Page 139 of The Fiancée Farce
Tansy squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hand to her stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Please don’t spew,” Teddy begged. “If you vomit, I’ll vomit, and the inside of this elevator will look like a scene out ofThe Exorcist. I’m talking regurgitated mushy peas everywhere. And bacon. I had bacon this morning, too. And something tells me it won’t be perfectly crisped when it makes its reappearance.”
Her stomach roiled at the picture he painted. “Has anyone ever told you you’ve got a way with words?”
“As a matter of fact, several times. I consider it a matter of pride that I can—oh, right. Sorry.”
Tansy breathed through her mouth, trying to drag in more oxygen, the air inside the elevator stifling.
Elevators didn’t usually make her this dizzy, like her organs were free-floating inside her body, and like her meager breakfast was going to make a rapid reappearance. Maybe it was nerves.
“You know, it’s probably nerves,” Teddy said, echoing her thoughts.
“Probably.” Despite the sudden vertigo, Tansy smiled. “Or it could be the talk of mushy peas.”
Teddy laughed. “Got it. Ixnay on the ushymay easpay.”
The elevator dinged, and Teddy seized her wrist, tugging her through the doors.
“Do you know where you’re going?”
He shrugged. “Pretty much following my intuition. It’s hardly ever wrong about these things.”
Tansy had to lengthen her stride to keep up with him. “What things? Office layouts?”
“I’ve got a sort of sixth sense for corporate cupidity. Just keep up and I’m sure we’ll find it.”
The place was all white paint and exposed red brick, framed newspapers dating back to Van Dalen Publishing’s inception decorating the walls.
“Are you sure we’re headed in the right...”
Raised voices filtered out into the hall from behind a closed door.
“This is ludicrous. A total waste of the board’s precious time.” That was the unmistakable voice of Gemma’s father.
“Precious time, my ass.” And that was Brooks. “You just don’t want the truth to come out.”
“Do us all a favor and sit down, Brooks.” That special brand of condescension could only belong to Sterling.
Teddy slowed to a stop in front of the conference room’s door. “This must be it.” He turned, looking at her over his shoulder. “You ready?”
Her stomach rioted, bile creeping up the back of her throat. “Not really.”
“Give the girl a chance to speak,” someone said.
Teddy started to reach for the handle but Tansy grabbed his arm, stopping him from opening the door. “Wait a second.”
She cocked her head, straining to listen through the door.
“I preferwoman, but hey, semantics, right?”
Tansy’s heart beat faster.
Gemma.
She pressed her ear to the door, listening harder.
“Wow, tough crowd. Okay, down to brass tacks, then. Got it.”
