Pretty Dangerous (19 page)

“Devon, from the warehouse, happened to be
here for a meeting. He swears they were cops. Why would the police
be here? Nah, I think his past scrapes with the law has him
paranoid.” Elle picked up a mint from a bowl on the edge of MiMi’s
desk. “Let’s get barbecue. I’m starving.”

“What was that?” MiMi lost interest in the
still long list of unread emails, some flagged as important.

“There’s a new deli on Fourth Street. Trina
in marketing says the food is awesome,” Elle said around the candy
in her mouth.

“No cops, you said the two guys that came
were cops,” MiMi pressed.

“I said Devon thinks they were cops. You know
he’s twitchy about the police since he got busted twice for
speeding.” Elle gave a chuckle.

“Was one guy tall with red hair, the other
one short and compact?”

“Yeah, he was kinda cute for a short guy. The
tall one works out, I can tell. Tried to see if they were wearing
wedding rings and...” Elle blinked back from her wandering train
thought when Kerry stomped in.

“MiMi, we need to meet right now.” Kerry left
without waiting to see if MiMi would follow.

“What the hell?” Elle whispered.

MiMi shrugged and forced a smile. “Probably
has another bee up her butt about one of my projects. She’s got
nothing better to do than to pick on us lowly worker bees.”

Elle wore a worried frown. “Watch your back.
I got a bad feeling.”

“You and your bad feelings.”

MiMi tried to laugh, but it came out like a
hoarse cough because of the tension grabbing her by the throat.
Elle shoved a mint into MiMi’s pocket. With a sigh of resignation
that Elle’s intuition was on target, MiMi went to Kerry’s office.
Once there her heart beat even harder when she saw a tall man in a
dark gray suit. Tyler stood to one side of Kerry’s desk. His thin
lips twitched briefly into a smirk before it disappeared again.

“This is Glenn Stuart from our corporate
office, VP of the Logistics and Operations division. He’s
representing corporate executive management,” Kerry said, aiming
the words like darts at MiMi. Her expression radiated hostility and
satisfaction at the same time. “He also happens to be a
lawyer.”

“Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat. Why
don’t we have coffee?”

“Here’s a carafe on the table with cups,
sugar and cream.” Tyler waved at hand at the round meeting table
set in a corner of Kerry’s spacious office.

“Thanks,Tyler. That will be all,” Glenn said.
He inclined his head slightly to signal dismissal.

“I, uh...” Tyler looked to Kerry for a
sign.

“Follow-up on those calls we talked about.
Also set up the conference room for the ad layout meeting at three
today.” Kerry cleared her throat.

“Right. Of course.” Tyler grimaced as if
walking out of the office hurt.

MiMi would have enjoyed his obvious
disappointment at being shown the door any other time. But his
departure was a more ominous signal. Taking a page from Jazz’s bold
playbook, MiMi decided to make the first move.

“So, Mr. Stuart, what brings you all the way
from corporate in Dallas?” MiMi looked at him without paying
attention to Kerry.

Rather than answer, he went to the table and
poured coffee into a cup. “Call me Glenn. What would youlike
added?”

“Cream, two packets of sweetener. The pink
stuff,” MiMi said with a smile. She relished the soft hiss of
annoyance from Kerry.

Apparently Stuart noticed as well. “Most
meetings go better with coffee, don’t you agree?”

Kerry’s face tinged pink as she gave a
brittle smile. “Yes, of course. None for me thanks. I’ve been
running on the stuff all morning. One more cup and I’ll be a
jittery mess.”

“We wouldn’t want that for sure,” Glenn said
mildly.

MiMi glanced from him to Kerry. His tone
carried a hint of warning, maybe even reprimand. Kerry’s nostrils
flared and she cleared her throat. The reaction seemed to confirm
Kerry had made some kind of misstep. Kerry glared at MiMi as if she
were to blame.

“We have a serious issue to discuss with
you.”

“About my work?” MiMi raised an eyebrow at
her boss.

“Not directly, I had the unpleasant
experience of being visited by the police. Someone you know was
murdered, and you’re involved,” Kerry snapped.

“What Kerry means is, we need to know if
Fashion Sense or Zen Corporation has any exposure to negative
publicity,” Glen put in. He came over, handed MiMi a cup.

