CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: Andie Learns the Game
Andie walked into her office the next morning. She called Debbie’s desk, but didn’t get an answer. She saw Harold walk by, looking incapacitated. She was about to go after him when her phone rang.
“Jenson,” she said.
“Morning, Andie,” said Peter. “Can you come up to my office right away?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be right up.” She found it strange that Ms. Vanderhousen wasn’t making the call herself. Peter never made direct calls to any of the attorneys. She met up with Harold in the elevator.
“Well, it seems like we’ve been in this situation before,” said Andie. Harold’s appearance reminded her of Nick.
“Except this time, I’m the one who’s a mess and you’re the one looking spectacular,” said Harold.
“You really must have had a late one last night.”
“I’m so sorry, Andie. Peter is killing me with this assignment.”
“It sure looks like he is.” Andie was sympathetic and understanding – not great qualities to have in this law firm.
“I know you’re angry with me, and you have every right to be, but…”
“You don’t have to apologize, Harold. I’m not angry. It’s just bad timing. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
“Do you think that maybe tonight we can try to be alone again?”
Andie took a deep breath. She looked at Harold in his dejected state and started feeling sorry for him.
“Okay – we can give it another try.”
“Great,” said a smiling Harold. “Why don’t we go someplace out of town where we don’t have to worry about being interrupted?” The elevator door opened, but Andie hit the close button.
“Why don’t we get away together for the whole weekend?”
“Really?” The thought of getting away sounded like heaven to Harold.
“Yeah. I won a weekend trip to New Orleans a few months ago from a drawing at the concierge. I just hadn’t had anyone to go with me – until now.” She moved close to Harold and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “What do you think?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’ll just have to clear it with Peter.”
“You can ask him yourself right now. I happen to know he’s in his office. I’m on my way to see him.”
“He wanted to see you?”
“Yes. You seem surprised.”
“No, of course not. Why wouldn’t he want to see you? You’re working on a case for our top client,” Harold said, as he backpedalled.
“I can’t wait to tell Debbie about our trip. She’ll be so excited.”
“Uh – Debbie won’t be at her desk today. I – um – have her working on an assignment for me this morning and I gave her the rest of the day off.”
“That’s okay. I’ll call her later.” They walked up to Peter’s office. Ursula wasn’t behind her desk. She never left it. She would eat her lunch there everyday. She would be there before Peter came to work and wouldn’t leave until he did.
“I wonder where Ms. Vanderhousen is?” asked Andie. “I heard she hasn’t missed a day of work in ten years.”
“That is kind of strange,” said Harold. He knocked on Peter’s door.
“Come in,” said Peter. He was surprised to see Harold walking in with Andie.
“Harold – what a pleasant surprise – I mean, to see you with Andie. I’m glad to see things are going well.”
“Good morning, Mr. Grimes,” said Andie. “Harold has something he needs to ask you.”
Peter looked at Harold, who was stalling. “Yes, Harold?”
“Would you mind if I take the whole weekend off?” Harold asked, sounding like a kid, talking to his dad.
“I don’t see why not,” said Peter.
“You’ve been working hard all week.” He gave Harold a knowing wink.
“Thank you, sir. Andie and I are going to New Orleans for the weekend.”
“Great city. I haven’t been there in a few years. You two have a great time.”
“Will it cause a conflict in my assignment?” asked Harold.
“Not at all. I think your assignment is making her way back to San Diego today. Go ahead and take the rest of the weekend off” Harold gave Peter a dirty look, as Andie looked at him with a confused stare.
“What do you mean his assignment making her way back to San Diego?” she asked.
“Uh – Peter had me doing some legal research for Carlos Verona’s Aunt Regina the last few nights. She’s from San Diego.”
“Well, good. You need a break from this extra work. That extra assignment has been putting a cramp in our life.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s been getting cramps,” said Peter. Harold sneered towards Peter as he walked out the room.
“I’ll talk to you later, Andie. Thank you, Peter.” He had another word in mind.
“Well, Andie. You sure have loosened up the past few days. Carlos and I are sincerely impressed at the work you did in the Little Italy case.” Grimes walked from behind his desk and walked towards Andie.
“Mr. Grimes, I want you to know that I have your wife’s number on speed dial.”
Peter stopped his stroll towards her. “My, we sure are covering all the bases, aren’t we?”
“That’s what I get paid to do, sir.”
“Okay. I understand. This is strictly business – just like it’s always been.”
