The Promise of Change Read Online Free PDF

slick, if you ask me. Met him a few years ago at a party. He tried to schmooze folks into buying into a retirement community he was developing up in St. Simons.”
    Piling on mac n’ cheese, he continued. “Not my cup of tea, but he put on the hard sell. Couldn’t take a hint, so I finally had to tell him flat out to take his sales pitch elsewhere.”
    Sarah frowned. She hoped he didn’t hold a grudge.
    “Have you decided to buy a more sensible car this time?” The Admiral followed her to the picnic table with his heaping plate of food.
    She couldn’t figure out where he put all that food. He was still as fit as a thirty-year-old.
    “Probably another Volvo.” A civil engineer and diver inspecting the footers of the Matthews Bridge had found her Porsche. Sitting at the bottom of the St. Johns River, feeding the fishes like something out of a mobster movie, nothing left of it but the shell.
    “That’s more like my Sarah. Sensible, dependable, and safe.”
    Worrying also affected Sarah’s concentration. The contract she’d picked up fifteen minutes ago still lay on her desk. She’d read the same provision over several times and yet couldn’t tell what it said.
    It was Friday. A week-and-a-half after her interview. She felt certain they’d make the announcement today. She looked at the clock. Three. If she had to wait another two hours to find out, her head would explode.
    Ken knocked on her door.
    Oh God, she fretted, this is it.
    “Sarah. I’m glad I caught you. May I come in?”
    The tentative smile on his face made her gut clinch.
    “Sure.”
    Hands in his pockets, Ken looked at her framed diplomas, certificates, law license, everywhere but at her. “Sarah, the selection committee has decided to hire from outside the office. They decided to go in a different direction, hiring someone with a strong litigation background.”
    She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath, until she felt a little light-headed.
    “I’m very sorry. I pushed the board hard to reconsider, but Mr. Spalding’s arguments carried the day.”
    “Who did they hire?”
    “A young lady, Patricia Litchkrieg, from New York, worked for Bachman, Seidel, and Schuster in their commercial litigation division . . .”
    Ken’s voice faded into the background as Sarah’s ears filled with white noise. Patricia ‘the Bitchkrieg’ Litchkrieg? The most hated student in her law school class? How could that be? She didn’t even have any experience in health care law. What on earth had the board members seen in her? And how on earth was she going to work for her?
    “I have a new boss starting Monday.” Sarah dropped the news like a bombshell. Ann and Becca looked up shell-shocked.
    They’d been standing in the middle of the fabric store arguing over whether or not a particular fabric would work in Ann’s recently remodeled dining room. Sarah guessed she had their undivided attention now.
    “What do you mean? You didn’t get the job?” Ann grabbed Sarah’s hands.
    “I can’t believe it.” Becca paced the aisle. “Those people are idiots for not hiring you.” She stopped in front of Sarah. “Did they say why?”
    “They wanted someone with a strong litigation background.”
    “Whatever for? Your office never handled litigation before.” Becca paced away, then back. “What did the Admiral say?”
    “He’s disappointed.” Again. Would she ever make her father proud?
    “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.” Ann rubbed her hand down Sarah’s arm. “Who’d they hire?”
    “Patricia Litchkrieg. She’s scheduled a staff meeting first thing Monday morning to meet all of us.” Although she already knew Sarah.
    “Wait a minute, why do I know that name?” Ann asked.
    “She was in my law school class.”
    “Patricia ‘the Bitchkrieg’ Litchkrieg?” Ann asked, eyes round as an owl’s.
    “That’s right,” Becca said, gaze narrowed. “She was the snotty little bitch who told everyone she beat you out for the trial team,