How to Hide a Hollywood Star
Page 23
As they stood to go, Richard touched Cassidy’s forearm. “Can you stay a minute?” Irwin glanced back but kept walking, stopping at Claire’s desk for the briefing pack.
Cassidy looked pointedly down at de Lingerers fingers wrapped around her forearm. “Richard.” He let go but didn’t step away. He was also known for ‘crowding’, and he was so close Cassidy could smell his expensive cologne and his coffee breath.
“I want to let you know how pleased the managing partners and I are with you. You’re doing excellent work and your billings are ahead of plan,” said Richard. “You’re respected by your clients and well-liked by your peers. We see true leadership potential in you.”
Cassidy knew she needed to be gracious, but really, it was an understatement to say the least. She’d been the firm’s top billing consultant for the past two years and yet she’d been passed over for promotion twice. Both times for male consultants, who while also talented executives, played a lot of golf. With Richard. Cassidy was too busy working to learn how to play golf. She was too busy working to do a lot of things, which was what Adrian said when he skipped out of their relationship and took a job in Hong Kong.
“Thank you, Richard.” There. Not exactly gushing, but the best she could come up with.
“By the end of the year I hope to be offering you a directorship.”
“Do you, Richard?”
He looked surprised. “Of course! Cassidy, why would you question that?”
“Because this is the third time we’ve had this discussion.” She tried to stop anger creeping into her tone. Anger would simply inspire Richard to act all hurt and wounded, and have her feeling all wrong footed, even though she was within her rights to wonder how important a game of golf or two were to her future. “I’m just wondering what else I have to do not to get passed over again?”
“Now I would’ve thought that was obvious, but the fact that you’re asking is making me concerned.”
“Richard, you know what I mean?” Not anger, but certainly exasperation.
“I’m sure I don’t. And I’m sure whatever you’re alluding to isn’t an issue,” he said, again with the hand, this time on the top of her shoulder. “Keep Dare happy on this transaction and you’ll have done all you can to secure the directorship.”
She nodded and stepped back from him. “I will.”
On the way out, Claire held up three fingers and Cassidy dropped her head to hide her laugh. Yep that was a triple whammy. Touching, lingering and crowding—a good score, taking her to the top of the all-female office pool for which there was an annual prize, this year, a package of lessons with a golf pro.
About Avoca Gardener
Avoca Gardener is the weary slave of two cats who think they’re dogs. She writes sweet, sexy escapist stories about improbable love affairs with happy endings. If she didn’t need to pay for the good cat food, that’s all she’d do.
Avoca avoids social media but you can follow her on her Amazon author page.
She hugs a cat every time someone enjoys one of her books.