Page 60 of Mending Fences
“Not an issue. You can tear the fence down or repair it on your copy. But if you insist, it will never be shown to the public. Only in private viewings.”
The dean studied her anxiously. Mandy knew how desperately the money was needed. “Thank you, sir. I will sign the papers.”
“Thank you, Miss Fowler. I am sure you have an exciting career in front of you.” His accent made the prediction believable.
When the dial tone filled her ears, she set the phone down and signed the forms.
On the way home, she picked up a burger and fries. As she walked into her kitchen, she realized she had forgotten her shake but then remembered the last time she’d had a shake and fries. She tossed the bag in the trash. Food was overrated.
For days Daniel had nightmares that the New York City decorator had gotten access to his other residences. Terrance and Bonnie laughed when he told them. But he didn’t believe he was safe until he stepped off the elevator into his Chicago penthouse Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Vandemark had sent him a note thanking him for trying to help Summerset. There would be no retaliation. Time to pull Hastings’s team off Amanda. He put in the call.
For a while he waded through emails and the reports he had set aside knowing if there were a real problem, some VP would have contacted him directly. Colin had the correct idea—focus on the parts of the work you love. The only reason Colin hadn’t made that stupid top one hundred list is few people knew Colin Ogilvie as the currentOin C&O. Yes, he showed up at annual board meetings and kept up with the major dealings, but he spent most of his days surrounded by his computers, contributing to the tech end of the business by inventing new things. Daniel had been somewhat surprised he had left his little tech cave to see Mandy’s MFA show, even if he did want to try out his new button cam.
Daniel brought up the footage and watched it again. Colin had streamed the entire thing live. He had been gratified to see Mandy had worn the flowers he had sent, but her smile was tight and her laughter guarded. As suspected, Colin focused on Candace when he wasn’t showing the exhibit. He hadn’t noticed the first time he watched it, but the frequency with which Candace’s name entered the conversation made him look twice. During the live feed, Daniel had focused on Mandy, trying to assess the toll the last month had taken on her, hoping to catch her voice and wishing she would smile. He flipped off the computer. Even though he’d only recorded Mandy in a public place, he still felt somewhat dirty, like an old peeping Tom.
He turned the computer back on and deleted the files.
