Outer Masks: Chapter 3: Enemies?

A Week Later

“I fucking hate you.” Rory said the second she stepped into her office and saw Peach Salinger walking around with a look of distaste as her eyes traveled around the room.

“I think the words you’re looking for are ‘Wow. Thanks Max, without you there’s no way I would have grown the balls to spend time with the woman I’m crushing on!’” Max said in a mocking tone.

Rory glared at the man, “How many times do I have to tell you; I do not have a thing for Peach Salinger!”

“Sure, you don’t. You just think she’s hot and want to get her in your bed.” Max quipped.

“You two do know that your whispering is more like shouting, right?” Rory and Max’s heads spun towards Peach, the woman staring at them with a bored expression that matched her dry tone.

Rory pushed Max’s head away from her own and stood straighter, “Look, Peach, I’m sorry that this idiot wasted your time by calling you here, but you’re not needed here.”

“Oh, I am definitely needed here. This whole office is profoundly tragic, it's like the entire aesthetic from The Wolf of Wall Street, threw up in here.” Peach said as she walked over to Rory’s desk chair and reluctantly poked it with her finger, as if just this was enough to catch an incurable disease from it.

Rory paused for a moment, confused and a bit insulted by what was said, “Wait, how would you be needed to fix my office?”

Max stepped forward and answered, “Peach here is the head of interior design at her father’s company.” He then leaned closer to Rory and whispered, “Another thing you guys have in common.”

It took every ounce of her patience for Rory not to put her hands on Max and beat him into a bloody pulp.

“Wait, if she’s the head of interior design, how much are you paying her just to show up in person?” Rory asked.

A sheepish expression appeared on Max’s face, “A lot. And this is just a consultation, her actually getting people to refurnish this place will cost even more.”

“Honestly, we’re going to have to get rid of everything in this room. And even then, I’m not sure it will be all that of an improvement.” Peach critiqued as she continued to eye everything in the room with disdain.

“And why are you even doing this? I would figure the second you saw my name on the door, you would’ve turned on your heels and left.” Rory asked, not believing that Peach was there with good intentions.

“Well, you and I got off on the wrong foot when we first met,” Peach started.

“I would say our second meeting was worse.” Rory cut in, enjoying the flash of annoyance that appeared and quickly disappeared on Peach’s face.

Peach cleared her throat, “As I was saying, we had not enjoyed the other’s presence, but I’m looking to change that. Firstly, our parents are good friends and secondly, your brother is dating my best friend, and the two of them have been getting serious and I would hate for us to not get along when we’re going to be spending more time together going forward.”

Peach finished by giving Rory a sugary sweet smile, and Rory had to swallow the scoff that had wanted to leave her mouth. She did not for a second believe that Peach had wanted them to become friends, especially not because Joe and Beck were becoming a more serious couple.

I could tell just by seeing them once that Peach hates Joe, and the feeling is just as mutual. There’s no way she wants to become friends with me, she’s definitely up to something. Rory thought to herself.

But Rory knew that if she said how she truly felt, then she would be the asshole in this situation for rejecting Peach’s offer for a clean slate. And she refused to let Peach win the battle, “Then consider the hatchet buried.”

“Good.” Peach smirked, “Then I hope we can get to know each other better the next time I’m here.”

“Wait you’re coming back?” Rory asked, surprised by how far Peach was going to ‘be her friend.’

“Of course, we still need to bring this office to the twenty-first century after all.” Peach answered as she moved to the desk to retrieve her purse.

“I’m very much looking forward to it... friend.” Peach once again smirked before giving Rory a small wave and strutting out of the room.

Max waited a few moments to be sure Peach was gone before throwing his arms around Rory, shaking her back and forth. “Dude! I knew that you liked her but it's obvious she’s feeling you too! Now, we got to figure out what you’re going to do when she comes back, I was thinking....”

Rory tuned out the rest of what Max was saying, only numbly nodding along as a sense of dread began to settle in her stomach. It was as if Peach was a predator lying in wait for her next meal, and Rory was the weak prey that had fallen into an inescapable trap.

I made a grave mistake here...

~X~

“So why is this party being held here tomorrow instead of... anywhere else?” Rory asked her brother as she watched him sweeping the store.

Joe let out an annoyed chuckle, “Peach offered up the store on my behalf. In her words, Roger Stevens loves dark and dreary places.”

