Linda stands when the receptionist leads me to the glass-enclosed conference room with a small tree in the corner. Next to it is a woman on her phone, her back to the room.
“Nice to see you again Mandy.” Linda’s demeanor is the very definition of Seattle chill.
“Thanks for meeting with me.” My gaze slides over to the woman sitting in the chair as she turns herself around. “Alma?”
Salinger’s ex gives me a fake smile. “I don’t actually remember your name. You’re his assistant, right?”
I nod, suddenly feeling like I’ve wandered into a trap.
“Let’s just get on with it.” Linda motions me to take a seat.
I slide down into a chair, trying not to let her see my apprehension.
“I wanted to give you a little more information on how Rainier Equity works on large public-private projects.” I soldier on gamely, setting one of the pitch books in front of her. “Hopefully, this can address any concerns you have with using Rainier Equity on this port contract.”
I try not to look at Alma.What is she doing here?Whatever it is, it can’t be good.
“As you can see, I like to do my research.” Linda gestures to the woman across from her. “Alma is the niece of a woman who used to live down the street from me. While we drifted apart over the years, I was, of course, more than happy to meet with her over coffee to discuss the concerns she and her aunt have with Salinger Svensson.”
Freaking hell, Salinger. I knew that messy breakup was going come back and bite him.
“He used me,” Alma spits out.
“Your grandfather’s trust was invested in one of Rainier Equity’s highest-performing funds,” I tell her, quickly recalling the information. “It’s not as if Salinger abused the money.”
“He was emotionally abusive.” Alma dabs her eyes. “He promised we were going to have a baby.”
“Did he really? Look, Linda, you’re not trying to find a good boyfriend. You need a firm with a big-enough cash cushion, experienced project managers, and contacts who can bring in high-quality partners. Rainier has that.”
“And so another poorly behaving man receives a pass and a blank check.” Linda doesn’t even open the pitch book I spent all last night refining.
Alma is nodding. “Think about the sisterhood. You start sleeping with him, and suddenly you gloss over all his flaws?”
Is that what I’m doing? “Look, I’m all about the sisterhood—”
“I highly doubt that, considering you’re a home-wrecker,” Alma hisses.
“I’m not a home-wrecker!”
“You see?” Alma turns to Linda. “She’s defending him because she knows she’s wrong. She knows she started sleeping with him before he broke up with me.”
“That issonot true.”
“Mandy.” Linda holds up a hand.
“She stole him from me. Now he’s got her convinced that her loves her. It’s exactly what happened to me, and it drove me crazy.” Alma tosses her glossy hair. “You can’t trust Salinger or his assistant.”
“You were the one lying about how you were going to have his babies—and saying you were engaged.” I’m incredulous. “I can’t believe I felt sorry for you.”
“I feel sorry foryou—you’re in love with him, but it’s a lie. It’s a trap. Salinger only looks out for himself.”
“I appreciate your time, Linda.” I grab my purse. “But I’m having a hard time believing that you agreed to thismeeting in good faith, since it has turned into a cheap knockoff ofIntervention.”
“Excuse me?” Linda is incensed.
I narrow my eyes. “Please keep in mind that you are also on the board of the Pacific Horizons company and have a fiduciary responsibility to select the best candidate for the job at hand.”
“I beg your pardon.”