“I’m not a suspect.” MiMi answered Glenn, but
she scowled at Kerry. She put the cup on Kerry’s desk. “So there is
no danger to the company image.”

“You left out a few minor details about your
trip to the Dominican Republic, like being jailed on drug charges.
This company could be dragged through the mud with you if the media
gets wind of it. That’s why you’re going to be placed on an
indefinite leave of absence, with pay for the first two weeks.”
Kerry glanced at Glenn.

“Let me repeat, I’m not a suspect, and
nothing has been in the news. I was found not guilty of the charges
in the Dominican Republic. My work has been outstanding. I also
haven’t violated any company policy, and I have a contract,” MiMi
shot back with heat.

“We can’t let employees with complicated
personal lives damage Fashion Sense.” Kerry stood and crossed her
arms.

“Really? Then we’ll have to shut the place
down, because that describes about sixty percent of the office.
Including you.” MiMi pointed at her.

“Don’t change the subject,” Kerry shouted and
slapped a hand on her desk.

Stuart put his cup down with a thump.
“Enough. Outbursts and trading accusations are extremely
unhelpful.”

Kerry stood fuming. She seemed ready to burst
from the effort of not speaking. After about ten seconds she sat
down again. Stuart gave her a clear look that said, “Pull yourself
together.” Then he faced MiMi.

“We have no intention of terminating you,”
Glenn said. The word “yet” hung in the air unspoken. “You’ll be
paid for a month. By then I’m sure you can can resolve any
issues.”

“But we...” Kerry squeaked but clamped her
lips together at a sharp glance from Stuart.

His affable expression had vanished. He’d
turned into a bottom line executive. He let his gaze rest on MiMi
for a few seconds. “You’re correct. You haven’t violated company
policy or committed any kind of criminal offense against Zen or its
subsidiaries. You do have a contract, which includes a clause about
causing damage to Zen in any way. Legally that can be considered
pretty broadly.”

“My attorney might see it differently.” MiMi
tried to sound tough, but her stomach twisted.

Glenn let out a sigh. “Look, MiMi. You love
your job, am I right? You’ve worked hard to make Fashion Sense a
retail powerhouse.”

“I love working with the rest of the team.”
MiMi gave Kerry a side-eye.

“And believe me the executive office
appreciates your dedication, and your results. Time will help you
and us. Protecting the company is in everyone’s best interest.
Agreed?” Glenn took a step closer to where MiMi stood. He blocked
her view of Kerry. “In the end we both have the same goals.”

“Yes, of course,” MiMi murmured.

Thirty minutes later she drove out of the
parking garage, a box of items from her desk on the seat next to
her. The one concession she’d wrung from Glenn was working a few
hours from home to wrap up three major projects. MiMi concentrated
on getting through the next few days without sobbing in front of
Sage.

Adrienne called MiMi that night. Emotionally
drained, MiMi found herself crying into the phone within seconds.
MiMi agreed to have lunch at Adrienne’s house once she finally
gained control. So the next day MiMi was seated in what Adrienne
called her garden room. Rattan furniture upholstered in fabrics
with vines and small flowers filled most of the space. Two hanging
baskets held vibrant green trailing plants. A round cast iron table
with four chairs sat in one corner. The room stretched the length
of the house, large enough to host a party of up to twenty people.
Waist high windows gave a view of Adrienne’s professionally
designed garden. Adrienne hosted teas and brunches frequently in
the garden room. Though she couldn’t be bothered with housework,
Adrienne loved puttering among her prized pink, white and red
roses. Her lawn service did the dirty work like fertilizing,
planting and heavy duty weeding.

Adrienne handed her a glass of sweet tea in a
lovely tall glass with a straw once MiMi settled into a chair.
“Thanks for making time in your schedule. Isn’t this the day you
have lunch with your business women’s group?”

Adrienne waved a hand. “I can miss one.
They’ve become kind of boring to be honest. I’ll run for president
next year. When I take over we’ll have a more dynamic strategic
plan.”

“You’ll be president next year, huh?” MiMi
smiled. Competitive, Adrienne expected to get anything she went
after. She usually did, too.

“I know what you’re thinking. Yes, there’s a
small detail called an election. But trust me, the members are
ready for a change.”

“You’ve started campaigning already.” MiMi
breathed in the lovely scent of flowers in a crystal vase on the
table nearby.

