Too Many Bosses by Jan Freed

Author:Jan Freed
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin Treasury
Published: 1995-04-10T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

“FOR THE LAST TIME, you are not going to get fired.” Laura reached over the basket of tostada chips and patted Brenda Lee’s hand.

“But I screamed at an officer of the company. And I...I...”

“Backed him up against a wall? I know. I saw the whole thing.”

Covering her flushed face with both hands, Brenda Lee moaned. “I’ll never be able to face him again.”

“Snap out of it, Brenda Lee. What’s gotten into you? Harold’s the one who’ll be embarrassed. He acted like a pig, and you put him right in the sty where he belongs. I was s-so p-proud.” Laura dabbed her eyes with a napkin.

Brenda Lee peeked between her fingers and grinned. “I did give him hell, didn’t I?”

“Abso-damn-lutely.” Laura raised her frozen margarita and sang the first stanza of “I Am Woman.”

Heads swiveled at nearby tables.

“She missed her medication this morning,” Brenda Lee explained.

“Hail to the new queen of put-downs. I relinquish my crown.”

Sweeping up her matching drink, Brenda Lee clinked Laura’s glass. “I’m not worthy, Your Highness. I’ll never be as bitchy as you.”

Choking on a laugh, Laura lowered her glass and blotted her chin. “You know, Brenda Lee, I actually ate and drank like a civilized person before I met you.”

“But you didn’t have nearly as much fun.”

“You’re right. I didn’t.”

They exchanged a warm understanding look.

Brenda Lee dunked a chip in hot sauce. “I didn’t know you could sing, Laura. You’re really good. Loud, but good. Are you in a choir or something?”

“Nope. Used to sing in a rock band, though. Schizophrenic played the top clubs in Austin while I was in school. Hey, watch that chip! Picante’s hard to wash out.”

“A rock band? No way. Somebody snatched the Laura I know. Did you wake up in a pod this morning by any chance?”

“Surprised? So were a lot of other people when the leader hired me.” Especially her. “It was good money until the group broke up.”

“I can’t get over this. You, in a rock band. God, don’t you miss the excitement?”

Laura sipped her drink. Then sipped again. She’d thought she would die from missing Michael that first year. The pain had eventually dulled, but the scar was deep. She shrugged with studied nonchalance.

“I’ve got all the excitement I can handle trying to pull off the Regency campaign. Now, enough about me. I’ve got to know one thing before it kills me.” Propping her elbows on the table, she leaned forward. “Did you really misunderstand what Harold asked you to tell that woman on the phone?”

Brenda Lee stopped chewing and averted her gaze.

“I didn’t think so,” said Laura. “Want to tell me why you did it?”

“Oh, Laura, I don’t know what came over me. When he asked me to do his dirty work, I should have said no, but I couldn’t. It’s the first time he’s ever asked me a favor, you know? But then, when I heard that woman’s voice...” Brenda Lee’s brows met in a fierce line. “She’s the rudest, most stuck-up person I’ve ever talked to.

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