“At a wedding, sir.”
“Whose wedding?”
“Oh, um, a friend of mine.” He’s going to ask more questions, which means I’m going to have to pull something out of thin air. It’s best to be honest, so I refer to the last wedding I attended, choosing people I actually know. Otherwise, the lie will get out of hand.
Like it isn’t already.
“Who?”
“Jenny Dunne.”
He scratches his chin. “Never heard that name. Who did she marry?”
“Um.” He’s not going know either of these people. “Bradley Smith.”
“Smith.” He’s scratching his face again. “Any relation to the Smiths of Smith’s Pharmaceuticals?”
I blink a few times. “I’m not sure.” I’m positive those aren’t the right Smiths, but I’m not about to admit it to Mr. McAllister.
“Interesting.”
Is it? Is it really? I don’t happen to think it’s interesting at all. I sure as heck hope it doesn’t mean he’s got more questions about Jenny and Brad because it’s all downhill from here.
“Well, I suppose that’s not important.”
Phew.
“The reason I called you up here today was to invite you and Hudson to our anniversary party.”
“Your anniversary party?”
“It’s this weekend.” He reaches for a square card about five inches by five inches. Sliding it across his pristinely clean desk, he says, “Here’s the invitation with everything you’ll need. Please let Hudson know that Barbarareallywants him to be there.”
“Sir––” How do I tell him that one, I don’t know how to get in touch with Hudson Adler or whatever his name is, and two, if I could reach him, how could I ever ask him to do this for me? I’d never be able to impose on that man again. “I––”
“Barbara will be very disappointed if Hudson isn’t in attendance.”
I shake my head. “I’m not––” He seems to sense my apprehension because he interrupts every time I attempt to bow out.
He gives me a stern look. Almost angry. “Verydisappointed.”
“Yes, sir.” I sigh. “I’ll see if he’s free.”
“He seemed very taken by you, Willamina. I’m sure you can lure him to our event. Use your feminine wiles.”
My feminine wiles?
What is this, the 1950s?
“Of course. I’ll do my best, sir.”
“You do that. I’ll be extremely disappointed if Hudson isn’t in attendance.” He leans forward. “Happy wife, happy life, after all.”
“Right.” I push myself out of the chair, ready to make a mad dash out of his office. The second I’m in the hallway, I pause as my mind starts whirring. I need to talk this out with someone. Bonnie is out since she believes the lies about Hudson. Same with Sheila. That leaves one person. Or in my case, a cat.
It’s too bad Barney isn’t one of those work cats. You know, the ones people bring to work to help with anxiety. “Note to self. Make an appointment with my therapist.” I need to get Barney certified as an emotional support animal.
Except thinking of Barney and therapy is only postponing the inevitable.
