Page 74 of Just So You Know, I Don't Work Friday

I walked away from him and then headed toward Finn. He was standing talking to a man I hadn’t met yet. He couldn’t see me as I approached from behind him, and I decided to approach slowly.

“So, Dr. Joseph, if I may ask you one thing. When you decided upon your subject matter, did you—” The man Finn was talking to paused suddenly as he saw me. “And yes, I do think that’s a great investment,” he said.

Finn looked at him in surprise and then turned to look over his shoulder. When he saw me, he beamed. “Oh, there you are, Harriet.”

“Hey,” I said. “I didn’t know you were a doctor as well.”

“Oh, not medical,” he said. “PhD.”

“Wow,” I said. “So you are one of the five richest men in the country and you’re also a PhD?”

“Yes,” he said. “I guess I’m quite illustrious.”

“Wow,” I said. “Definitely impressed.”

“I’m glad. Appetizers coming soon?”

“Yep,” I said, nodding. “I can’t wait for everyone to try my famous deviled eggs.”

“And I’m sure everyone can’t wait as well,” he said with a small smile. “So shall we tell everyone to go to the dining room?”

“Let’s do it,” I said.

He beamed at me. “I’m looking forward to this very much, Harriet.”

“I’m glad,” I said. “I’m really, really glad,” I lied as I headed out of the room. I had a bad feeling that this was going to go horribly.

ChapterTwenty-Two

Checking Account Balance: $75 (is this job even worth it?)

Savings Account Balance: $10

Boyfriend Count: 0.75

“Hey, girls,” I said as I walked into the kitchen, but I could only see Chelsea there. “Where’s Polly?” I asked.

“She went to Red Lobster. Remember?”

“What? I thought you were going to Red Lobster.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Polly decided she wanted to go because she figured that she would be able to tell what looks best on the menu to pass for scallops and whatever the other thing was.”

“Branzino,” I said.

“Yeah, that.”

“Okay, well, they’re ready for the appetizers. Is everything ready?”

“As ready as it’s going to be.”

I took a deep breath. “This is going to be fine. In fact, it’s going to be absolutely amazing. I’m starting to wonder why I never decided to become a chef in the first place.”

“Because you’re an artist and you can’t cook.”

“Thanks, Chelsea,” I said, side-eyeing her.

“What? I’m just stating the obvious.”

---