Working It Read Online Free PDF Page A

just have to make it happen.
    And making it happen meant tackling the lion in his lair yet again. She went to her desk, picked up the phone and opened her organizer. She dialed, tapping her pen against her desktop impatiently.
    â€œRobson Steel.”
    â€œAh, Mrs. Packard, so lovely to speak with you again,” she said quickly. “I need to set up an appointment as soon as possible with Mr. Robson. When can you schedule me in?”

2
    D REW FLIPPED THE LAST slide over in his presentation, forcing himself not to run a finger under the collar of his starched white shirt. He’d tied his tie too tight. Damned thing felt like a noose.
    â€œSo, gentlemen, investing in Robson Steel over the next four years could mean additional profits and an obvious significant return on your investment. It would be revitalizing the community, retaining jobs, and our streamlining would help the environment by reducing wastes by an additional ten percent. It’s the ecological, political and economical choice.”
    He paused, then shut off the projector. “Uh…thank you.”
    He looked over at the other end of the conference room, where Ken was sitting, pretending he was an investor. Ken didn’t say anything.
    â€œSo how’d I do?” Drew finally growled.
    Ken frowned, shaking his head and rubbing at his temples. “Drew…I work for you, and I wouldn’t invest after a presentation like that.”
    Drew yanked at his tie, taking a deep breath as it loosened. “Listen, I’m doing the best I can.”
    â€œDon’t say that,” Ken groaned. “That means it’s all downhill from here.”
    â€œIf you hadn’t worked for my grandfather, I’d kick your ass,” Drew said, wadding up the tie and throwingit across the room. Ken let out a dry, sandpapery laugh when it hit him in the chest.
    â€œYour grandfather,” Ken said with a sigh. “He was the same way. Couldn’t charm his way out of a paper bag, but by God, the man knew steel.”
    Drew sobered quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, I know.” Drew smiled. “You know, after all these years, I still miss him.”
    They were silent for a moment.
    â€œStill, you’ve got four weeks,” Ken said, clearing his throat. “Your grandfather could devise a solution for any problem on earth when it came to steel. You’ll figure out something.”
    â€œSure I will,” Drew said, feeling his stomach begin a slow boil of nerves. No pressure, or anything. I laugh in the face of pressure. Ho, ho, ha, ha. Whee.
    Mrs. Packard knocked at the door of the conference room. Considering she usually looked as though she’d just been permanent-pressed, her frazzled state was unnerving.
    â€œWhat is it?” He stared at her. “An invasion?” Maybe those creditors had gotten tired of the phone calls. Could you repossess a steel press?
    â€œThat woman is back,” she said, sounding out of breath, as if she’d been fighting off infidels at the door. “And you won’t believe what she’s wearing.”
    Drew felt his stomach clench at this announcement. The way that Mrs. Packard said “woman,” in a tone she usually reserved for such terms as “Jezebel” or “libertine,” meant only one thing. The tall, redheaded P.R. barracuda was back. And from the sound of things, she was loaded for bear.
    â€œShe was quite insistent that she see you, even though I told her you were busy.” The fact that thewoman actually defied his stern-faced assistant showed that she was brave. Or foolish. Or possibly both. “Shall I throw her out?” Mrs. Packard looked as though she’d relish the chance.
    Ken chuckled a little more easily this time. “After a statement like that? I want to see what she’s wearing.”
    â€œAnd won’t your wife love it when I let that one drop at the company picnic,” Drew said with a humorless grin.