The cold air in the hallway chilled her skin, and she quickly ducked in the laundry room, shedding her bathing suit and trading it for a cotton baseball shirt and soft flannel boxers. She headed into the kitchen and claimed a mug, which she filled with milk and chocolate syrup, then popped in the microwave. Two minutes later she pulled it out, observing the New Mail icon on the kitchen terminal. “Mail, read.”

“Dar Roberts, seven messages, none urgent.”

She scanned the headers. “Read All.” The warm cocoa slid down her throat as she waited.

Sent by: McLean, Alastair

Subject: New Assistant

Time: 8:43 PM

Dar—

Next time you want to just transition one of your

little finds direct to corporate, just tell me, will you?

I really didn’t need thirty whining regional directors complaining to me that you’re not following procedure.

Her stats don’t show much, but if she’s good enough for you to pick as your right hand, I guess I’ll have to live with it. I hope she’s cute, at least.

Alastair

“Reply,” Dar muttered, and waited for a new message to appear.

Sent by: Dar Roberts

Subject: re: New Assistant

Alastair—

Sorry, yes you will, and I really hadn’t noticed one way or the other.

Dar

“Send.” Dar sipped her chocolate, with a smirk. “Next.”

Sent by: Mariana Sartis

Subject: re: New Assistant

Time: 9:01PM


86 Melissa Good DR

You stirred up a hornet’s nest, my friend. Watch out—

I think at least some of them are going upstairs.

I sent, I processed, I e-mailed. Your new body should have all the paperwork she needs to get things rolling at Synergenics. And by the way, that was a nice piece of power shuffleboard with Peter to get the numbers in. He filed a formal complaint against you, BTW. Alastair’s response (he bcc’d me) was “Do you want me to review this before or after I review the bonus schedule for this quarter, which depends on your making your numbers?”

You know, Dar, you’re really lucky you’re as good as you are. No one else would get away with the crap that you do. Be careful, my friend. Be very, very careful.

Since I was at the office on Saturday, I processed everything for Ms. Stuart. She’s on your payroll starting Monday, so make sure she knows how to turn in things and all that. I have her file from Synergenics. I have to tell you, Dar, until I saw it, I was having some very evil thoughts about you, but in reviewing it, I realized you picked a very qualified candidate. I don’t even have to fake things on her profile. I’m attaching the details so you have record of them. Did you know she was the

Michigan debating champion one year?

Anyway, see you at the office on Monday. I’ll try to soothe some ruffled feathers, but keep low for a while, will you? Just for me?

Mari

Dar bit off a delighted grin. “Debating champion, huh? Damn, I’m in trouble. I shoulda guessed that.” She sat on the tall stool. “Reply.”

Sent by: Dar Roberts

Subject: re: New Assistant

Mari—

Thanks for the warning. Alastair already mailed me about the dissenters—he’s going to handle it.

I’m shocked you would think I would pick any

candidate based on frivolous reasons. Of course, I knew how qualified Ms. Stuart is for this position. Why do you think I asked for it? The company’s best interests come first, this wasn’t some knee-jerk reaction based on personality. In point of fact, the lady in question told me to go to hell, so her transfer certainly wasn’t done for friendly reasons. I’m sure she’ll be an asset to the company, and maybe she’ll take some of my people issues, so you get less complaints.

Dar

She chuckled softly. “Send.” Then she clicked on the attached file, and read the few short paragraphs with interest. “Hmm, gymnastics, double major Tropical Storm 87

in computers and…no, that can’t be right. English? What a mix.” Kerry’s work history showed a steady, even progression from entry level to management, with increasing responsibility and experience moving from job to job, with no job lasting less than two years. Stability, good work ethics, no gaps… No wonder Mariana had been impressed.

She checked the personal side. No workman’s comp claims, no judgments, good credit, spotless record, not even a speeding ticket. Dar’s brows rose. “It’s almost too good to be true.” The thought caused a frown to edge her features. “New message.”

Mark—

I need a class one security inquiry on a new hire: Kerry Stuart, the Associated employee we talked about last week. She’s coming on staff in my department, and I want to know everything. Don’t cut corners, don’t gloss, the works.