“Informally since it’s still early.” Adrienne
sighed as she relaxed on the small stuffed loveseat. She gazed
through the sparkling clean glass.

“Okay. Good luck.”

MiMi pursed her lips to keep from saying
more. She knew Adrienne too well. Her informal campaign most likely
had been in motion for months. First she’d plant seeds of doubt
about the current president’s leadership. Then a few carefully
dropped hints would take root questioning their competency. Luck
would have little to do with Adrienne’s victory.

“So, you could have brought Sage. She loves
running around this big old house,” Adrienne said.

“I want her to get back into her routine at
daycare. Besides, Sage loves Caring Hands. She’s developing social
skills with her little group of friends,” MiMi replied. She put
down her glass. “At least she’s doing good.”

“You’ve had a pretty tough few months. First
that mess in the Dominican Republic and then Roddy’s death. One
minute you guys were just old class mates. The next minute you were
close to marching down the aisle.”

“He was the worse guy I’ve ever met.” MiMi
suddenly felt a rush of emotion at the memory of the good times
she’d shared with Roderick. She blinked as tears formed.

“Roddy had faults. The important thing is he
wanted to marry you. What matters is who holds the keys to
treasury. As long as he pays, Chris can play. I don’t have to sit
at home all alone either,” Adrienne said with a chuckle.

MiMi glanced at her in surprise. “I don’t get
what you mean.”

Adrienne crossed her toned brown legs.
Dressed in casually white French terry shorts and a pink t-shirt,
she looked every inch the prosperous work-at-home wife and mother.
Pink thong sandals completed the outfit.

“Yes you do. Roderick would have given you a
mighty fine life and we both know it.” She raised her glass as if
to punctuate her point with a toast. Then she sipped more tea.

“He was more than a big bank account,
Adrienne. I cared for him,” MiMi protested even guilt pricked at
her.

“Of course you did. We all saw the way you
two looked at each other.” Adrienne sat forward and placed a hand
on MiMi’s knee. “You can talk to me. I know I can be a bit
strong-willed and blunt. But family comes first.”

“Thanks.” MiMi felt odd at Adrienne’s
uncharacteristic shift into a warm family moment.

“Seriously, MiMi. I get the feeling a lot
more is going on. It’s not like you to go all to pieces like you
did on the phone last night. Mother and daddy don’t show affection
exactly.”

“That’s a mild way of putting it,” MiMi
retorted.

“Which makes it even more important that we
kids stick together. They push Drex way too hard. They don’t
support you as much as they should. And at times I feel smothered,
like I can’t breathe.” Adrienne pulled back from MiMi and rubbed
her forehead.

“Really?” MiMi stared at her amazed.

“Yes, I know you think I’m the favorite. Well
let me tell you, there’s a big downside to that. Mother hovers
around me trying to take over my son. Daddy keeps trying to push
Chris to work for him. Thank God we had sense enough not to get
sucked into the family business. They’d be controlling every inch
of our lives.” Adrienne bit her lower lip for a few seconds. “I
feel so alone sometimes.”

“Wow, Adrienne. I never realized.” MiMi felt
more guilt about some of the bad things she’d said about her.

“It’s my fault we’re not closer, but I want
that to change.” Adrienne gazed at MiMi and reached out to her.

“Thank you again for taking care of Sage. The
way you took care of her was... so sweet.” MiMi felt tears form as
she grasped Adrienne’s soft, expertly manicured hand.

“I’m so sorry for all the stupid fights we’ve
had. Half the time over nothing when you think about it” Adrienne
swallowed hard and squeezed MiMi’s hand.

“Yeah, you’re right. Family should always
come first.” MiMi swiped at a tear that had escaped down her
cheek.

“The children brought us together, made us
realize we should always be there for each other.” Adrienne sniffed
as she smiled at MiMi.

MiMi soon found herself pouring out
everything to Adrienne. She told Adrienne about the events leading
up to her arrest in the Dominican Republic. MiMi described her
Najayo Prison stay, and the shock of a visit from the FBI. Then she
told the story of Jack, his betrayal and how his other “other”
woman landed on her doorstep days ago.

“Oh girl. What a seriously messed pile of
crap,” Adrienne breathed, eyes wide with shock.