Double Standards by Judith McNaught Read Free Book Online Page A

Lauren asked curiously.
    "No," Mr. Weatherby said, trying hard to hide his irritation. "Mr. Sinclair called the president of our company, Mr. Sampson. Mr. Sampson called the executive vice-president, who called the vice-president of operations, who called
my
boss. And last night my boss called me at home and informed me that I had offended and misjudged Miss Danner, who happens to be extremely bright
and
a personal friend of Mr. Sinclair's. Then he hung up on me."
    Lauren could not believe she had stirred up such a furor. "I'm terribly sorry to have caused you so much trouble," she said contritely. "It wasn't entirely your fault—after all, I did fail my tests."
    He nodded in emphatic agreement. "I told my boss you didn't know which end of a pencil to write with, but he said
he
didn't give a damn if you typed with your toes." Heaving himself out of his chair, he said, "Now, if you'll come with me, I'll take you up to Mr. Williams's office. Mr. Williams is our executive vice-president and his secretary is moving to
California
. He wants to interview you for the position."
    "Is Mr. Williams the executive vice-president who called the vice-president of operations, who called—" Lauren began uneasily.
    "Exactly," Mr. Weatherby interrupted.
    Lauren followed him, beset with the unsettling thought that even if he detested her, Mr. Williams might offer her a job because
he
had been intimidated by
his
superior. But minutes later she abandoned any such idea. James Williams, in his mid-thirties, had the brisk, authoritative air of a man who would never be
anyone's
puppet. He glanced up from the documents he was reading when Mr. Weatherby brought Lauren into his office and nodded coolly toward the leather chair in front of his large desk. "Sit down," he said to Lauren. To Mr. Weatherby he said curtly, "Close the door behind you as you leave."
    Lauren sat as she'd been told to do and waited as Jim Williams stood up and came around in front of his desk. Leaning back against it, he crossed his arms over his chest, and his penetrating gaze swept over her. "So you're Lauren Danner?" he said dispassionately.
    "Yes," Lauren admitted. "I'm afraid so."
    Amusement flickered across his face, momentarily softening the cool, businesslike features. "I take it from that remark that you're aware of the uproar you caused last night?"
    "Yes," Lauren sighed. "In every excruciating, embarrassing detail."
    "Can you
spell
'excruciating'?"
    "Yes," she said, completely taken aback.
    "How fast can you type—when you aren't under testing conditions?"
    Lauren flushed. "About a hundred words a minute."
    "Shorthand?"
    "Yes."
    Without taking his eyes from her face, he reached behind him and picked up a pencil and tablet lying on his desk. Handing them to her, he said, "Take this down, please."
    Lauren stared at him in amazement then recovered and began to write as he dictated swiftly: "Dear Miss Danner, as my administrative assistant, you will be expected to perform a variety of secretarial duties and to function efficiently and smoothly as my personal liaison with my staff. You will, at all times, adhere precisely to company policies, regardless of your acquaintance with Nick Sinclair. In a few weeks we will be moving into the
Global
Building
, and if you ever attempt to take advantage of your friendship with Mr. Sinclair, either by shirking your duties or ignoring the rules that apply to the rest of the staff, I will fire you on the spot and personally escort you out the front door. If, on the other hand, you show interest and initiative, I will delegate as much responsibility to you as you wish to accept and are capable of handling. If this meets with your approval, report for work here in my office at
9:00 a.m.
two weeks from Monday. Any questions, Lauren?"
    Lauren raised dazed eyes to him. "You mean I have the job?"
    "That depends on whether you can type that memo without errors in a reasonably short time."
    Lauren was too stunned by this cool, unemotional