“Ouch.” Rory mocked, seeing the obvious insult that Peach had given Joe. “Why would some like the Roger Stevens be interested in an MFA student with no experience?”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking, but I can’t say any of this to Beck because if I do...”

“Then you come across as an unsupportive boyfriend who’s shitting on his girl's dreams.” Rory said after Joe trailed off.

Joe pointed at his sister, “Exactly. So, I just have to suck it up and keep my opinions to myself.”

“Who knows, maybe Roger Stevens will be interested in Beck’s work and take her on as a client or something.” Rory said hopefully.

“Yeah, maybe.” Joe muttered, thinking to himself how upset Beck would be if Peach and Roger crushed her hopes.

Why is it so hard for you to see that Peach doesn’t care about your aspirations and your dreams, Beck. She’s just using this as an opportunity to keep you trapped within her poisonous web. To keep you reliant on her.

“Still, even if it doesn’t work out, it’s a great opportunity for Beck to get.” Rory added, sensing Joe's darker thoughts.

“And you won't have to suffer alone since I’ll be there.”

Joe smiled, “And who said you're invited?”

Rory gave Joe a look, “Why else would you call me here to help you clean this place up? Besides, Beck would be devastated if I didn't show up.”

Joe rolled his eyes, “Oh I’m sure not seeing you there would move my girlfriend to tears.”

Rory laughed before sitting up, “Oh! Can I bring Max with me?”

Joe’s smile fell as he heard the name of the man he hated. “Max is here? In the city?”

Maxwell Rockefeller, Rory’s idiotic, spoiled, dude bro best friend, even saying his name pisses me off. I will never understand how Rory can stand to be in his presence and how she could claim him as her best friend. How does she not see that he’s a bad influence on her? He's basically the male version of Peach!

“Yeah, he followed me from LA. Bro even brought a place! This big house in the Bronx.” Rory explained.

“That’s… great.” Joe muttered.

“Don't sound too excited.” Rory snarked, hearing the false joy in Joe's voice.

“No, sorry, how is Max? Has he gotten his head stuck in anymore buckets recently?” Joe asked, referring to the time Max shoved his head into a dirty bucket on a drunken dare and got his head stuck.

Rory remembered having to drive him to the ER so the bucket could be cut open after numerous attempts to remove the bucket themselves had failed.

“Don’t be a dick.” Rory groaned, having no desire to once again hear the opinions that Joe had of her friend. “So, can I bring him or what?”

Joe let out a sigh, “Yes, you can bring Maxwell tomorrow.”

“Great!” Rory chirped, “Max has been badgering me to introduce him to Annika and Lynn, now he can finally shut up.”

“Glad to know that this potentially life changing and or dream crushing night for my girlfriend will be used to help Max to get laid.” Sarcasm oozed from Joe’s voice with every word he spoke.

Rory shrugged her shoulders with a laugh, “That’s what Max is banking on, but I don’t think Annika or Lynn will be all that interested in him. Either that or Max will find someone else who is more of a sure thing.”

Joe let out a deep breath through his nostrils, already dreading the party, thinking about how he would be forced to spend hours around a group of people he disliked and having to watch two people he hated strut around like they owned the world.

This is going to be hell.

~X~

“This is the bookstore your brother owns? I figured it would be bigger with how smug he is when he talks about it.” Max said as he and Rory entered Mooney’s.

In Rory’s opinion, besides the low lighting along with the finger food and glasses of alcohol the bookstore looked the same as it always did, although she supposed that Peach did not have much time to really do anything drastic.

“Max, what did I say in the car?” Rory asked in a fake sugary tone.

Max let out a loud groan, “Don’t be a dick.”

“Don’t be a dick.” Rory repeated, “Joe is already in a bad mood, I don't need you adding to it.”

“Fine. But if he says something to me, I’m not sitting down and taking it.” Max replied.

Rory sighed, knowing that this was the best she was going to get from Max.

I just hope they don't almost come to blows again. Rory thought.

“Rory! Thanks for coming tonight.” Joe said as Rory and Max approached him, Annika, and Lynn.

“I couldn’t disappoint you by not coming. That would have been a tragedy.” Rory joked as Joe pulled her into a short hug.

“Ha, I would have been absolutely devastated.” Joe smirked, he then reluctantly looked to the side, “Max. Great to see you again.”

“Yeah, you too, man.” Max replied just as dryly, just barely keeping the sneer off his face.

“Anyway,” Rory quickly said, wanting to push past the awkwardness. “You already know Joe, but this is Annika and Lynn. Ladies, this is my best friend, Max.”

