Operation Valentine Read Online Free PDF Page A

their investment, that meant three Penwick Pilbara projects were on hold.
    Three hundred jobs or more stood in the balance, possibly hers as well.
    He shook his finger at her. ‘Don’t let this company downsizing get to you, Sarah. I need your best work right now. You and Lucy. You need to focus.’
    His phone rang then and he picked it up without hesitation, swinging his chair around to take the call. She could only presume that she was required to let herself out. On shaky legs, she rose and left the room.
    Why had Lucy kept this from her?
    Which jobs were being cut?
    And where the hell was she supposed to find a man with high moral standards to bring to the ball on Valentine’s Day?
    Pursing her lips, she made a beeline for Lucy’s desk. The hard-nosed blonde, dressed in funeral-black, was sitting there writing a press release. Sarah picked up the draft that was by Lucy’s elbow and scanned it in horror. She read to halfway down the page, where one shocking line jumped out at her: ‘Unfortunately, Penwick will be forced to cut half its workforce across all departments due to the decreased demand for iron ore.’
    Half its workforce!
    Lucy only now seemed to sense someone standing beside her and turned her head crossly. ‘What do you want?’
    Sarah shook the piece of paper at her. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about this?’
    A shuttered look crossed Lucy’s face and even as Sarah stared at her, awaiting a response, the answer dawned on her. Half the workforce.
    â€˜Oh crap, which one of us is being fired?’
    Lucy’s eyes flickered but she didn’t immediately answer.
    â€˜Tell me,’ Sarah implored, placing the draft release back on the desk.
    â€˜He hasn’t decided yet,’ Lucy finally admitted gruffly. ‘Announcements won’t be made till mid-March.’
    Sarah’s eyes widened. No wonder Lucy hadn’t told her. They were in a competition to win their boss’s favour. She had just over two months to prove to Mr Penwick that she was a better public relations manager than Lucy – who would be trying to do exactly the same thing to her.
    What a nightmare. She pinched her arm. ‘Ouch.’ Nope, not dreaming.
    Her gaze returned to Lucy, who was now leaning back in her chair, hands laced together.
    â€˜Why not just quit now and save yourself the pain, Dubert? We both know I’m going to get this job.’
    â€˜How do you figure that?’ Sarah folded her arms across the tightness in her chest.
    Lucy shrugged too nonchalantly. ‘I have more experience.’
    Sarah rolled her eyes. ‘By six months. I wouldn’t get too comfortable.’
    Lucy glared at her. ‘You were forty minutes late this morning.’
    â€˜But I had a very successful meeting.’ Sarah glared right back.
    Okay, that was only half true. But good enough.
    Lucy’s eyes narrowed. ‘Mr Penwick has asked me to handle the press on a major company restructure. You’re doing a charity ball. Come on, Sarah, wake up and smell the roses.’
    She couldn’t think of a good comeback for that one. So with pursed lips she backed out of Lucy’s cubicle and retreated to her own.
    Unfortunately the woman was right. Lucy had been given the big responsibility of smoothing the way for mass job termination. By contrast, she was publicising a social function.
    But it’s a very important function , a small voice said in her head.
    It could be the beginning of a joint venture – a partnership that could generate more jobs and save the company. Hadn’t Mr Penwick said that this ball was imperative to his success with Mr Whenam?
    What he said was that it was imperative I have a date for it.
    Sarah sank dejectedly into her chair.
    She could not lose her job. Certainly not in this economic climate. Besides, she loved her position here at Penwick Pty Ltd. She didn’t want to say goodbye to it yet.
    She turned on her