Gabby’s jaw dropped at the prospect of juicy gossip. “Who was hired above you?”
“You, Camille.”
“Me? I’m just an executive assis—” She cut herself off. Maybe it seemed like a dumb job to her, but if it was Fran’s dream, she didn’t want to knock it. “I had no clue this was your dream job?” Gabby hadn’t even been aware of an office hierarchy. Was she above Fran?
“I need money. LA isn’t cheap.”
Gabby felt that deep. That seek work order from the court waswhat started this whole mess. She was just trying to keep the kids and the house and stay out of court.
Fran opened the door for Gabby, and a blast of air-conditioning hit, drying the sheen of sweat she’d worked up on the short walk. “It’s for my kid’s tuition. Public schools haven’t been the best fit. He has some sensory issues…” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do, but I might as well be sending him to Harvard.”
Gabby’s heart squeezed. Of course Fran was killing herself at work, making a pest of herself trying to look valuable. “Good job, Mama. I totally get where you’re coming from.”
A lightbulb went off. “You’re sending him to a Waldorf School, aren’t you?”
Fran’s eyes went wide. “How’d you know?”
In her ear, Markus said, “Wow, nice detective work.”
“There’s a rumor going around that you’re living out of the Waldorf Astoria.” Gabby laughed at the absurdity. What kind of assistant could afford that? “I saw Waldorf on your caller ID yesterday. Do you have a partner or are you doing this on your own?”
“I got the job at eStocks right after the divorce.”
With feeling, Gabby said, “Girl, let me get your coffee.”
Fran looked at her skeptically. “You don’t need to do that.”
Gabby smiled. “We women have to have each other’s backs. It’s not like Kramer’s going to understand. That man’s phone background is a picture of his car.”
Fran unzipped her purse, a cross-body brown leather bag that looked like it had seen better days. Poor thing was spending all her money trying to give her kid a better life.
Gabby won the quick-draw competition and slid a card with the name Camille Walker into the machine. “That’s what friends are for.”
When Fran said, “Thanks, Camille,” Gabby smiled back, the fake name ringing in her ears. She couldn’t keep any of the friends she made on this job. It was summer camp without pen pals.
At 4:59 p.m. the Evite arrived. She was saved! Thank you, Justin!
First Annual eStocks Investor Soiree
Calling all Mob bosses and capos for the party of the year!
Where:Velvet Underground Speakeasy, behind Velvet’s Drag Bar
Password:Capone
When:Saturday 5 p.m.
Theme:The Mob!
Gabby’s jaw dropped. Justin had sent the actual Mafia invitations to a mob-themed party with the suggestion to “take a break from racketeering. Channel your inner Capone! Wear a hat. Fake guns only.”
Fake guns only—this was insanity.
When she dialed Justin in a frenzy, he picked up immediately. “You’re welcome!” he trilled.
“Justin…” She didn’t know where to start.
“After I picked the venue, it all came together organically.”