“Wait, aren’t you Max from Daredevil Nation?” Annika asked, realizing why the blond looked so familiar to her.

“Yes, I am, and you’re Annika Attwater. I love the message of women empowerment and body positivity that you use your platform to spread. It's truly awe-inspiring.”

Rory and Joe rolled their eyes simultaneously, the two siblings seeing through Max’s sweet words.

Annika let out a bashful chuckle as she brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, “Thank you.”

“Telling a beautiful woman a widely known truth is nothing that I should be thanked for.” Max replied.

Oh, you must be kidding me? How is she falling for this crap? Joe thought to himself.

The group then turned to the bookstore entrance when the bell above it rang, watching as Beck entered the store.

Joe immediately moved towards her, and that is when Rory noticed that Peach was there as she came from where she was talking to a group of people to meet Beck and Joe in the center of the room.

Rory could not hear what Beck was saying to the two, but it was clear that she was nervous, soon pushing past the two and making a direct path to a table that was covered with alcohol.

Joe and Peach watched Beck leave before side-eyeing each other, Peach returned to where she had come from, and Joe followed Beck.

Rory was too busy watching Peach walk away in her amber evening dress that she failed to see Max leaving her side and going to the drinks table that Beck and Joe were standing in front of.

Max grinned, immediately pushing past Joe. “Hi there, I don’t think we've met, but I’m friends with Rory. I’m Max. Max Rockefeller.”

Beck slowly blinked as she took in Max’s introduction, “Rockefeller? Like, Standard Oil? John D. Rockefeller?”

“Yeah, he’s my great-great grandfather.” Max answered, lifting one of Beck’s hands and holding it within his own. “But that’s not important, what’s important is who you are.”

“I’m Beck.” Beck let out an awkward chuckle, “Joe’s girlfriend.”

“Really?” Max asked despite already knowing this, “And how did little Joe here convince you to become his girlfriend?”

“I asked her to be my girlfriend, you know, like a functional member of society. I know it must be a strange concept for you; actually, having to ask for things instead of having your dad buy them for you.” Joe said as he moved in between his girlfriend and the other man, glaring at Max.

Max returned the look just as fiercely, stepping into Joe’s personal space. “What did you just say to me?”

Rory quickly pushed the two men apart, “Enough of that, I thought I told you both to behave?”

Beck became concerned as she watched the two men back away from each other, she had never seen Joe react so hostilely to another person before. She could see the mutual hate and dislike that Joe and Max had for each other and knew that if Rory had not appeared, then the situation would have escalated.

“So, Beck, have you met with Roger Stevens yet?” Rory asked, trying to diffuse the tension that Joe and Max had created.

“No, not yet. I’m trying to build up the courage to approach him.” Beck answered, her nervousness evident in how she spoke and fidgeted in place.

“Well, when you do meet him, you’re going to blow him away.” Rory reassured.

Beck grinned, “Thanks, Rory.”

“No problem.” Rory replied, “Max and I are going to keep mingling, so we’ll leave you guys to it.”

With that, Rory grabbed Max’s hand and pulled him far away from the couple, Max giving Joe one last glare as they left.

Beck immediately turned to face Joe, “Okay, what the hell was that?”

“What was what?” Joe asked, hoping that Beck would drop the topic.

“Why were you and that Max guy seconds away from beating each other up? I thought he was Rory’s friend?” Beck clarified.

Joe let out a groan, “He is Rory’s best friend, it’s just that I don’t like that guy.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured that when you basically called him a spoiled brat.” Beck snorted.

“It just that Max has been getting Rory into some kind of trouble since the moment they became friends. I just don’t like the influence he has over her.” Joe answered, thinking about all the dangerous situations Max placed Rory in during their friendship.

“So, what I’m hearing is that you're an overprotective older brother who thinks his little sister is being peer pressured?” Beck joked, her lips tilting upwards.

“I’m not an overprotective brother.” Joe argued.

“Sure, you’re not.” Beck's response, but it was clear that she did not believe him.

Joe then rolled his eyes and let out a chuckle. He was still angry over Max trying to not only flirt with Beck but also to make him look bad in front of her, but he was happy that his actions led Beck to relax.

Meanwhile, Max was still furious over what Joe had said to him.

That fucking piece of shit! What right does that bitch having to be judging me?!

“Max, I thought I said to be cool, that back there was not cool.” Rory said once she and Max were a good distance away from Joe and Beck.

