The Woman In the Photograph by Cathryn Grant

Author:Cathryn Grant [Grant, Cathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, American Suspense, psychological thriller, sociopath, killer, Vigilante
Published: 2018-09-22T04:00:00+00:00

38

On the surface, everything about Pete Torkenson echoed Jim Kohn. Their offices were located in the same skyscraper. They had the same glamorous and slightly seductive type for a receptionist. They had the same palatial personal space, and they dressed in similar ways, which I suppose is true of everyone who works on Wall Street. It’s true of any part of the business world.

Any man, really.

Women have a fantastic advantage over men when it comes to clothing.

Men can choose slacks and a jacket, in an array of approximately five colors. They have two or three shoe styles with minimal variations in the sole and laces and cut of the leather. They have a few options for facial hair and a rainbow of colors for neckties, and that’s it.

Women get thousands of shoe styles, they can choose dresses or pants, leggings or capri pants, heels or flats. We get jewelry for our necks and wrists and fingers and ears. I would be truly bored if I were a man. How do they bear it? Looking into those uniform closets every single day of their lives? On the weekends they have a few more options — sandals or athletic shoes. If they work in some industries, they can get away with an earring or two, a bracelet or hair dyed in a primary color.

I suppose most straight men don’t care about those limitations. Maybe they don’t want to express their creativity and their personality in their appearance. Maybe they’re happy with gray, blue, and black, the occasional dark brown, or a beige for summer. I’ve never asked a guy. I suppose I should.

There was one feature that suggested Pete was not at all like Jim — his smile was genuine.

Within minutes, I knew he was a nice guy. When I shook his hand, my enthusiasm for my new job was restored. This could be exciting and satisfying, helping people who deserved to find all the success their hearts desired.

Pete’s grip was warm and firm, with no attempt to hang on too long, driving the other person to squirm her way free. It wasn’t the kind of handshake some men have where they attempt to fondle your wrist or stroke your thumb, looking for a read on whether you might be interested in sex. Men offering those handshakes don’t see a human being, they see a female body they want to strip naked. Every move is geared toward determining if, how, and when.

He settled behind his desk, almost as large and just as bare as Jim’s. Trystan and I sat in the armchairs facing him, also nearly identical to the arrangement in Jim’s office. Maybe every executive office in the entire forty-seven floors was designed the same way — a corner space, over-sized, lots of non-work comforts like alcohol and a full bathroom, and the massive desk with chairs for the supplicants.

Trystan went over the assessment tests Pete had taken and explained my role in greater detail. Trystan asked Pete to review what he was hoping to gain from hiring us.

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