Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [27]
“Moi? Never.”
Faith had to bite her lip to prevent herself from laughing out loud. Gloria looked like Oprah during her heavier phases and, like Oprah, she enjoyed administering what Gloria called “suggested paths to a better life.”
“I see you’re wearing red today.” Gloria nodded approvingly. “A good power look. And my signature color.” She patted the lapel of her vibrant chili pepper red pantsuit jacket. “But those shoes.” Gloria shook her head. “What were you thinking?”
“These are my kick-ass stilettos.”
“You kick anyone’s ass in those, and they’ll have to go to the hospital for stab wounds. Are you wearing them because of Alan?”
“Why does everyone think that my every move or decision is caused by some man?”
“Did I hit a tender spot?”
Faith nodded.
“Does it have anything to do with the fact that your father told me to call security should a certain Caine Hunter show up on the premises?”
“What?”
“Your tender spot and killer shoes—”
“Have nothing to do with Caine or Alan. I am capable of making my own decisions, you know.”
“Right.”
“Okay, I do admit that some of the—”
“—crap,” Gloria inserted.
“Some of the crap I’ve been through in the past week or so has been life changing.”
“I approve of you taking that trip to Italy on your own, by the way,” Gloria said.
“It was cowardly of me to take off like that.”
“No way. It was brave of you. You wanted to go to Italy, so you did. Nothing cowardly about that. Getting back to the subject of work, I really don’t know why your dad wants me to show you around, you already know where everything is. Here’s your new office.”
“Office? I thought I’d have a cubicle or something.”
“A cubicle? For the owner’s daughter? Surely not.”
“Whose office was it?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because I don’t want to move someone else out. Just give me an empty cubicle someplace.”
“But your father . . .”
“I’ll deal with my father. Is he in?”
Gloria shook her head. “He has back-to-back off-site meetings all morning.”
“Good.” She saw an empty cubicle near the windows. “Is that one open?”
Gloria nodded.
“Great.” Faith made her way over.
“Do you believe the boss’s daughter booting Lawler out of her office?” The young woman speaking had her back to Faith. “I guess those are the perks you get when your daddy owns the company.”
“Actually, he and my uncle have joint ownership,” Faith said. “And I’m not booting anyone out of their office.”
“She wants to be your cubicle buddy instead,” Gloria took obvious pleasure in saying. “Faith West meet Abs Boyce.”
“Abs?” Faith said.
“Short for Abigail,” Gloria said. “Isn’t that right, Abs?”
“That’s right.” Abs looked as tough as she’d sounded. No girly ruffles for her. Her dark hair was cut short and her side part accentuated her narrow face. Her expression was defiant, reminding Faith a bit of a four-year-old who refused to participate during story time at the library.
Faith wanted to reassure Abs that she wasn’t here to make trouble for anyone. But she had the feeling Abs wouldn’t believe her. She seemed the type who preferred proof to promises. That was a goal that Faith hoped to achieve. Maybe Abs could teach her a thing or two.
“I’m here to learn,” Faith said.
“I’m here to work,” Abs said.
“Right. Me too,” Faith said.
“Really? What are you working on?”
Okay, Abs had her there. “What are you working on?”
“Too many cases.”
“I can help.”
“You think so? Fine. Here.” Abs handed her a pile of files. “Log in and get started.” She pointed to the computer. “You do know how to log in, right?”
Faith not only knew how to log in, she finished working on the pile of files within an hour. “What’s next?” she asked Abs.
“You’re done with all those cases?”
Faith nodded. “I guess you didn’t hear that in addition to my father being one of the owners of this business, I’m also one of the best researchers in background checks.”
“And Faith’s entry was also one of the finalists in the Pimp My Bookcart contest,” Gloria said proudly as she passed by with a fresh cup of coffee from the staff room nearby. “What?” This as Faith gave her a look. “I’m just