Page 4 of Fifth Avenue Devil

She shakes her head and huffs. "When are you going to learn that you should listen to me?" She walks over to me, smooths my hair back and examines my face. "You need to get some Botox." She touches the tiny lines just outside my eyes. "I can see the beginning of crow's feet, darling."

Her touch is strangely hot. I'm not really used to either of my parents touching me and it makes me extremely antsy.

Breaking away from Mom, I walk to the office door. "I really have to work now, Mama."

My stomach flip-flops at the not-quite-lie I just told. I'm trying to fill my dad's shoes here; if I can't tell a fib to my mother, then I’ll be up a creek without a paddle when it comes time to sit at the negotiating table.

One step at a time, I guess. My first step just happens to be lying to my mom.

My mother floats over to the door, her lips making a moue as she looks me up and down.

"You need a better wardrobe, darling." Mom reaches out and fidgets with my sleeve. "I'll send someone shopping for you."

"I don't need you to do that." My voice has an edge to it. Exasperation, my oldest friend. I'm usually much better at hiding it, though.

"Don't be silly. I'm your Mama." She clasps her hands before her. "I'll send someone to redecorate this office, too. You need new things, not your father's stuffy old junk."

"Hmm." My favorite sound. Totally noncommittal, to help fend off my mom and my dad. "I have to go. I need to freshen up my makeup now, so..." I open the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mama."

She gives me a staid smile. "I'm sure you will. And don't think I'm going to forget your husband hunt for too long, Annalise. As soon as I find some compatible matches for you, you are going to be introduced to them. That's final, darling."

She leans forward and says, "Kiss kiss!" Then my mom leaves my office.

Note that at no time during her little gesture of affection did she actually touch or kiss me. It's always been that way.

I peek out the door at the floor full of cubicles. The company has about thirty-five employees up here, and another fifteen or so downstairs in the geology lab.

Hushed conversations stop when the employees realize that I am watching them. Then comes a sudden burst of activity. The copier starts going. There is a lot of typing and throat clearing, accompanied by several people noisily shuffling papers.

At this point, I have to wonder if the workers at my company are actually working or whether they are just slacking off ninety percent of the time. Or if it’s the third option: that they are still so nervous when I'm around that they abandon their real work for this playacting.

In any event, it makes me wonder how things get done around here.

Lori Parker, Gellar Industries' general counsel, opens her office door and looks around. She spots me, arches a brow, and then waves me over.

I love Lori. She's been in her position since the company was founded and she's a red-haired firecracker.

I close my office door behind me and stride over to her. Lori steps back to let me in. Her office is decorated in bold pinks and delicate creams. It has a leather couch and a matching leather chair, with soft looking blankets tucked into both. I always feel at home in this room, as opposed to my father's sterile office space.

I give Lori a quick hug as I head over to the couch. Over my shoulder, I glimpse a wedge of city view just outside the window.

"How's tricks, kid?" Lori asks. She goes to a mini-fridge beside her desk and opens it, then offers me a Pellegrino. I shake my head.

"Do you think the staff is scared of me?" I ask.

She takes the chair and opens the Pellegrino. "Maybe. I think a lot of the office staff are wondering if they'll get fired."

"I'm not exactly intimidating. I'm five foot two, and a hundred and fifteen pounds soaking wet."

She smiles, but her eyes stay cool.

"I think you are underestimating your father's hold on them. He liked to belittle and scream at them for the smallest infraction. So, I think they are just trying to figure out if you're like your dad or not."

I glance at the window. "Maybe I need to schedule one-on-one meetings with everyone.”

Lori shrugs. "You could do that. But I think you'll be more interested in the news I just received."

"Give it to me, then." I beckon her.

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