Simone started, clutching one hand to her chest to make sure her heart was still there, and the other to the pencil holder she’d almost knocked to the ground. Spinning her swivel chair, she glared at Jackson Bard, her co-worker and one of her few friends at the Traveler. He was staring at her computer screen curiously. Although obviously Caucasian, with his shocking head of platinum colored hair and baby blues, Jack was one of the few minorities employed by the Traveler. He had a pair of heels taller than hers and Simone knew he could work them better than she ever could. She’d seen Jack in action on a catwalk, and had hooted and hollered along with Janet, and all the other patrons of The Whiplash. “Why are you researching the Monster’s Ball?” Jack asked lazily, reaching into the cubicle beside hers and pulling the chair out. It was unoccupied due to recent layoffs. He was holding a bag in his hand, which he opened and pulled out two subs.
