Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [75]
“Not one bit. Did she have baggage?”
“No, sir. She was dressed in shorts and wearing a baseball cap. Quite fashionable. I felt the urge to whistle, as did some of the other employees.”
“What time do you go off duty?”
“Five o’clock.”
“If you’re on duty when Miss Clark returns, will you give her this card?”
Parker handed over a twenty-dollar bill and his business card. “Ask her to call me no matter what time she gets in. Here’s another twenty. Give it to the person who takes over when you go off duty. Will you do that for me?”
“Sure.”
Now what the hell was he supposed to do? Annie could be anywhere on the island. For all he knew she could be spending the night someplace else and not returning until tomorrow. He could either sit here and cool his heels or he could go home and go to bed. The latter appealed to him, but first he had to call Kiki.
As Parker maneuvered his way through the airport parking lot, his thumb was jabbing out the office phone number. “Is anything going on, Kiki? What do you mean you just got in! It’s eleven o’clock! You’ve been to Maui and back! Do I dare ask why? You met Annie Clark! You clinched the deal. I thought we agreed on a buck and a half. She wouldn’t have walked. I don’t know that for a fact. No one to my knowledge would pull an account that size for fifty cents. She really said Tom has no say in her decision. Don’t try reading my mind, Kiki. I wasn’t going to call Tom. Of course I trust you. I’m not dancing with joy. If you multiply fifty cents times a half million pounds of coffee, it adds up. No, I’m not questioning your abilities. I would have fought a little harder is what I’m trying to say. I realize I wasn’t looking into her eyes. Sometimes, Kiki, you have to bluff a little. All right! Did she sign the contract? You shook hands! No, no, no, we do not do six-month contracts. You know better than to agree to something like that. You’re going to fax the contract! That’s pretty half-assed if you want my opinion. Men shaking hands is different.”
Parker stared at the pinging phone in his hand. Kiki had hung up on him. Outrage swept through him. He punched out the numbers a second time. Kiki picked up on the third ring. Before Parker had a chance to say anything, Kiki said, “I quit! You can take this job along with my interest in the company and shove it up your royal Hawaiian ass. You louse, you didn’t change at all. Shove it, Parker. I’m sending a fax to Miss Clark advising her of this latest development. You and her precious brother Tom can work it out. I’m telling you right now, you just lost yourself a customer. Don’t say one more damn word. Not one, Parker. It’s none of your damn business where I’m going, but since you’re so insistent on knowing my business, I’m going out to buy a Chanel handbag using the company credit card. I told you not to say anything, Parker. Furthermore, Parker, I’m calling my sisters the minute I get home. I think we just might vote you out of this company.”
Parker’s jaw was grim when he listened to the pinging phone for the second time. He’d gone through this with Kiki a hundred times. His blood ran cold when he remembered the threat at the end of the conversation. That was new. So was the credit card and purse shopping.
Much to his own disgust Parker found himself dialing Tom’s number in North Carolina. He broke the connection the moment he heard Tom’s voice. Fifty cents a pound wasn’t going to put him out of business. Suck it up. It was the six-month contract that was going to kick his ass. He needed a long-term contract with the Daisy Shops or his caffeine-free coffee beans would go down the hopper. Make some peace with Kiki, or you’re going to be working sixteen hour days again. For all he knew they’d all hire a bus and go shopping for Chanel pocketbooks.
Parker called the office a third time. He was stunned when Kiki’s assistant Mary informed him that Kiki had typed up her resignation and had taken off with the company credit card saying she would return it by mail when she was done shopping.
“Son of a bitch!”
Parker rolled