Page 3 of The Innovator

“Why don’t you wear any makeup?” Penelope gestured to my face. “I’ve got some products I can give you. I bet you’d look stunning.”

“Too much work. I’m lazy. I don’t have a guy to impress like you. ‘Boring,’ remember? Thank you, though.”

Penelope was a sweet and genuine person. I wasn’t used to girls like her. The women in my circle only cared about themselves. There was constant competition about who looked better, who was engaged to the most eligible bachelor, what the latest trends were in fashion, and where the next banquet to play dress up was. They would never offer me genuine feedback like Penelope did. Their comments were coated with poison or hidden agendas.

“Don’t take it the wrong way,” she said. “You have a pretty face, but you’re wasting it by not showing it off.”

“No offense taken. One day, I’ll be inspired to wake up early and put on makeup just for you.”

“Want to go to lunch now?” Penelope asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Food for Thoughts updated their menu. It’s nice out. Come with me.”

The July weather was perfect with low humidity.

“Okay. I need to stop by Robert’s office first. I’ll meet you there.”

Grabbing my purse, I swung by the commissioner’s office and knocked on the opened door that showed Robert Conner flipping through a stack of folders on his table.

He glanced up at me, offering a warm smile. He had kind eyes and snow-white hair that matched his mustache. I’d met his wife, Linda, once when she came to pick him up from work. The online articles portrayed him as a difficult man, but I found he was a man who got things done. His job wasn’t to make friends with the employees, but to get things done in a timely manner. I admired and respected people who had a strong work ethic.

Sometimes you had to be a bitch to get things done. That was required to run a successful fashion empire.

“Robert, you received a call from a reporter at Channel Five News. He wants to discuss the water leak on Main Street. He’ll call you back later today. Also, I scheduled a meeting with you and the city manager for a budget review.”

He blew out a breath. “Thank you. With so many projects and repairs in the works, it’ll be chaotic in the office for the next few months.”

“Well, you have a team here to assist you. I’m heading to lunch. Want me to bring you back something?”

“Can you get two extra black coffees? One for me and one for my guest working in the conference room. I’ve been stuck in meetings and left him working alone there.”

Getting coffee for other people was also new to me. The last time I did that for anyone in a working environment was for my mom and dad.

“Sure.”

I didn’t know Robert had a guest today. It wasn’t on his calendar, but that wasn’t abnormal, as he seemed to be pulled into unexpected meetings often.

As I headed toward the stairs, I passed by two women by the copy machine, giggling.

“Grayson’s hot, rich, and intelligent,” said the girl wearing the plaid skirt.

I didn’t recognize her as an employee in the building. I should have ignored them and gone to lunch, but curiosity slowed my pace. Irritation slid down my back at the mention of Grayson’s name.

My phone pinged with a text message, and I pulled it out to check in case it was Penelope changing the lunch location. Stepping over to the counter with the office supply cabinets, I checked my message.

Michelle:Hey! You coming to the martial arts class this week? Vivian’s the special instructor.

Natalie:Won’t miss it.

Michelle:Great. See you then.

Taking self-defense classes was something I’d always wanted to do but never had the time until now. My schedule used to be slammed with meetings, traveling to look for upcoming trends, and choosing colors and fabric for the next collection. In this new role, my life opened to new possibilities.

“You already have a hot and rich man, Jill.” Maggie, one of the city’s solicitors, flicked her long red hair over her shoulder. “I wonder if he’s seeing anyone.”

“I don’t see a ring on his finger, so you’re good.” Jill laughed. “Why don’t you ask him out?”

“I don’t want to get fired if he complains to HR, but I can give him a hint . . .”

“Use one of your legal tactics from the courtroom to get an answer from him.” Jill bumped shoulders with her. “You’d make a stunning couple.”

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