Louisa Neil Read Online Free PDF Page A

want you all to know how much I appreciate all the years of fine reporting you’ve given this publication. I hope you’ll all continue to give Dane the same consideration.” Again there was a rumble of voices in disbelief. “As for me, I’m retiring. I’m going to write that novel I always said I would after taking a long cruise around the world.”
    Something wasn’t right. While she’d heard Walter tease about writing the great American Novel, she knew he wasn’t a man who wanted to travel. New Orleans was his home, and he rarely left the city limits. Deep inside, she accepted that every person had a right to retire and to change their minds, but she prayed this was his choice, not a forced situation he was attempting to smooth over.
    There was a round of applause that Dane started, and the rest of the employees joined. Then he popped the top on a bottle of champagne and sought her out. “Diana, would you come give me a hand?”
    Diana hated him at that moment. It was his little way of letting the rest of the crew know she’d met him in advance. She managed to make her way toward him but put the desk between them as she took the bottle he offered and began filling the glasses. Slowly, the rest of the employees gathered around and accepted the glasses he offered.
    “A toast to Walter.” Dane held up his glass. “For your years of putting out a daily newspaper of the highest standard.” There was a round of “Hear, hear,” and he continued, “And to your retirement, may you enjoy each day to the fullest.” There was another round of “Hear, hear.” Diana tried not to make eye contact with anyone, and the few people she did look to all looked as shell-shocked as she felt.
    “I’d like to propose a toast,” Walter said. “To all my friends. Thank you for your years of hard work and dedication. I know I can count on you to give Dane the same excellence in reporting for years to come.” Again there was a mumbled “Hear, hear.” Diana decided it was with much less enthusiasm.
    “Walter, why don’t you make the first cut,” Dane said, offering Walter the knife. She watched him take it and make a cut in the center of the cake. Then Walter turned to her and handed it over. “You’ll do much better with this than I could,” he told her, taking a fresh glass of champagne while he started shaking hands with the other employees.
    Diana stood frozen with the knife in her hand. “Margaret, would you please cut the cake? As our food editor, I’m sure you’ll do a much better job than I would. I’ll help with the plates.” Margaret gave her a stiff smile and moved beside her, slicing the cake and putting it on the paper plates while Diana slid a plastic fork on each and started to hand them around. “Tense” was the only word she could think of for this situation. Everyone’s smiles were plastered on, their shock and horror not easily hidden. Diana would have liked to have whispered to Margaret she was as confused as the rest of the employees but didn’t dare. Every time she glanced around, Dane seemed to be watching her. She knew most of them would be wondering if they’d have a job tomorrow or next week. The whole situation seemed to play out in slow motion. She also noted that Dane’s business partner Sloan Shayla hadn’t joined them. She wondered if he was in Walter’s office watching through the blinds. Dane had specifically told her she’d meet Sloan yet he was a no-show.
    Diana forced herself to stay with the rest of the group. By three thirty she was able to slip back downstairs to her private space. She refused to start thinking of it as a dungeon or dirty. It was just a bit dusty, as archives were. What she was leaving behind were the faces that might look to her as if she’d had prior knowledge of the sale and hadn’t shared it with them. It didn’t matter. While they were acquaintances, they weren’t friends. Diana was very specific to be on friendly terms with the other