it’s not disloyal to admit that I could pick and choose a little bit which advice of my father’s to follow. After all, I’m the one who’s constantly reminding the board of directors that we’re in the twenty-first century now. I will say something nice to Winona. She deserves it, after what an absolute shit I’ve been to her.
“Thérèse has the most discerning eye I’ve ever seen. She wouldn’t have hired you if you weren’t attractive and stylish. And not just stylish, but stylish with a twist. She wants her personal shoppers to be à la mode when it comes to fashion, but also have enough individuality about them that it’s clear they can come up with creative solutions.”
Oh, hell. I couldn’t even say something nice on my own behalf? I had to hide behind Thérèse like a little bitch?
Winona surveys me with a skeptical look. “You’re freaking me out, Blake Heartless. Say something mean, quick.”
“My being nice terrifies you? I’ll file that away under ‘psychological weapons to use against Winona Jeffers’. Right next to peach tarts.”
“Whew. That’s better. I thought you’d been replaced by a non-evil clone. And I was not going to try to track down the real Blake and bring him back.”
My watch pings. She glances at it, then at Shanice’s wall-clock, which is shaped like a sun. “Isn’t it time for us to head downstairs?”
It is, but I’ve got something on my mind that’s more important than my schedule. And as soon as I think those words, I realize that Winona is right. Blake Hudson has been replaced by a non-evil clone.
Because I don’t want her to leave. And that’s ridiculous. I’ve been fighting to get her to quit, and now I’m about to argue against it? What the hell’s the matter with me?
But I plow on, because it will drive me nuts if I don’t get an answer. “When I was accidentally-totally-on-purpose eavesdropping, I couldn’t help but hear your mother mention that you’re moving back home. If that’s the case, why are you fighting so hard to keep this job?”
“Seriously?” Her eyes snap with hurt and annoyance. “We’re still on the ‘get rid of Winona’ track?”
I meet her hurt look with a scowl. “You’re asking me to give you a real chance to prove yourself and work here, and I’m considering it. If we’re taking the time and expense to train you, and encouraging our clientele to establish a relationship with you, I have the right to know if you’re planning on leaving soon.”
The anger fades from her face. “That’s reasonable. Yes, I imagine that at some point I will be moving back home, but that’s years in the future. My parents and I agreed that I would come here and make my name in the fashion industry, save up some money, pay off my credit card debt and all that fun stuff.”
“And then you’ll go back home and do what?”
Why am I pushing? She’ll be here for years. For a long time. But a little voice in my head whispers, not long enough.
“Get a bank loan, use some of the money I’ve saved up, and open up a clothing store on Main Street. I’d still be working in fashion.” A shadow crosses her face, and she says it with a defiant tone, as if she’s trying to convince not just me, but herself.
“Why would you move back home when you don’t want to?” I demand.
“Because my parents live there, they’re not getting any younger, and…who says I don’t want to? Someday, I mean?”
Everything in her voice when she begged her mother not to bring it up in every conversation.
Before I can press further, she glances at the clock again. “We should get going. Tonight’s job requirement is that I be your perfect date.” She tucks a ruby-red curl behind her ear. I imagine my hands tugging her hair loose from those combs, my fingers tangling in the silken strands…“Anything special I need to know, or do?”
I can think of a few things… They all involve things that would be on the no-no list for a boss to request of his employee.
“Just stick by my side and I’ll do the introductions. We go downstairs, we mingle. Don’t worry, the guests are no scarier than your average pack of wolverines.”
“Sounds like high school all over again. I’ll be right at home.” She smiles charmingly at me and holds out her arm. Her full pink mouth shimmers with gloss, and the dress hugs her curves in ways