he had a different blonde with him every time I saw him.
“ Thats why you chose Penciled In . ” My statement was to no one in particular, just a verbal result of what was whirling around in my head.
“ No, Love, Charlotte has a reputation that we respect. However, she did do us a favor by placing you in charge that night. I have always known that you would be his equal. That night he came by the house and spoke with Thomas until the wee hours of the morning. He wanted advice on how Thomas persuaded me to marry him. ”
I laughed at her words. Patrick was such a confident man and for him to go to his father for matters of the heart.
“ Christi, Patrick may be the head of this family, but his Da gave him the best advice he could. As the woman he chooses to have by his side, you will always be the neck, turning the head in the right direction. ”
CHAPTER NINE
W ith Shannon leaving and the wedding season quickly approaching, Charlotte placed an ad for her position in the local newspaper. She wanted me to do the interviews because I would be working directly with them.
It had been a month since my visit to Coleen's grave and I honestly smiled as I thought about Patrick. He wasn't the person I had thought he would be. It was almost as if he had a split personality. With me he was gentle and caring, but when we were out to dinner and we ran into anyone else, he had this mask that he put into place. At times, it was somewhat unnerving, as if I didn ’ t know who I was with. Then in an instant, he was back to being the loving man who held my hand and kissed my forehead.
Unfortunately, that was all we had done, kiss and hold hands. He had this crazy notion that he still had to prove himself.
So for now, I settled for what he was willing to give me.
Charlotte had set up two interviews for today; the first was a no-show and the second was waiting in her office. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the room to find Harley sitting in a chair.
Harley looked completely different. Gone were the trashy halters, pleather skirts, and knee-high boots. In their place were a silk blouse, pencil skirt, and demure kitten heels. Her makeup was minimal and her cleavage hidden. She actually looked more beautiful.
"Harley?"
My shock could clearly be heard in my voice, I never expected to see her sitting in that chair.
"Hello, Ms. O'Rourke, and if you please, my name is Francesca Ciccone, Frankie for short. ”
Her voice was relaxed without a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Please excuse me; that was rude. Frankie, it's a pleasure to see you again."
She simply smiled at me and then turned to look at a stunned Charlotte.
"I take it we know each other," Charlotte chuckled and then opened a file.
Charlotte went into detail about the type of person we were looking for and the requirements we had. Basically, we needed an assistant for both Charlotte and myself. She would be responsible for scheduling all the staff, and making certain our schedules were accurate. She would also take care of renting out the ballroom next door.
"So, I'd basically have to make sure you guys weren't double-booked and that people are where they're told to be."
Charlotte and I laughed and then agreed with her. I looked back at Frankie; she had her hands in her lap, fidgeting with her beaded bracelet.
"I know you know about me, but I want you to know that I don't want to be that person anymore." Her voice was lower this time and I could hear the sadness she was trying to hide.
"I won't lie to you and say that I'm the best person for this job. I ’ m just asking for a chance to have a job that I can be proud of.
“ Ms. O'Rourke, I know that you especially don't have a very high opinion of me. It's no secret that I wanted Patrick. He never noticed me though, and I knew the second he gave you the bracelet that all hope for me was gone. I hope that if I get a good job
“ Thats why you chose Penciled In . ” My statement was to no one in particular, just a verbal result of what was whirling around in my head.
“ No, Love, Charlotte has a reputation that we respect. However, she did do us a favor by placing you in charge that night. I have always known that you would be his equal. That night he came by the house and spoke with Thomas until the wee hours of the morning. He wanted advice on how Thomas persuaded me to marry him. ”
I laughed at her words. Patrick was such a confident man and for him to go to his father for matters of the heart.
“ Christi, Patrick may be the head of this family, but his Da gave him the best advice he could. As the woman he chooses to have by his side, you will always be the neck, turning the head in the right direction. ”
CHAPTER NINE
W ith Shannon leaving and the wedding season quickly approaching, Charlotte placed an ad for her position in the local newspaper. She wanted me to do the interviews because I would be working directly with them.
It had been a month since my visit to Coleen's grave and I honestly smiled as I thought about Patrick. He wasn't the person I had thought he would be. It was almost as if he had a split personality. With me he was gentle and caring, but when we were out to dinner and we ran into anyone else, he had this mask that he put into place. At times, it was somewhat unnerving, as if I didn ’ t know who I was with. Then in an instant, he was back to being the loving man who held my hand and kissed my forehead.
Unfortunately, that was all we had done, kiss and hold hands. He had this crazy notion that he still had to prove himself.
So for now, I settled for what he was willing to give me.
Charlotte had set up two interviews for today; the first was a no-show and the second was waiting in her office. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the room to find Harley sitting in a chair.
Harley looked completely different. Gone were the trashy halters, pleather skirts, and knee-high boots. In their place were a silk blouse, pencil skirt, and demure kitten heels. Her makeup was minimal and her cleavage hidden. She actually looked more beautiful.
"Harley?"
My shock could clearly be heard in my voice, I never expected to see her sitting in that chair.
"Hello, Ms. O'Rourke, and if you please, my name is Francesca Ciccone, Frankie for short. ”
Her voice was relaxed without a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Please excuse me; that was rude. Frankie, it's a pleasure to see you again."
She simply smiled at me and then turned to look at a stunned Charlotte.
"I take it we know each other," Charlotte chuckled and then opened a file.
Charlotte went into detail about the type of person we were looking for and the requirements we had. Basically, we needed an assistant for both Charlotte and myself. She would be responsible for scheduling all the staff, and making certain our schedules were accurate. She would also take care of renting out the ballroom next door.
"So, I'd basically have to make sure you guys weren't double-booked and that people are where they're told to be."
Charlotte and I laughed and then agreed with her. I looked back at Frankie; she had her hands in her lap, fidgeting with her beaded bracelet.
"I know you know about me, but I want you to know that I don't want to be that person anymore." Her voice was lower this time and I could hear the sadness she was trying to hide.
"I won't lie to you and say that I'm the best person for this job. I ’ m just asking for a chance to have a job that I can be proud of.
“ Ms. O'Rourke, I know that you especially don't have a very high opinion of me. It's no secret that I wanted Patrick. He never noticed me though, and I knew the second he gave you the bracelet that all hope for me was gone. I hope that if I get a good job
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