Dar

“Send.” Dar drummed her fingers on the counter, feeling a trifle guilty about checking so thoroughly, but if Kerry was going to be privy to all her little tricks, it was better to be sure about who and what she really was. It wouldn’t be the first time a rival had tried to slip someone into the inside.

It’s a logical precaution, her mind insisted. But something inside her felt uneasy, as though it bothered her to think she couldn’t trust Kerry. She thought about that for a bit. Her gut instinct was solidly in the kid’s favor. It hadn’t been wrong yet. But it never hurt to be sure.

Dar sighed and turned back to the screen. She went through the next three messages, which were acknowledgments of items she’d taken care of the previous week, then she clicked on the seventh with a odd feeling of anticipation.

Sent by: Stuart, Kerry

Subject: re: Assistant’s Job

Time: 12:32 AM

Hi.

Why does everyone think I’m crazy because I want to work for you? I got four mails from people I barely, or don’t even know, warning me that I didn’t know what I was getting into. I decided they’re just jealous. I sent a list—you can tell me if they’re people who applied for the job. If they are, then I feel a lot better.

I wrote them all back thanking them for their concern and hoping I’d get a chance to work with them sometime. I hope that was okay.

Anyway, hope you have a good week, and thanks again for helping me shop.

Kerry

“Reply.” Dar leaned on the counter and propped her head on her hand.


88 Melissa Good Sent by: Dar Roberts

Subject: re: Assistant’s Job

Kerry

Everyone thinks you’re crazy because everyone knows I’m a heartless, cruel bitch who drives people to drink and an early grave, and who has no sympathy for anyone or anything. I tried to warn you about that. It’s not too late to back out if you want to.

Your list is, as you suspected, disappointed

candidates. The reply was appropriate.

I don’t get much chance just to go out and be semi-social, so today was very pleasant for me. It also was an indication that we might just be able to work together.

My previous attempts at an assistant have lasted one, three, four, and two days respectively. One I threw out, one decided to go back to the job they came from, and the other two ran screaming into the night never to be heard from again.

Please bear all this in mind.

Dar

“Send.” Dar stifled a yawn and finished off her cocoa, then rinsed the mug out and put it upside-down on the drain board. She turned off the lights as she went through the condo, leaving the space in total darkness. Once in the bedroom, she crawled into the welcoming warmth and shifting motion of the waterbed. One arm curled around her pillow, and the other rested lightly on the surface as she let her eyes close and slipped into sleep.


Chapter Nine

IT WAS A long week, a very hectic week, in which Kerry tied up loose ends she didn’t even realize were there, and eased Ray into her position. The first day was a shock, when she’d had good news, and bad news, and important news, all combined, to tell everyone. Letting fifty people go was hard, but when she’d told them about the severance package…

So that turned out okay. The support groups were still reeling over the new contracts, and both support managers spent the week brushing up on every piece of TCP/IP literature they could get their hands on. They were determined to make a good impression, and not let her down.

All of them were. It was so odd. The week before, they’d been cursing the corporation’s name, and now…now, they were finding ways to change, and adjust—most of them simply glad to still be employed.

The reaction to her new position was total chaos. It had ranged from,

“You are absolutely crazy” to “Jesus, you impressed her that much?” and a lot in between. Many people were sorry to see her go, but encouraged because she was going to be “up there” and maybe could influence “her” if things got to be trouble.

Friday, the last day of her employment at Associated, Ray called her in and sat her down. His face was serious, and he asked her straight out if she knew what she was doing with this “shark in a dress suit.”

Kerry just kept smiling and telling everyone she viewed this as a great learning experience, no matter what happened. She traded e-mail with Dar most of the week, keeping her updated on the transition progress. As the week went on, the executive’s writing style had relaxed a little, not much, but just a little, and Kerry found herself looking forward to seeing Dar again.

SO NOW IT was a week later, and it was Monday morning. It was time for her to start this great new learning experience. Kerry glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror for the sixth time, then took a deep breath and turned off the engine. “Okay, I’m ready,” she told her reflection, then shouldered her briefcase and slipped out of the Mustang, careful to pull her skirt straight, odd after not having to wear one for quite some time. She locked the door and squared her shoulders, then headed for the building’s main entrance.