Swag Bags and Swindlers Read Online Free PDF Page A

them.”
    â€œThey’re really upscale shops that carry designer fashions,” I said.
    â€œFigures,” Bella said. “I can’t afford anything there, even with our employee discount.”
    â€œDiscount?” I asked. “We’re getting an employee discount?”
    Maybe I should start paying attention in meetings.
    â€œYeah, that’s what Jeanette said,” Bella told me.
    Oh my God, I had to call Marcie immediately. We both loved those stores and—oh my God—they probably had Sassy satchels in stock and—oh my God—I could get one at a discount.
    Now, absolutely nothing awful could happen to ruin my evening.
    â€œHaley?” Jeanette called.
    Obviously, it could.
    Bella gave me an I’m-out-of-here eyebrow bob and took off.
    I started walking faster—my mother was a former beauty queen and thank goodness I have her long pageant legs—and put real distance between Jeanette and me. I intended to lose her in the lingerie department, but a line of customers in the aisle at the checkout registers slowed my pace.
    â€œHaley?” Jeanette called again. “Haley!”
    I could have outmaneuvered her—I bobbed and weaved through a pack of customers with ease while never making eye contact—but it occurred to me that I might benefit from talking with Jeanette. I stopped and allowed her to catch up.
    She was slightly out of breath, so I pushed ahead.
    â€œThat Nuovo acquisition sounds great,” I said. “How much was our employee discount?”
    Now her cheeks matched her bright pink dress. It wasn’t a good look on her.
    â€œTen percent,” Jeanette said, huffing and puffing.
    At an average store, ten percent wouldn’t be worth the gas to drive there. But at Nuovo, where designer clothing, shoes, and handbags ran into the hundreds and thousands of dollars, it meant a sizable savings—which could then be spent on other items in the store, of course.
    â€œWhen will the acquisition be finalized so we can use our discount?” I asked.
    â€œSoon,” Jeanette managed to say between great heaving breaths.
    â€œGreat,” I said, and turned to leave again.
    â€œHaley,” Jeanette said, using her store manager voice this time.
    Jeanette knew that Ty and I had dated. Though she’d never said anything to me about it, she’d been compelled to cut me extra slack to ensure her own job security. I didn’t, however, know whether word had reached her that Ty and I had broken up, so I didn’t feel totally comfortable about how much I could get away with now.
    Besides, I had two great reasons not to rock the Holt’s employment boat: keeping my medical coverage for a few more weeks, and buying a Sassy satchel from Nuovo with my employee discount.
    â€œI want you to take on new responsibilities,” Jeanette told me.
    I’d already blown my say-no-to-everything policy this morning at L.A. Affairs, and while that had worked out great, I wasn’t about to push my luck.
    â€œSorry, Jeanette,” I said. “I can’t do that.”
    â€œThe new duties will allow you to be off the sales floor for most of your shift,” Jeanette said.
    Okay, she had my attention.
    â€œWe’re staffing up for the holidays. Thanksgiving is just weeks away and Christmas will be here before we know it,” Jeanette said. “I want you to take on the new-employee orientation.”
    I’d suffered a paralyzing bout of brain-function zone-out during my own orientation, so I couldn’t remember what had been covered. I wasn’t really clear on all of the Holt’s policies. I’d never done anything like this before, and I wasn’t sure I was the best person for brand new employees to meet.
    So what could I say but, “Sure, I’ll do it.”
    â€œYou’ll be working with Lani,” Jeanette said, and walked away before I had a chance to say anything, which was probably