Fortune Is a Woman Read Online Free PDF Page A

time?”
    “Ummmm…now?”
    “Well, Ms. Beaumont. I don’t know if I can slide you in that soon.”
    “I have a surprise…?”
    “Ah. Well, in that case, I’ll meet you in an hour.”
     

Chapter 5
    What a Prince Must Do to Save Reputation
     
    She couldn’t do it. Even knowing that Paula was waiting for her to, didn’t get it accomplished. How could she survive without Venus? Where could she send her anyway? Not up, she was too young for that. Not down, she was too good for that. And why should she hand her over crossways, to a lesser VP? Who could she replace her with once she was gone? How long would it take to train someone even if she could find a replacement, which was unlikely? How would she explain it to Venus? What if they ever had to work together again? Where would–?
    “Beaumont! Get up here now.”
    “I’m coming, Paula.”
     
    “I had an interesting chat with your assistant last night. Ran into her at Cicero’s, of all places. That seedy jazz club downtown?”
    Yes, yes, Cicero’s. Lydia had heard of it. Helaine liked to go there sometimes. “Go on.”
    “Yeah. Well, anyway. Seems she’s getting a divorce.”
    Lydia was surprised by Paula’s news. Venus hadn’t told her this.
    “I smell potential for scandal. Get her out of there, Beaumont.”
    “There is nothing going on, Paula. I have scrutinized her every move, every nuance, from the moment you first told me your suspicions and I haven’t seen anything unusu–”
    “I am not going to fire this kid, Beaumont. She’s too valuable to me. Put in a request for a transfer or have her do it herself, you coward, but I want it done.”
    Italian leather couch to her left looked awfully comfortable. VP Beaumont sat down in it, said nothing.
    “Vice President of Overseas Operations says you can trade assistants. I didn’t explain the necessity.” She studied Lydia. “Your hesitation in this matter concerns me, Beaumont. You look bad. Do this by the end of next week,” she said. “She’ll get more pay, of course. It’ll be fine.”
    Lydia rose looking pale, Paula’s henchman again. “Okay, Paula. Anything else?”
    “That’s all. See you at the board meeting Friday.”
    (Board meeting?)
    “Did you forget?”
    She had. “No, no, I remembered. See you Friday.”
    _____
     
    Shunned. Why, she didn’t exactly know. Venus was now working for VP Kendle, a leering blue-hair who talked with a lisp and bathed in cologne. The office reeked of it and she was sure she did, too. Never mind. It’s more money and includes travel.
    She had forced herself to accept the reality that her crush on VP Beaumont would go nowhere and had allowed herself instead to be swept up with Sebastion Jones, whom she had met at Frank’s Place weeks ago. Her divorce was pending, Michael had left the apartment and she was glad not to have to sleep alone all the time.
    Actually she enjoyed Sebastion’s company. He was smooth and sexy and there was something about the man that inspired images of a pirate for her. He was very much a pirate in bed. A fine specimen.
    Mama like him. Jasmine liked him. Even her father seemed pleased with the match.
    No word from Lydia, though. That was cold. Venus had run into her only twice since being reassigned and both times the woman had acted shy and aloof. She had considered confronting her about the transfer, but couldn’t think of how to do it and in the end decided against it. Forget confrontations. Forget about it. She had scaled every obstacle life had thrown in her path. This was nothing compared to living in the hood or feeling isolated at the Ivy League. Pale in comparison. Except that she never ached so deeply about those things.
    _____
     
    “How’s Venus? You haven’t mentioned her in awhile.”
    Lydia tried to dodge the inquiry. “Good,” she mumbled into the sheets.
    “Good ? What on earth does that mean? It’s so illiterate sounding.”
    “I transferred her, Helaine.”
    “Transferred? What for?