“Hey, that was not my fault, your asshole brother started it! He always starts it!” Max argued.

He hated how Joe was always trying to ruin their friendship, to get in between them because Joe looked down on him. Max refused to be Joe’s punching bag just because the other man was insecure about himself.

“Look, Rory, I know you love your brother, but that doesn’t mean I have to, especially since he will never treat me with any respect. So, I’m not going to apologize for sticking up for myself.” Max said, reiterating conversations that the two had already had numerous times.

“And I’m not saying that you have to, I know that Joe can be… hard to like or even love. But I just want you two to be to be able to be in the same room with a fight breaking out.” Rory pleaded, her expression becoming full of sadness.

Max sighed, never being able to say no, not when Rory looked at him like her heart was breaking. “Fine, I’ll try. But you’ve got to keep Joe in line.”

“And I will.” Rory promised.

“Good. Now if you would excuse me, I have a fine woman to charm.” Max smirked as he made his way back to Annika's side.

“Why am I even surprised?” Rory said aloud as she watched Max leave, but smiled as she decided to make her own way through the party.

~X~

“So why did you ask me to meet you in your office?” Rory asked the second Peach had opened the door and let her inside.

When she woke up that morning, Rory was not expecting to see a text from Peach telling her to meet her at her office at ten.

Her first question was how Peach got her number because she would have most certainly remembered giving it to the other woman, but then she remembered who her best friend was, and it suddenly made sense.

Fuck you, Max. Rory thought to herself, knowing that these would be the first words she tells Max when she sees him again.

“Did you forget that you are paying me to fix that travesty you call an office?” Peach scoffed as she made her way to her desk.

“You mean Max is paying you because I most certainly didn’t ask for help. And that still doesn’t answer why we had to meet here instead of at my office, you know that place you’re going to refurnish?” Rory retorted just as sarcastically.

Peach rolled her eyes, “You’re here so you can see the ideas I’ve come up with. They’re saved to my account, but I can’t find my laptop, so we need to use my desktop.”

“Did you try the find my phone app?” Rory asked but was put off by the murderous way Peach looked at her when she did.

Damn, what did I say?

“Yes, I did.” Peach gritted out through clenched teeth. “Will just sit there and stop being difficult?”

Rory raised her hands up in a placating manner, “My lips are sealed.”

Rory wondered if Peach was the type of person who always rolled their eyes when something annoyed her or if there was something special about her own presence that brought this out.

Rory pulled out her phone, texting Max that he should throw himself off a bridge because she was going to make him wish he was dead for giving Peach her number as she waited for Peach to show her what she was planning to do to Rory’s office. Max responded with several crying laughing emojis before telling Rory that she should be thanking him for ‘having enough balls for the two of them', further annoying Rory.

“This is what I thought would be the best new look for you.” Peach said as she moved away from her computer, giving Rory the space to look at the screen.

She could not deny that what Peach came up were an improvement on her current office; her desk was replaced with a long black oak desk, the chairs were now bigger and made from plush black leather, a part of one of her side walls had a portion cut out for a TV and two three-lined shelves, the rest of the walls were no longer beige but light blue, and the white carpeted floor had been removed and replace with a white marble colored tile.

“I’m guessing by your dropped jaw that you’re impressed?” Rory turned and saw the smirk on Peach’s face as she spoke, “I left a lot of open space for whatever else you want to add to the room, but tell your friend that I will never put a beanbag chair in any place that I design.”

“Knowing Max, he’ll just put a bunch beanbag chairs in there out of spite.” Rory laughed before a sincere look appeared on her face, “But this looks amazing. Thank you, Peach.”

Peach stared at Rory for a few moments, thrown off by innocence and sincerity that the other woman was expressing towards her before clearing her throat as she composed herself. “Don't thank me just yet, this is only the first step, Hayden.”

“Alright, alright." Rory chuckled, amused by Peach’s attitude.

Damn it really is me, huh? Rory thought to herself as Peach once again rolled her eyes at her, but Rory did not miss the small smile that Peach tried to hide.

Okay, maybe this was not the worst thing to ever happen to me. Still no way in hell I’m ever telling Max that though.

~X~

The Next Day

There’s… there’s no way Beck actually means that, right? Peach thought desperately.

Peach had no idea how long it had been since Beck had walked away, how long since Beck had called her a terrible person, her throat burning as she tried not to scream or cry as she watched Beck disappear.

