There was never a dull moment with her crazy boss, who was always either buying a gadget or trying out a new hobby.
‘I look forward to seeing both in action.’
‘I wish Mrs Warhurst shared the same excitement. After twenty years, she is what I call… gadget worn.’ They both laughed. ‘Right, work time! It’s 9.05, any word from Mz Good?’
Gracie rolled her eyes.
‘She’s hungoverandrunning late.’
‘Oh God. She’s going to be more intolerable than usual.’
As he spoke, Annalize hung her tailored jacket neatly on the coat rack and sashayed across the office. Though perhaps a little tired under the eyes, she looked perfect in every other way. Not a hair out of place, wearing a beautiful Chanel-inspired black-and-white shift dress with high black stilettos.
She put a white paper bag on Gracie’s desk and sat down quietly opposite her. Gracie, with relief, noticed an imperfection.
‘You’ve lost an earring, Annalize.’
Annalize put her thumb and forefingers to both ears. A diamanté butterfly hung from her left lobe.
‘Shit, I love these too. They’re hook-throughs, not backed, so they come off quite easily. How annoying!’
She took the other one off and put it in her purse.
‘Maybe it shot down the toilet when you were sick.’
‘Yeah, thanks for that, Gracie. It’ll be at home somewhere, I’m sure. They get caught in clothing when I undress usually.’
‘Annalize, good afternoon,’ Rob piped up extra loudly.
‘I thought Gracie would have told you I was going to be late?’
‘Yes, I said that you had run out of haemorrhoid cream and couldn’t even think of sitting at your desk all day without it.’
Annalize grimaced and shot Gracie a furious look. Gracie laughed. Would she ever learn?
Rob got up to go to the kitchen for coffee. ‘Well, ladies, we havepilesof work to get on with, so let’s get on, shall we?’
‘Gracie,’ Annalize hissed. ‘Why can’t you just think of a normal, not embarrassing excuse for once?’
‘Because I’ve run out of them, you’re late so many times.’
Gracie didn’t dare tell Annalize that it was her and Rob’s standing joke; she’d be even more mortified.
‘Fair point.’ Annalize exhaled loudly. She seemed to be missing her usual composure today.
‘Are you OK?’
‘I’m hanging, Gracie. I think I may have to go home early. Stopped off at Marcy’s to get your bacon roll and had to be sick again in the toilet when the smell of food hit my nose.’
‘Ew. Thanks for getting it, anyway. Here.’ Gracie handed her some money.
‘No, no, my treat. I insist.’
Blimey, Annalize must be ill! A show of kindness and generosity in one morning!
‘Where did you go anyway?’
‘I… I don’t remember the name of the bar.’
