leaning back in my chair, "how many potential clients do you think we can realistically bring in?"

Tara, rubbing her full stomach, considered. "Twenty-five, comfortably."

I looked at Kay. "And you?"

"Thirty-five, max, if we really push it," she replied.

"Okay," I said, looking around at my team. "Let's aim for thirty. And we don't need to do it by the end of today. We'll work at a sustainable pace."

"As long as your energy levels stay up, we're going to stay as long as it takes," one of the staff members piped up, and others nodded in agreement.

"Even if I nap?" I asked, a hopeful glint in my eye.

"We'll stay as long as you need us to stay," Tara confirmed, a warm smile on her face.

That was it. That was when I knew. My staff was truly amazing. Kay looked at me with a soft smile, a silent acknowledgment of the incredible team I had.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" I announced, pushing myself to my feet. "Once we pick out however many clients we pick, and things are on the up and up, you will all get a raise."

A cheer went up. I looked at Tara, who was beaming. "And Tara," I said, meeting her gaze, "you have proved yourself over the last week. You'll get yours as well, as long as there aren't many wolves."

Tara laughed, a genuine, joyful sound. "Oh, I'm leaving the wolves behind, boss. Definitely leaving the wolves behind."

We immediately started digging through the boxes again, the food-induced lethargy replaced by renewed determination. Laughter filled the room as we debated the merits of various companies, the occasional groan escaping someone's lips when a particularly weak contender was presented. There was good-natured bargaining, "No, no, this one has potential if we just..." and tired sighs as the hours stretched on. We worked late into the night, the piles of "yes" and "no" growing steadily. We finally decided on thirty-one companies.

As the staff began to pack their electronics, backpacks, and other belongings, I called out, "Hey everyone, grab some food on your way out! There's plenty to go around!"

A few grateful murmurs and "Thanks, Deppgrl!" echoed as they helped themselves to the take out containers that Aditi and Dominic provided, their faces tired but happy.

Once the last staff member had left, only Kay and Tara remained. "Okay, listen," I said. "Once you've both had at least seven hours of sleep, Tara, I need you to reach out to the thirty-one companies we agreed on. Tell them they're hired and then fax all the required paperwork. Kay, you'll send emails to the others, stating that at this time, we're full, and we hope to add them soon. I can also make personal recommendations of other businesses they might work with until I have the staff."

They both nodded, their eyes heavy but resolute. "Got it, boss," Tara mumbled.

"Consider it done," Kay added.

As Kay and Tara were about to leave, I called out, "Kay?"

She turned her hand on the doorknob. "Yeah?"

"Send them both," I said, a small, knowing smile playing on my lips.

A twinkle appeared in Kay's tired eyes. "They'll be here in about an hour," she replied, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"An hour?!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening. My staff had just packed up, but throw blankets were still strewn all over the living room, the garbage and recycling needed to go out, and the bathrooms definitely needed a quick clean. And I still needed to shower! I groaned, already calculating the frantic dash ahead.

Just as I was heading downstairs from my shower, in just an oversized shirt, the doorbell rang. Through the window, I saw the first drops of rain begin to fall, splattering against the glass. I opened the door to find Vince and Randy standing there, a little earlier than Kay had predicted. They looked at me, then at each other, then back at me.

"Where do we start from here?" I asked, looking from one to the other.