“Don’t worry. It’s a nice promotion for me. I’m ready to get to work.”
“In that case,” Alicia began, surveying her office.My. Office.“I have a few things you could look up for me. I take it you’ll be going to my luncheon with me?”
“Absolutely, ma’am. I’ll research whatever you need.”
Alicia imparted some instructions and waited for Abby to sweep out of the office with a confident gait.My assistant, huh?Alicia remembered how the former receptionist laughed at her the day the new Mrs. Moreau walked into the office and demanded a memo to go out about her new status.Wait. Was that really a few days ago?
Alicia needed a break before she was too overwhelmed to continue. She didn’t even want to think about her plans with her wife that night.It’s too late to worry about that.What was done was already done. Now, they waited.
The new receptionist – what was her name again? – appeared on Alicia’s intercom.Shit!How did Danica deal with these constant interruptions? Alicia needed to grow a bigger backbone and learn when to tell these people to leave her alone.
“Mrs. Moreau, there are two people here to see you.”
This time, Alicia knew which button to push. “Who is it?”
“Mrs. Anderssen and Mrs. Warner wish to speak with you. They have no appointment.”
“I don’t believe I have any appointments until lunch.”
“You are correct, Mrs. Moreau. Shall I send them in?”
Alicia took a seat behind her desk, smoothing out her suit and making sure her hair was in place.Do I look official? Do I look like I know what I’m doing?“Go ahead and send them in.” She vaguely remembered these women. If she had more warning, she could have looked them up. Or have Abby research them.Abbyprobably knows these women better than I do!
The doors opened, the new receptionist showing two hilariously opposite women into Alicia’s office. The first was the instantly recognizable Mrs. Anderssen, sashaying in a blood red trench coat, her curly blond hair contrasting against her pale face and bold makeup. About a few inches beneath her was Mrs. Warner, the quiet, petite woman Abby met the one night she went back to Midnight with Danica. She wore a dark brown sheath dress decorated with a faux-fur stole. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sophisticated bun.
One looked like old Hollywood, and the other looked like new. Where did Alicia fit in between them? San Diego? San Francisco? Pure New England and not on their radar?
That was absurd. She was obviously on their radar right now.
“Mrs. Anderssen,” Alicia currently relied on her hostessing skills to get her through this nerve-wracking moment.Start by smiling and shaking her hand. “Mrs. Warner. What brings you to my humble corporate abode?”
She didn’t know if she was starting to sound like her wife or if she had always sounded like that.Danica and I are more compatible than anyone gives us credit for.
Both women gave her firm handshakes, something she had not expected from the otherwise docile Monique Warner.Don’t underestimate this one.Alicia already knew not to underestimate Lara Anderssen.
“Well! You know how it is.” Of course, Lara took the lead, even as she sat in one of the new swivel chairs. “You’re minding your business one day, buying up properties and selling them for ridiculous profits… and then the next, you’re hearing on the grapevines that one of the biggest bitches in the world is suddenly married. Big talk, you and your new wife are.”
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“As well you should. We have a proposition for you.”
“Ah.” Alicia pushed the emerald paperweight out of the way so she wouldn’t be tempted to fiddle with it. Both of her guests glanced at her wedding ring… and then at the emerald ring on her other hand. “It’s only my second day at this job, and I’m already propositioned by two powerful women. What have I done to deserve such honors?”
“Be married to Danica Moreau, for one,” Lara quipped. “Seriously, though, being married to Danica Moreau. You’re automatically a hot ticket for that.”
“A hot ticket for what, Mrs. Anderssen?”
Lara and Monique exchanged glances before the former was silently elected to keep talking. “Mrs. Warner and I are both members of an exclusive club, of sorts. Separate from the club you now own a piece of, that is.”
Alicia openly smiled at that joke. Not only had she seen Monique at the sex club canoodling with her wife, but she knew that Mrs. Anderssen and her spouse were frequent – and kinky – guests as well. At least that was one thing they could relate to each other about.
“We are part of an organization operated by married women with business-oriented minds. For instance, I am an equal partner with my spouse in our real estate enterprises. Mrs. Warner here owns one of the most lucrative businesses in the region. Which says a lot.”
“Of course.” Alicia wanted to see Monique’s business sooner rather than later, but she supposed the tension between her wife and Mrs. Warner prevented that. “So you’re either inviting me to join, or to rub that in my face.”
Monique hid a smile with her mashed lips. Lara didn’t hide her smile at all. She guffawed so loudly that her hard-ass façade came crumbling down in an instant. “See?” she said to Monique. “I told you she would fit right in.”
“You are right as always, Mrs. Anderssen.”
