Page 8 of All the Right Words
‘Exactly. So stay the course.’ Olivia smiled. ‘Trust me. I can do this.’
It was undoubtedly a confident smile. Olivia had a way about her; Harper had to admit.
‘OK, I’m going to go and see Brenda, and I will tell her it’s all going to be fine. Don’t make a liar of me, OK?’ Harper said plainly, ignoring the spark she was feeling.
Olivia nodded. ‘I won’t.’ She held out a hand. ‘I give you my word.’ Harper shook the hand, hoping she wasn’t going to regret this, and also, my my, didn’t Olivia havesuchsoft hands?
Gina came in. ‘Sorry, sorry,’ she said as she saw the rather long and intimate handshake she’d interrupted. It made it feel like they were doing something illicit. Harper was quick to drop it.
‘What’s up?’ Olivia asked easily.
‘Umm, Brenda’s here,’ Gina said. She didn’t roll her eyes exactly but somehow gave the effect she had.
Harper groaned. ‘Fuck’s sakes,’ she muttered, getting up.
Brenda came in, pushing past poor Gina like some lone soldier storming the castle. ‘What the hell’s going on?!’ she demanded, red-faced.
‘Brenda, I told you I was coming…’ Harper said.
‘No, I want to talk to Olivia myself,’ she declared. ‘I’m not some kid who needs Mummy to deal with everything.’
‘You rang me today, and I said I would deal with this,’ Harper reminded her. Not for the first time, Harper wondered why the fuck the woman didn’t just go out on her own if this was her outlook on agents. She supposed it was a belt and braces type of thing. She wanted to do everything herself, but some part of her knew she needed help. Because otherwise, she’d come flying into publisher’s offices, demanding answers, making a tit out of herself. ‘Brenda, I need a word,’ Harper said.
‘I’ve talked to you. I’M TALKING TO HER,’ Brenda screeched.
Olivia placed a calming hand on Harper’s shoulder. ‘Let me have a chat with her.’
Harper just about managed to keep herself from going over the edge. She nodded and walked out without a further word.
Out in the hall, Gina was putting her coat on. ‘I was just on my way out. If you want to wait in the lobby, I’ll go and get you that vanilla latte,’ she told her.
‘Did you say something about a coffee shop?’ Harper asked.
‘Yes, the coffee shop on the corner. Why? Would you like anything else? Muffin or something?’ she asked with her usual disdain.
‘Actually, I think I need to put some distance between me and…’ She nodded at Olivia’s office, the muffled sounds of a furious author spilling from the door. ‘You mind if I come along?’
Gina shrugged, unbothered. ‘Sure.’
They went to the elevator together.
Five
Gina and Harper rode down in the elevator in awkward silence. Gina couldn’t understand why Harper was coming with her. Most people were happy to see her as a lackey, a non-person. Not a human whom they might accompany to coffee shops.
They headed out of the building together and went two doors down to a place called The Grind House. Gina hated the place. The hipsters made her feel deeply uncool.
Harper looked unaffected by the cooler-than-thou vibe. But she could have looked at home anywhere. Drop her in one of those uncontacted tribe villages, and she’d have found traction. ‘Shall I grab a table for us?’ she asked Gina.
This was to be a sit-down affair? For god's sake. ‘Sure. I’ll get some coffee for you.’
‘Aren’t you having one?’ Harper asked.
‘Yeah. I guess so,’ Gina said. She’d forgotten herself. That tended to happen.
She collected the coffees and went to sit down with Harper. ‘Thanks,’ Harper said, accepting the drink. She took a sip and sighed. ‘That’s good.’
Gina sipped her drink. ‘Yep.’
