Page 110 of Taken by Moonlight
Grabbing a pad and pen, I wended my way through the cube farm, where a few of my coworkers had fumbled their way to their desks. They reminded me of fish washing up on shore, trying to fight the sweepingtide.
And losing as they gasped foroxygen.
Reggie’s office was one of the larger ones. He’d claimed it when they promoted him last year to director. Large glass windows overlooked the city streets. Using company funds, he’d purchased shiny furniture and spanking new leather seats. Glinda, my rival, sat at one of those seats now. Reggie said something and she laughed. It reminded me of a braying donkey. She even had the teeth to go withit.
Envy filled me as I took in her power red linen business suit that cost more than my weekly take-home. Glinda had made good on her promotion by going shopping. Glancing at her feet, I saw red stilettos. They reminded me of the crimson Jimmy Choos I’d kicked off into the crowd of approving shifters during theauction.
A wide smile touched myface.
Reggie noticed. “What’s sofunny?”
The smile vanished. “Not much. Good morning to you as well,Reggie.”
Hair bound in a tight bun, makeup perfect, Glinda looked more like a salesperson ready to meet clients than the new manager of a department known for its casual Fridays. Not that I cared. I liked my Doc Martens and the clothing I’d bought at Old Navy for comfort more than to impressanyone.
But deep inside, I had this sneaking suspicion that something was up and Glinda would be more than a regularmanager.
Reggie regarded me with his droopy, Basset Hound eyes, except his held no softness, no sweetness. His salt and pepper hair curls stuck out as if he’d shoved his hand into an electricalsocket.
Maybe this meeting was about the conference next week. Reggie had promised me that no matter what, I’d be next on the company’s list to attend. I’d been anticipating this big data conference for months, planning which workshops to attend soon as they put the agendaonline.
“Did you get my airline tickets and badge for the conference yet?” I asked, not liking this uneasysilence.
Reggie tapped his gold Cross pen against the desk pad. “Not yet. Glinda is going,though.”
I stared at him, seeing Glinda’s smug smile from the corner of my disbelieving eyes. “What? I’m having a little hearingtrouble.”
“That’s right. Glinda is the new departmental manager, and she’ll also be soliciting new clients in addition to overseeing the team. Because of her extensive duties and her travel schedule, Jon will step into the junior manager’s position and help supervise theteam.”
Blinking, I leashed my rising temper. “And what am I supposed to do? Be in charge of the watercooler?”
“You’ll be helping Glinda in whatever she needs to get the jobdone.”
Which was what? Shopping? Kissing butt? I wasn’t even wearing lipgloss.
“She’s traveling next weekend to Big Data and I want you to set her up with everything she needs. Hotel reservations, car rental, good restaurants fordinner.”
“Sure. I can make her reservations while I’m making my own.” I forced a smile at Glinda, whose own smile reeked ofinsincerity.
Or perhaps that was her cloyingperfume.
“Sorry Peyton, you’re notgoing.”
Blinking, I stared. For the past three years, Reggie promised I could attend that conference. It had glued me to Lyons Creek Data, knowing I could never hustle the funds to attend on myown.
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Budget. They can only sendmanagers.”
Now Glinda wasn’t only going in my place, she expected me to be herassistant?
Her travelagent?
Stuck here behind a desk while she networked and learned all the newest softwareprograms?
Before this spiraled out of control, I needed to know where it was headed. “On Friday, you told me that I had a good chance of getting the junior manager’sjob.”
He lowered his voice, as if conveying a secret. “I’m afraid I spoke out of turn. In fact, I’m afraid I’m going to have to lower your pay to that of anassistant.””
