Page 98 of Juicy Pickle

“I don’t think so,” Viola says. “I know what he’s up to. I know why he called this meeting.” Her face is an angry snarl, all slanted brows and red lipstick.

“Viola,” Rhett says, “I think Gloria is right. There might be a conversation you need to have in private first.”

But Viola continues to make her way along the wall to the front. Her eyes are wild, like she has nothing to lose. I have to admit, I’m feeling a little shaky and clutch my notebook to my chest.

“I get the company emails on my phone. I saw this meeting get called. It might have been from your account but I recognize when Bailey sends it. You two are plotting.” She points a fingerat Rhett. “You probably think you can talk trash about me in front of the whole staff, but I’m here to talk aboutyou!”

What does she mean by that? Is she going to give Rhett grief for dating me when she was trying to get him herself?

“Viola, this is not the time nor the place—” Rhett says, but Viola cuts him off.

“Oh, this is a great time. You’ve been planning to fire me, haven’t you? Just like with Bailey before you started banging her. Shoot first and ask questions later! But I didn’t have anything to do with those messed up requisitions! I brought them to you because I knew there was a problem! And my boss was it!”

The room breaks out in murmurs. I turn to Marney, the head of marketing, who is sitting on my row. Her feet are crossed in her orthopedics, and she shakes her head like Viola is a naughty child about to get a time-out.

Rhett holds his composure. “Why don’t you tell Gloria all about it in her office?”

“No!” Viola says. “I know you don’t like me or want me. I got the message on the cruise. You got want you wanted.” She gestures to me, spawning a new wave of chatter in the room. “But I will not let you two pin this on me!”

Gloria steps forward to take Viola by the arm. “Viola, this is enough. Come with me, so I don’t have to call security.”

But Viola shakes her off. “I know about you, Rhett Armstrong. I figured it out. I know all about you.”

She slinks up to Rhett.

I expect Rhett to be bemused and confident, maybe a little condescending.

But a trickle of sweat slides from his forehead to his ear.

What does Viola have on him?

I feel sick. Did he have some secret affair with her that I don’t know about?

Do I know him at all?

Did I knowherat all?

But her next words bring out the real reason for her visit.

She stabs his chest. “You’re a fake. A charity hire. Your big ol’ Uncle Sherman Packwood Pickle had to bail out your worthless self by starting a company and giving it to you because you weren’t ever going to amount to a damn thing on your own.” She pokes him again. “You aren’t qualified to do jack shit here, and now everybody knows it. Nobody calls a man they believe in ‘Mr. Juicy.’”

Murmurs break out.

I can barely catch my breath. Rhett’s uncle started this company just for Rhett? He’s the secret Dougherty?

I suddenly remember our conversation on the boat right before the formal dinner. I’d told him how awful the world was when only the connected could get anywhere.

Rhett was exactly that!

Oh, God!

I switch to watching Rhett, who can’t seem to pull himself together. He obviously didn’t want anyone to know about his uncle.

But Viola isn’t through. She catches my eye for a minute, then turns back to Rhett. “And we all know you like hiring people you want apieceof.”

Okay, that’s it. Viola is goingdown.

I drop my notebook to the floor and race forward. I grab Viola by both arms and jerk them behind her back. Only when I’ve dragged her to the door do I realize everyone is seated in dumb silence.

---