Sophie's Playboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

embrace.
    "Your show is Fabulous! I never miss it. My stylist thinks it's a blast. She's waiting for a hair theme so she can complain about clients who dye their own hair." She tittered behind her hand. "Anyway, I think it's just so cool that you have your own radio show."
    Jason Wenrick stepped up behind Darlene. He smiled apologetically. "Darlene, honey, Sophie's not here to talk about her show."
    Sophie smiled back. "It's okay. I haven't had much direct listener feedback."
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    Sophie's Playboy
    by Natalie Damschroder
    That was like an invitation to open the floodgates. A couple nearby began offering ideas for themes. The CEO of a media conglomerate, passing by, stopped to comment on the golf discussions—of which there had been many. To Sophie's combined dismay and delight, Parker had called on two additional days and somehow tied her theme to golf. Their discussions had become heated in one call, until Sophie caught Melina's signal that she'd been on with him for five minutes. The average call on her show was ninety-five seconds.
    Chuck stood nearby, his smile growing gradually dimmer until he looked quite depressed. Finally the crowd dispersed, leaving Sophie with several ideas and a glow of success.
    "Poor Chuck." She sat next to him on a love seat where he pouted into his drink. "What's the matter?"
    "I guess you'll never come back, will you?"
    "It's not like I haven't been telling you that."
    He shrugged. "But now I've seen you in the limelight. You belong there."
    Sophie looked at him, surprised. "Limelight? I wasn't in the limelight."
    He gestured to where they'd been standing. "What do you call being encircled by people who only want to talk to you?
    Touch the great new radio star? You're a celebrity."
    Now she laughed. "Oh, Chuck. That's funny. I'm nowhere close to celebrity. That was no different than schmoozing clients or investors. It was just schmoozing listeners. Second to sponsors, there's no one more important in radio land."
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    Sophie's Playboy
    by Natalie Damschroder
    Still, she understood what he was getting at. "Chuck, you managed to get a very fine replacement in an unbelievably short time. And soon Christine will be ready for promotion."
    "It won't be the same."
    Exactly , Sophie thought, feeling giddy with the knowledge that she had done the right thing. "Maybe it will be better."
    Chuck sighed and downed the last of his watered-down whiskey sour. "I guess we can leave." He stood and held a hand out for Sophie.
    "You can't leave before the announcement."
    Sophie recognized that voice. It was Parker.
    Electricity made all the fine hairs on her body stand up.
    She turned, ready to banter, and was confused to see Biff Cornwall standing behind the loveseat. Was Biff the Parker that kept calling her show? He held her gaze and she noticed, for the first time, that his eyes were blue-gray. They went well with his all-American blond hair and light tan.
    So what ? She shook off the stunned effects and put on her business persona.
    "What are you announcing?" Damn if she didn't sound like she was flirting. She determinedly kept her gaze off Chuck.
    Biff smiled smoothly, his charm at direct odds with his goofy name. That was part of the reason Sophie had never been receptive to him. His name was such a symbol of his role in life. But he was suave, she had to admit.
    "You'll have to wait for the announcement."
    His voice was cultured, Boston Brahmin and the best prep schools. Sophie tried to ignore the face and slick demeanor she'd been acquainted with for years and concentrate on his 39
    Sophie's Playboy
    by Natalie Damschroder
    voice. Unfortunately, Biff nodded at someone's signal and left without excusing himself.
    That was odd.
    Sophie narrowed her eyes at his retreating back. Playboy that he was, running through relationships and money like he had an unlimited supply of both—and he did—Sophie had never seen him less than polite. Perfect breeding never failed.
    Until now. Sophie wondered why he