Beck had walked away from her, and it was all Joe Goldberg’s fault.

Joe was right; you live to cut down your friends.

Those words brought nothing but anger to Peach’s heart, fueling her already deep hatred of Beck’s boyfriend. Everything had been great; she was the most important person in Beck’s life, the person who knew the most about her, the person who could snap her fingers and have Beck come running to her side until Joe arrived like a terrible plague into their lives and took her.

I am going to destroy that fucking bastard! I will ruin him and then Beck will see him for what he truly is; a manipulative, possessive piece of shit that is not worth another second of her time.

“Peach? What are you doing here?” Peach turned around and saw Rory standing behind her.

Peach scoffed at the sight of Joe Goldberg’s sister, “Are you stalking me again, Hayden? I thought we moved past this?”

Instead of reacting angerly like the first time she had accused her of being a stalker, Rory smirked and then pointed to the building behind them, revealing it to be Hayden International. “You call me a stalker, but from where I’m standing it looks like you couldn’t get enough of me after this morning and decided to come to my place of work.”

“You only wish that I gave that much of a damn about you.” Peach muttered, trying, but failing to hide the embarrassment she was feeling.

Rory laughed at the weak comeback, but her smirk soon fell as she took in Peach’s appearance for the first time. “Hey, are you okay? Have you been crying?”

Peach resisted the urge to touch her face, “I’m fine. Look Rory, I need to go.”

Just before Peach could leave, Rory grabbed her arm, but immediately let go when she saw the look of surprise and confusion that Peach was giving her. “Uh, sorry! It's just... let me drive you home.”

Peach’s face became pinched, “Rory I can get home by myself.”

“But it looks like you’ve been walking for a while, so that makes me think you’re walking home too, right?” Rory asked.

“Yes.” Peach replied tersely.

“Then let me drive you home. It’s way faster, besides, my mom would kill me if she found out that I let a vulnerable young lady walk home in New York City by herself.” Rory said.

“You come across a lot of ‘vulnerable young ladies’ in your life?” Peach asked softly.

“Well, no. But that’s all the more reason you should let me take you home; you’ll be giving me some experience as a knight in shining armor.” Rory answered, finishing her response with a playful wink.

Peach shook her head, barely keeping herself from smiling at Rory’s goofiness, “Fine. I will be allowing you to accomplish something you’ve never done; following a woman back her place.”

Rory rolled her eyes, but was still grinning as she led Peach to her car; a TorRed Dodge Challenger.

“Milady.” Rory said as she opened the passenger door for Peach and once again Peach rolled her eyes but swiftly got inside the car.

The drive to Peach’s place was a quiet one, only the sounds of the city and the engine breaking through the silence. Both women were content with the lull they had found themselves in, neither feeling the need to break it.

Soon the pair had pulled up in front of Peach’s townhouse, but instead of giving her a quick goodbye and exiting the car, Rory was silently surprised to see that Peach had not any motion to leave and was even looking Rory in the eyes, her gaze a mixture of sadness, gratitude, and anger.

“Thanks for the ride.” Peach muttered after a few moments.

“It did nothing that warrants thanking.” Rory said sincerely.

As Peach prepare to exit the vehicle, Rory spoke again, “I know it's not my place or my business, but you shouldn’t let whatever upset you keep messing with your head.”

Peach did not react angrily, but looked at Rory intrigued about what the other woman was saying.

“I mean, you’re Peach Salinger. I’m sure whatever or whoever has made you cry will regret it, you’re not someone to mess with. You’re strong, even I can see that from the short time I've known you, you’re going to bounce back.” Rory said, she did not know why she had gone on this triad, but seeing a spark flash within Peach’s eyes made her realize that her bundled word garbage was somehow successful.

Peach then grinned at the other woman, causing a shiver to race down Rory’s spine, there was something about the look on Peach’s face that scared her, making her think the woman was going to do something drastic.

“Thank you, Rory. You’re right, I am strong and everyone that fails to see that will regret it.” Peach said before opening the door and strutting into her townhouse, leaving a confused Rory behind.

“Uh, good night, I guess.” Rory said to herself before pulling her car out of park and driving away, her eyes flickering between the windshield and her rearview mirror as she watched the townhouse became further and further away.

Why do I get the feeling like my life is about to get way more complicated? Rory thought to herself.

Rory did not know what scared her more; Peach’s smile and what she said before leaving or the fact that she found Peach’s smile so incredibly sexy.