new ones written above, added lines cascaded down the side margins, and arrows moved text from one spot to another. With a red felt-tip pen she doodled in the blank spaces, drawing nothing but squares, rectangles, and circles, daydreaming of her evening with Mac, wondering when she would see him again.
She found it hard to concentrate on the article. She had originally penned it with Mac in mind. She even planned to add a paragraph or two about the arrogant man she had met from the ad in the personals. Funny they should turn out to be one and the same. Mac definitely had an arrogant streak, but he could also be generous and kind, and she found something endearing in each of his characteristics—the good and the not-so-good.
She jumped at a knock on her door. Obviously, even the DO NOT DISTURB sign posted outside wasn’t good enough to keep some people from barging in.
Before she could say “Come in,” the door opened and Ashley Tate breezed into the room. Kathleen didn’t move, just raised her eyes from the paper and inwardly groaned. What could she possibly want, and why is she intruding on my wonderful thoughts?
Ashley snatched the scribbled article off the desk, scanned the contents, then tossed it back amongst the clutter.
“I suppose that’s for your new magazine?” Ashley scoffed. “Mac told me all about it. He hates the concept, you know. For the life of me I don’t understand why he’s letting you continue with it.”
Kathleen rubbed her eyes, then found a sickeningly sweet smile to plaster on her face. “It’s such a pleasure having you drop by my office, especially with such fond words for my work. I’ve rarely had the pleasure of your company. Is there something you need? Something I can help you with?”
“No, nothing at all. I was on my way to see Mac and thought I’d drop in.”
“How kind of you.”
“By the way. Did you receive your invitation to McKenna’s anniversary ball?”
Kathleen opened her top drawer, took out the gold embossed envelope, and waved it in the air with a grin.
“I’m so glad they didn’t forget you. You do have a date, don’t you?”
Kathleen bristled at the catty tone of Ashley’s voice. “I’ve been too busy to think about a date. But please, don’t worry about me.”
“I do hope you’ll be able to find someone. One of the janitors maybe?” Ashley grinned, obviously content that her claws were sinking so deep into Kathleen’s skin. “It’s not much fun being alone at an affair like this. I’m sure all the other guests will be couples. You know, like Mac and me.”
Kathleen seethed. Mac will find himself in one hell of a mess if he parades Ashley on his arm in front of me. She gritted her teeth and responded. “Thank you for being so concerned about my welfare. I’ll be sure to let you know if I can’t find a date.” Now leave, she wanted to add, but didn’t.
Ashley started for the door, then turned around, a questioning frown on her face. “I know you had a meeting with Mac yesterday. I do hope nothing is wrong.”
So that’s the reason she’s in here, Kathleen thought. Her curiosity is eating away at her. Kathleen smiled. “Everything’s fine.”
“I was terribly concerned. I heard how upset Mac was about the new magazine.”
“And who told you he was upset?”
“ T he word gets around. I have friends here who love to keep me informed. I hope you weren’t too upset when you stormed out of his office yesterday.”
“It’s nothing you should be concerned with. Besides, Mac and I managed to work things out quite nicely, thank you.”
Ashley raised an eyebrow. “Yes, he can be quite sweet, even to you, I suppose.”
Ashley pulled out a chair and sat, gracefully crossing her legs. She leaned forward and whispered, as if in deepest confidence. “May I tell you something, my dear?”
Kathleen said nothing, only acknowledged her with a questioning nod.
“This isn’t easy to say, but, to be perfectly honest, you look
She found it hard to concentrate on the article. She had originally penned it with Mac in mind. She even planned to add a paragraph or two about the arrogant man she had met from the ad in the personals. Funny they should turn out to be one and the same. Mac definitely had an arrogant streak, but he could also be generous and kind, and she found something endearing in each of his characteristics—the good and the not-so-good.
She jumped at a knock on her door. Obviously, even the DO NOT DISTURB sign posted outside wasn’t good enough to keep some people from barging in.
Before she could say “Come in,” the door opened and Ashley Tate breezed into the room. Kathleen didn’t move, just raised her eyes from the paper and inwardly groaned. What could she possibly want, and why is she intruding on my wonderful thoughts?
Ashley snatched the scribbled article off the desk, scanned the contents, then tossed it back amongst the clutter.
“I suppose that’s for your new magazine?” Ashley scoffed. “Mac told me all about it. He hates the concept, you know. For the life of me I don’t understand why he’s letting you continue with it.”
Kathleen rubbed her eyes, then found a sickeningly sweet smile to plaster on her face. “It’s such a pleasure having you drop by my office, especially with such fond words for my work. I’ve rarely had the pleasure of your company. Is there something you need? Something I can help you with?”
“No, nothing at all. I was on my way to see Mac and thought I’d drop in.”
“How kind of you.”
“By the way. Did you receive your invitation to McKenna’s anniversary ball?”
Kathleen opened her top drawer, took out the gold embossed envelope, and waved it in the air with a grin.
“I’m so glad they didn’t forget you. You do have a date, don’t you?”
Kathleen bristled at the catty tone of Ashley’s voice. “I’ve been too busy to think about a date. But please, don’t worry about me.”
“I do hope you’ll be able to find someone. One of the janitors maybe?” Ashley grinned, obviously content that her claws were sinking so deep into Kathleen’s skin. “It’s not much fun being alone at an affair like this. I’m sure all the other guests will be couples. You know, like Mac and me.”
Kathleen seethed. Mac will find himself in one hell of a mess if he parades Ashley on his arm in front of me. She gritted her teeth and responded. “Thank you for being so concerned about my welfare. I’ll be sure to let you know if I can’t find a date.” Now leave, she wanted to add, but didn’t.
Ashley started for the door, then turned around, a questioning frown on her face. “I know you had a meeting with Mac yesterday. I do hope nothing is wrong.”
So that’s the reason she’s in here, Kathleen thought. Her curiosity is eating away at her. Kathleen smiled. “Everything’s fine.”
“I was terribly concerned. I heard how upset Mac was about the new magazine.”
“And who told you he was upset?”
“ T he word gets around. I have friends here who love to keep me informed. I hope you weren’t too upset when you stormed out of his office yesterday.”
“It’s nothing you should be concerned with. Besides, Mac and I managed to work things out quite nicely, thank you.”
Ashley raised an eyebrow. “Yes, he can be quite sweet, even to you, I suppose.”
Ashley pulled out a chair and sat, gracefully crossing her legs. She leaned forward and whispered, as if in deepest confidence. “May I tell you something, my dear?”
Kathleen said nothing, only acknowledged her with a questioning nod.
“This isn’t easy to say, but, to be perfectly honest, you look
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