“If you say so, sir. By the way, where is Ms. Vanderhousen?”
“The strangest thing. She called and said she had a family emergency to take care of and needed a few days off. She’s never missed a day before in all her ten years working for Mr. Wainwright and myself.”
“So her legend is true?”
“Sure is.”
“You sure are fortunate to have such loyal associates working for you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He walked to the cabinet containing his precious high-end bourbon collection. He poured two glasses of Canadian Club Reserve and waked back towards Andie.
“I want you to consider me one of the loyal ones. I can’t say that I like the way you are as a person, but I respect you as an attorney and founding partner of this firm,” said Andie.
Peter smiled. “That’s really nice of you to say – I think.”
“I just want you to continue sending cases my way so I can prove my value to this firm.”
“That’s what I’m doing, Andie – Oh, wait. I’m sorry. I’m not supposed to call you Andie,” he said.
“It’s okay, sir. You can call me Andie.” She gave him a smile.
“Thank you, Andie. I like to keep things on an informal basis. I deal with a lot of stuffy people. It’s nice to be able to relate to my people in a friendly manner.” He handed Andie a glass of bourbon.
“But, not too friendly,” added Andie.
“Oh – about that incident a few days ago…”
“What incident?” she asked with a smile. She took the glass.
“Right. I’m impressed. You really know how to play the game.”
“I realize there’s a gaming aspect to this profession I need to deal with, sir, but…”
“Please call me Peter.”
“I’m not quite that comfortable with that yet, sir. Let me just say that I’ll do whatever it takes, within reason, to be a valuable member of your organization,” Andie said. She took a sip of the bourbon She hated the taste but didn’t show her displeasure. She wanted to prove to Peter that she had control of this situation.
“I’m sure that’s why Wainwright recruited you.”
“By the way - where is Mr. Wainwright? I haven’t seen him since he hired me.”
“Funny you mention that. I can’t believe you haven’t heard that he’s been on safari in Africa for the entire year. He’s been using a fax machine for all his correspondences. We’ve been doing all our transactions that way. It’s been working out great. He’s actually supposed to be leaving Africa this morning and he’ll be back at work
sometime next week.”
“That’s nice. I’d like to thank him again for hiring me.”
“I’d like to do the same. You’ve been working for us all this time and I haven’t met you until this week. I’ll be talking to Wainwright when he comes back. I’m going to suggest that we get back to knowing all of our associates on a more personal level.”
“Thank you, sir,” Andie replied. She took another small sip before setting the glass down. “Excellent bourbon, by the way.”
“Don’t mention it. Now, are you ready for your next case?”
“Yes, sir.”
“This is another one for Carlos. He’s been accused in another incident involving food poisoning.”
“He sure does have bad luck with people and food.”
“I guess you could say that,” said Peter.
Marlena picked up Debbie at her apartment and they headed to the airport. Meanwhile, Tony saw Debbie’s car still parked at the Community Center’s parking lot. He tried to call her, of course with no luck. When he went to her apartment building, the security guard stopped him.
“I must see my little meatball,” said Tony.
“Aren’t you supposed to be staying away from this place?” asked the guard.
“You do not understand. I must…”
“You have to stay away from here, man. I have orders from my manager that Ms. Bailey doesn’t want you coming near her. You’re lucky she’s not reporting you to the police.”
“But I did not do anything wrong. Why won’t she talk to me?”
“You got me, buddy. I’m just doing what I’m paid to do.”
“You are being paid to stop me?”
“Yeah, that’s my job.”
“How much money are you being paid to do this job?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“No, really. How much money do you make to not allow me to see my precious linguine?”
“Are you trying to bribe me?”
“I do not understand. What is a bribe?” Tony displayed his confused expression.
“Do you think I’m stupid? I know what you’re doing.”
“That is funny. I do not even know what I am doing.”
“You’re trying to offer me money to let you in the building.”
“No. I am just curious. Your job looks entertaining. I would like to know how much you earn, so I could compare with my career pay.”
“What do you do?” asked the burley guard.
“I am the head cashier at the 7-Eleven in the Village.”
“And you’re trying to bribe me?” laughed the guard. “Listen, buddy. Even if I would accept a bribe, which I won’t, there is no way a 7-Eleven clerk would have enough money to make me let him through.”
Tony put five hundred dollars in his hand.
“She’s in twenty-three B. You know the way,” said the happy guard.
The Devil's in My Bathroom Page 35