Smokin' & Spinnin' Read Online Free PDF Page A

long, heavily mascaraed eyelashes and smiles at me with this smug “go to hell” look.
    “Good luck, sweetie!” she says before she turns sharply on her heel toward the elevator.
    What the hell did she mean by that?
    She hits the down arrow, like, a million times. Finally, the elevator door miraculously opens to whisk her away. I continue to stare at the elevator, dazed as I try to process what just happened.
    Finally, I let out a huge breath. Wow, that was intense! Thank God she is gone, but what in the world was that all about? I have never seen her, or anyone, for that matter, that mad.
Jeezus!
I quickly attribute it to Ryan. Who else?
    Suddenly, I hear Jerri shout from the boardroom, “Whitney!”
    I jump up again, still rigid from the encounter with Annalise. I awkwardly make my way into the boardroom. Those present watch me closely as I shift nervously from one heeled foot to the other. In the corner of the room, I spy Ryan, looking gorgeous and smug as usual, talking to two guys in the back corner. He looks up when he realizes I have entered the room.
    Ryan laughs as he speaks to Jerri. “Come on, I was only kidding, Jerri!”
    Jerri angrily fires back at him. “Were you kidding? Well, I’m not! It actually wasn’t a bad idea on your part. She does have a degree in public relations and marketing. And she has been getting this office into shape in the two weeks that she has been here,” she cries out in a tantrum.
    Oh wow!
    “But she doesn’t know jack shit about me or NASCAR!” Ryan shouts back.
    Oh my God! They are talking about me as if I’m not in the room.
    Jerri turns to me, finally acknowledging my presence in the boardroom. “I’m sorry, Whitney. Annalise, as I guess you heard, has just quit. I need you to temporarily fill in this weekend in Michigan for her. Actually, you are going to be Ryan’s temporary public relations manager until we secure a replacement,” she says carefully, making sure that I am agreeable.
    Um…what?
“Michigan?” I ask warily, but not really as a question. I am trying to process all these events in my head.
    Before Jerri can respond, Ryan interjects and throws his hands up in the air. “Seriously! Michigan, the next race, that Michigan.”
    Jerri intervenes. “Yes, Whitney, can you handle that?”
    This is all happening way too fast. I steal a nervous glance at Ryan. He is livid. I look back to Jerri.
    “Wait just a damn minute, Jerri!” Ryan snaps.
    And Jerri explodes holding her hand up for him to keep quiet.. “No, you wait just a damn minute! This is nobody’s fault but your own. I am done letting you call the shots around here, not to mention screw with my staff! Literally!” she says through gritted teeth as she blazes back at him.
    I can tell her blood pressure is through the roof. Good for her!
    “Whitney, please come to my office in an hour. We will go over specifics and what needs to be accomplished this weekend. I need to find Annalise’s agenda,” Jerri says more calmly.
    I am keenly aware that all eyes are on me in the boardroom. I stand up straight and roll my shoulders back. I can do this, by God. I am not about to let anyone, especially Ryan Carter, intimidate me.
    “I already have it. She gave it to me on her way out,” I say confidently with my newfound resolve, which doesn’t give away the fact that she basically threw it at me.
    “Great!” Jerri sounds relieved. “Please bring it with you, and I will help you make your travel arrangements for the weekend as soon as we determine a plan of action. That is all for now.” She speaks calmly now, but I can tell she is severely stressed. It shows around her eyes. Poor woman! Ryan is getting the best of her. I make a vow to make sure I handle him from here on out.
    As she dismisses me, Jerri turns back to Ryan, who jumps up so fast that his chair slams over backward. “Jerri, I’m going to speak to my father about this.”
    Jerri unravels instantly, which causes me to be paralyzed from