her antagonism.
David took a seat on the edge of his desk, making sure he was able to look down on her from his position. “It doesn’t seem like nothing. It seems like you have a huge chip on your shoulder where he’s concerned. I don’t need to remind you that he’ll be my boss soon, in a manner of speaking, so you’d better deal with him more professionally. This barely veiled antagonism isn’t in anyone’s best interests.”
Kate nodded her head. “Anything else?” she asked sweetly.
David looked up and down her attire. “Now that you mention it, why don’t you tone down your clothes a little? You looked very presentable on Saturday night. I liked your simple black dress. These outrageous clothes you tend to wear are fine for a purchasing director, but you’re leading the transition team now. Surely you have more conservative clothes that define what we are trying to get across more than this…this…well,” he said awkwardly, waving his hands up and down in front of her indicating her outfit, “you know what I mean.”
Kate glanced down at her blue and white striped pants topped off with a neat, white sweater.
“What’s wrong with my outfit?”
He sighed in frustration. He hated confrontations and wished he had asked someone else to have this conversation with Kate. “It would be fine if we were in Paris or New York. But you know that Washington, D.C. is a much more conservative town. Can’t you tone it down a little?”
Kate bristled at his comment. “No. This is who I am and I like it.”
His eyes turned angry at her blatant disobedience. “We’ll see what happens when this sale is through. I’m not going to have anymore of that kind of talk when we’re part of ATI, and I can guarantee that they won’t allow it either,” he snarled.
Kate turned her back on David and his threat. “David, if you’re going to fire me, why don’t you do it now?”
“Why would I fire you?” he snapped at her retreating back. “You’re one of the best buyers in the industry. But there are better things to do to a recalcitrant employee than firing them,” he said as she put her hand on his door. “You’d better remember that.”
Kate glanced back at him. “David, if I didn’t like this store so much and respect the memory of your father, I’d quit on the spot right now.”
David sneered. “Yes, but we both know that you’re not going to do that, are you? So why don’t you be a good little girl and go touring with our potential owner.” She was almost out the door when she heard him say, “And why don’t you bat your pretty little eyes a little. Things might go a little more easily for you.”
Kate slammed his door, sickened by his suggestion.
Back in her office, she stormed around, slamming file drawers in an effort to get rid of some of her frustration. She was being trapped in by Carlo and she didn’t like it.
She was biting her lip, trying to figure out a way around his latest maneuver when Samantha, her secretary walked in. “Kate, you wanted these filed but I don’t have the key to the main storage area.”
Kate laughed in delight as an idea formed in her mind. “Samantha, don’t worry about the files now. Go grab your purse and your notebook. I need you to help out on a project. We’re touring the other stores for a few days.” Kate thought for a moment before she called out again, “Order a car service, please. We’ll need a car large enough for at least three people.”
“Great!” the older woman said and immediately turned around to get her notebook. Samantha was obviously delighted at the opportunity to get out of the store for a while.
Kate danced around her office for a moment, cheered that she was going to outdo Carlo. As the two women walked down to the conference room, Kate was still smiling as she walked in.
“We’re ready when you are,” she said gaily as she entered the room.
“We?” Carlo asked, closing down his computer and looking up at the two women standing in the doorway to the conference room.
“I asked Samantha to help out and take notes on whatever issues you might need more information on,” Kate explained.
Carlo smiled and reached out his hand. “That’s great,” he said, shaking Samantha’s hand. “We’ll be able to get this done twice as fast.” He turned to Jeff. “Can you go with Samantha