Chapter Twenty-two
DAR LEANED BACK in her seat and closed her eyes as the warm sunlight poured in her window. She was showered and dressed, and on the ferry heading over to the mainland, only a few minutes later than she usually was. Not bad. “Morning, Maria.”
“Buenos días, Dar,” her secretary’s voice answered. “I have a note here from Mr. Draefus. Is there a report you were supposed to send to him last night?”
Oh shit. Dar almost slapped her forehead in dismay. “I have it here, I’m…still reviewing it, Maria.” She unzipped her laptop case and booted the machine. “I had some problems with some of the…uh, he has some…” Her eyes flicked over the report as the ferry made the long, slow turn into the dock. “Yeah, he has some addendums here that don’t make sense. “
“I’ll tell him that you’re not done with it yet,” Maria told her. “Okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll send it over when I get in and dock.” Dar skimmed the rest of the report. “Uh, I have a set of statistics I need copied for my nine o’clock.
They’re in my outbox. Can you take care of that?”
“Surely,” her secretary assured her.
“Okay, thanks. I’ve gotta get off the ferry here,” Dar mumbled, as she shifted gears and started the car forward. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, Maria.”
“Drive carefully, Dar,” Maria said as usual. “There are crazy people out there.”
Uh huh. Dar maneuvered the Lexus off the ferry and out onto the street, turning left onto the causeway, silently berating herself for forgetting Duk’s report. “C’mon, Dar, snap out of it. You’ve got a division to run here.” She shook her head.
The short drive gave her time to focus her thoughts, and by the time she pulled into the parking lot, she’d managed to put her mind to the problems of the day, and set aside the distracting wonder of the night before. Almost.
She ran her fingers through her dark hair as she entered the offices, crossing to the elevators in time to join Duks as he held the door for her.
“Morning, Duks.” She gave him a quick look. “I’ve got some issues with that report. I’ll copy you on them when I get in.”
“Fair enough.” Duks leaned back against the elevator wall. “Be careful in that meeting this morning. I hear José has some tricks up his sleeve. He’s trying to push those government accounts to lower the margin on them.”
Dar snorted softly. “Someday he’ll learn quantity doesn’t do crap for you 272 Melissa Good if you don’t make money on it.” She shifted her laptop. “He didn’t learn from that Olympics fiasco?”
Duks sighed and shook his head. “Not hardly. Hey, listen, Mariana thought she’d get together a few folks for an evening out at Monty’s this Friday. You interested?”
Dar glanced at him, slightly puzzled. Usually Mariana did her own group announcements. “Um, I don’t think I have plans. Sure, tell her to drop me a note when she finalizes.”
“Okay,” Duks agreed amiably. “She thought she’d ask Mark Polenti, Barbara and… Hey, she did mention… You think Kerry would be interested?”
Ah. Dar managed to restrict her reaction to a faint shrug. “How would I know? Ask her. She never claimed a seafood allergy or a fear of the ocean, so…”“Will do,” the Finance VP assured her. “Mariana says she’s a nice kid.
After all, she tolerates you, so she’d probably make a fun addition to the group.”
Dar chuckled dryly. “I’m sure she’ll be flattered to be asked.” She held the door open for Duks to go out before her.
“Well, Mariana wanted to be sure…that you wouldn’t mind first. After all, you have to work with her. You might not want to spend off hours with the kid.”
She almost—almost—burst into helpless laughter. “Ah, what’s one night?” she managed to get out, biting off a grin. “Nah, she’s fine. She’s got some good ideas, and speaks her mind. Nice change.”
“Good to hear.” Duks gave her a nod. “See you for lunch?”
Dar gave a half shrug. “Depends on how long-winded José is.” She gave her friend a little wave as she exited the elevator. “I’ll call you when I get out.”
When she reached her suite, she opened the outer door and slipped inside.
“Hello, Maria.”
The short woman glanced up from the phone call she was on and waved, then held out a sheaf of papers in silence. Dar walked over and took them, then continued into her office. She closed the door behind her and moved across the carpet, stopping as she glanced at her desk. Centered on the top of it was a small plate containing several pastries, neatly arranged, along with a covered cup. Dar felt a smile shape her lips as she continued on around the desk and sat down, flipped on her desktop and put down her laptop case. She selected a pastry and bit into it with pleasure. It was still warm, and she enjoyed the taste, along with the sweet coffee in the cup. As soon as her computer finished coming up, she clicked on the corporate instant messaging software she hardly ever used, and keyed in Kerry’s network address.
Thanks for the pastries. How’d you know which ones I like? She typed in, and hit enter. After a few more bites, the response came back.
Easy. I picked the unhealthiest ones I could find .
Dar chuckled wryly.
Tropical Storm 273
Good guess , she sent back. They’re great.
She clicked on her mail, then sent Duks back a copy of his report with a few notes. After a few minutes of review, and the rest of the pastries, she got another message.
I’m heading out to the MTC. Anything you need taken care of first?
Nope. Good luck and have fun, Dar sent back. If
you’re back around lunch, drop by.
She set down the papers Maria had given to her and started reviewing them, circling things in a bright purple pen that the sales managers had learned to detest with a deep and abiding passion. The phone buzzed. “Yes?”
“Dar, General Easton on numero dos.”
She glanced at the phone, then punched the button. “Hello, Gerry.”
“Hellloooooo, Dar.” The general’s robust voice came through the phone.
“Just wanted you to know, that flight was pure negligence. A pity, but nothing to do with you, my friend.”
Dar nodded quietly to herself. “Wanted to make sure it was all right, Ger.
Senator Stuart’s daughter was on the flight as well, and he had some concerns in that regard.”
A low whistle. “Wow. Intelligence didn’t pick that up at all.
Howinthehell did you know about it?”
“It wasn’t that hard, she’s my assistant,” Dar told him dryly. She circled another discrepancy with her pen and chuckled to herself. It was going to be an enjoyable meeting.
Easton laughed. “And here you had me marveling at your damn comprehensive detail orientation. That’s rich, you hired that bastard’s kid?
Politically nice, Dar, very nice.” His voice was approving. “Never hurts to have a friend up on Mount Olympus.”
Oh yes, he’d looovvvvee me. Dar bit her lip to keep from smiling. Hello, Senator Conservative-as-grass-grows-up from Michigan. I’m dating your daughter.
Nice ta meet ya. Whoops, watch that ground there as you fall over, it’s a little hard.
“Yeah, well, that wasn’t a consideration, but I do have to keep it in mind.”
Easton chuckled. “Whatever you say. Listen, you up for a visit over Turkey Day? I’ve got an extra spot at the table with your name on it.”
Dar hesitated, playing with her pen. Kerry would, she knew, be home in Michigan over that whole weekend. The thought of staying alone in her condo was suddenly very unappealing. “Gerry, I’d like that,” she replied quietly.