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Nicolette Howard wasn’t one to appreciate the benefits of being scolded, especially by someone as dubious and immoral as Carl Kastenmeier. Elaine tried to dust the office and at the same time block out the conversation, but Carl was speaking so loudly, it was impossible not to hear him. Carl had so much money, hardworking people came along as often as mosquitoes did on a hot summer night. So consequently he didn’t care if he offended some of them every now and then.
“I do my job well,” Nicolette said. “I just don’t understand why I have to do everyone else’s, too.”
“As long as you work for me, you’ll do as I say,” Carl said, standing up from his desk and coming around to where she was sitting. He leaned on the edge of the rosewood flat-top and crossed his arms as if he meant business. “If I tell you to help Marlon out, then you’d damn well better do it!”
“At the expense of my own responsibilities?”
“No, of course not. You’d better do both, or I’ll hire somebody who will.”
Nicolette stood up also, lifting her proud, brown chin. “Why don’t you do that? Go ahead and fire me and get somebody else to kiss your ass.”
Not answering, he seemed unusually calm after being told to find a stranger willing to get personal with his backside.
“I’ll tell you why you won’t get somebody else,” she said, looking at Carl defiantly. “I’m the best there is, and you know it.”
“If you’re the best there is, then why do you stay?”
“Because you’re the best at what you do, and you’re teaching me a lot. I’ve been dealing with people like you all my life, Carl, yet here I am.” She spread her arms out for emphasis. “Good as I ever was and ready for more. The only difference is, the hard cases I’ve had to deal with in the past are all beneath me now.”
Carl looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Do you mean beneath you in business acumen, or six feet under the ground?”
“Either way, if history follows suit,” she concluded, “well, you’ll be sure to follow.”
Resting his palms flat against the desk, he snickered and then shook his head. “Well, I hope you’ll remember little ol’ me when you’re chairman of the board and CEO of your own multibillion dollar corporation someday.”
Smiling, she said, “You’ll be a memorable footnote, Carl.” That assessment made him laugh.
“I still want you to help Marlon out.” He hesitated. “Please.” The word ‘please’ was difficult for him to say, and he stumbled over it as a lawyer might stumble over the words pro bono.
Nicolette took her time giving him an answer. “I’ll see what I can do,” she finally said.
“Thanks,” he said, pausing to find Elaine staring at them. Rattled the minute he looked at her, Elaine jerked her eyes away and started dusting vigorously.
“Look, Nicolette,” Carl began again, forgetting about Elaine’s eavesdropping and focussing on his most promising protégé, “I’m afraid I’ll have to cut Alex loose.”
“You’ll have to replace him, then. I can’t do the work of three executives.”
“I know. I’ll put someone in his place.”
“What about Marlon?”
“I’m not getting rid of Marlon.”
“I’m not asking you to get rid of him,” she said. “Maybe you could hire on a helper for him. You know, someone who’s capable of doing his work, but who is green enough not to realize it. By the time he catches on, he’ll be out the door just in time for you to bring in a brand new sucker.” She paused. Her handsome, ethnic features were glowing because of her pleased countenance. “They’re called interns.”
Carl looked delighted by the prospect of that. “Nicolette, you’re a frigging genius!”
“Not really. I’m just looking out for my own interests, that’s all. You’d better be tactful when you tell Alex to hit the road. He can snap rather decisively, and at the drop of a hat. He’ll run out of rabbits to sacrifice someday and when he does, he might come looking for you instead.”
“That’s why I have John. He keeps the crazies a safe distance away from me. I call him my barbed wire fence.”
Although nodding, she didn’t seem convinced. “Alex is a good climber,” she said.
Katerina buzzed, so Carl turned away from Nicolette and switched on the telephone speaker. “Yes?” he said.
“Tasia McAvoy is here to see you, sir. Shall I send her in?”
“Excuse me, Nicolette,” he said, snatching up his cane and then bolting for the door. Carl stepped into the reception room and stared at Tasia as if dying for her to be the first to say something. When she didn’t, he volunteered.
“It’s good to see you, Tasia. I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’ve got to talk to you, Carl.”
He shrugged. “So talk.”
“Alone.”
“Believe me, whatever you have to say won’t leave this room.”
Tasia glanced at Katerina as if she didn’t appreciate the company, then said, “Please stop putting the screws to my boss. Money’s tight for him, and you’re making it even tighter. He can’t afford to play your games. He’ll go out of business if you keep it up, and you know it.”
“Okay,” he said, extending his arms in a friendly gesture, “I’ll stop raising the rent on the guy. Consider it done.”
“I have your word?”
“For the time being, yes.” Watching her, he acted like an infatuated schoolboy. Tasia’s hair was pulled back off her neck and was done up quite nicely. Looking rested, her eyes were clearer than they probably had been in years. Good health and Tasia McAvoy were rarely mentioned in the same sentence. But today, she looked well enough to see the boss for who he really was.
“You know the deal, though,” Carl told her, grinning.
Tasia swallowed hard, biting her lip. “Yes, I know it better than anyone.” Her face was curiously unemotional, and she stared at him longer than necessary. She acted as if she had lots to tell him, so much she wanted to say, but she held back. “See you later,” was all she said before turning to leave.
“When?”
“As soon as I can,” she said from over her shoulder. The pretty blue, knee-length dress she was wearing was a refreshingly modest change for her. Since she’d left Carl’s influence, she seemed to like herself. Now that things were sliding back to business as usual, there was no telling what would happen.
“I need to know when I’ll see you again,” he shouted after her. “Tasia?”
She didn’t answer.
“Don’t do this to me, honey.”
Still, no answer.
“I’ll call you tonight,” he said. He kept watching her until she was out of sight.
Elaine collected some dirty liquor glasses from the top of the bar as she wiped it down with a cloth. Carl was still staring off in the direction Tasia had just taken. Maybe he didn’t love her, but he sure loved to chase her. Once Tasia was back with him, Elaine was afraid that all acts of chivalry would soon die. And perhaps the same could be said for one very dear and restless heart. If Tasia came back, it would probably kill her, too.