Page 8 of Insidious Threats
An older White woman with impeccably coiffed silver-blonde hair looked up from behind the reception desk and greeted her warmly. “Ms. Teale-James?”
“Yes, that’s me. I’m here for the Farley meeting.”
The receptionist smiled. “Of course. Mr. Collins’ office called; he’s running late. Let me take your coat, and then I’ll show you to the conference room.”
Amanda unbuttoned her coat and handed it to the woman as she stepped out from behind the teak desk.
“I’m Caroline,” she said. “If you need anything at all today, please let me know.”
“A cup of coffee would be great.”
“You’re in luck then. Did you notice Jake’s—the coffee shop on the ground floor?” As she spoke, Caroline led Amanda down a corridor, pausing to hang her coat on a rack.
“Briefly.”
“Jake blends a medium roast especially for Sasha. The roaster is a firm client. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but it’s rumored to be fantastic.”
“As long as it has caffeine, I’ll love it,” Amanda assured her.
She expected a polite chuckle, but the receptionist guffawed—a true belly laugh that didn’t match her sophisticated demeanor.
“Sorry,” she told Amanda, wiping her eyes. “You and Sasha are going to hit it off. I can tell.”
With that, she stopped in front of a door. She gave it a quick rap before pushing it open and ushering Amanda inside. Three women sat lined up on one side of the table, and a light-skinned man with a shaved head faced off against them. They all turned toward the door.
“Ms. Teale-James is interested in a cup of coffee,” Caroline said by way of introduction.
One of the woman stood and extended her hand. “I’m Sasha McCandless-Connelly.”
“Amanda Teale-James,” Amanda said unnecessarily as she crossed the room and shook the lawyer’s hand while looking directly into her green eyes. At four feet and eleven inches tall, Amanda was rarely at eye level with anyone who wasn’t in elementary school.
Sasha smiled, and Amanda wondered if she was equally disconcerted by their meeting of non-giants. If she was, she hid it, turning to gesture to the other two women.
The Black woman stood and gave Amanda a firm, cool handshake. “Naya Andrews.”
“A pleasure.”
Naya and Sasha eyeballed the blonde woman who’d been seated between them. She raised an eyebrow but rose to her feet.
“And you must be Ms. Farley,” Amanda said.
“No flies on you,” the blonde drawled, proffering her hand.
Her skin was soft, warm, and the floral scent of her lotion rose from her skin. Amanda couldn’t help noticing the woman’s perfect reverse French manicure. She shook Maisy’s hand quickly before hiding her own ragged cuticles and chipped polish by jamming her hands into her pockets.
The lone man in the room popped up and hurried over to pump Amanda’s hand. “It’s great to meet you in person, Amanda.”
“Likewise, Gabe.”
“Come on, let’s get you that coffee.” WACB’s employment lawyer led her to a coffee station set up on a credenza under a long, wide window.
“Do you need anything?” Caroline asked, directing the question to Sasha, who glanced at her colleague. Naya shook her head.
“Nope. We’re all set. Any word on when Mickey plans to grace us with his presence?” Sasha said.
“Maureen called. He has a client who violated a gag order and gave an interview on YouTube, which promptly went viral. Mickey’s getting chewed out by Judge Williams as we speak. But Maureen assures me the judge, while hot-tempered, isn’t long-winded. So he should be here soon.”
Sasha laughed lightly. “And I bet he’ll be in a great mood.”
