In Love Again by Megan Mulry Read Free Book Online Page A

them. But they can never agree on anything or focus on the project at all, so it has dragged out terribly.”
    “How can I help?” Claire asked.
    “The Saturday after next is our scheduled site visit. I’d love for you to familiarize yourself with the history of the project, work on laying out a tight schedule to wrap it up within the next three months, and then go play peacemaker. Maybe encourage Alice to be a little more…amenable…to some of her ex-husband’s financial concerns. I think you have that quality about you. You put people at ease.”
    “Me?” Claire almost snorted. “I think everyone in my family walks on eggshells around me.”
    “Oh, family doesn’t count.” Boppy laughed, almost a short bark. “My sister hates me one day and cries on my shoulder the next—that’s probably why she hates me the other days, come to think of it. Anyway…” Boppy’s attention was being drawn away again by something that popped up on her screen. “Go tell Henrietta to get you a corporate credit card and to show you where to sit and then you can get yourself situated and familiarize yourself…” Her voice was trailing off as her attention returned fully to her computer screen and she sat slowly. “Off you go.”
    Off to where ? Claire wondered to herself. She got up quickly and put her pen and pad back into her purse. She didn’t want to interrupt Boppy’s new train of thought, but felt compelled to thank her nonetheless. Claire compromised and whispered, “Thank you so much” as she turned and ducked out of the office. Before she shut the door behind her, she heard Boppy on the phone making plans to fly to Houston the next day to personally oversee the third repainting of a top client’s dining room ceiling.
    Claire took a deep breath, smoothed her palms down her navy blue skirt, and almost burst into tears of joy. She had a job! Twenty-four-seven? She’d work thirty-six-seven if such a thing were possible. She walked down the flight of stairs and reintroduced herself to Henrietta, relaying the information about the corporate credit card and the client in Litchfield.
    “Oh, thank God. None of us can deal with Alice anymore. You’ll be perfect to wrap that situation up once and for all.”
    Henrietta showed Claire back to the main entrance level. Halfway between the formal waiting room and the back garden, there was one more room with four desks in it. One was vacant.
    “It’s not very glamorous, I’m afraid.”
    Hilary, the young woman who had carried out the tray of coffee to the garden, turned from one of the four desks. “Oh, hi!”
    “Hi,” Claire said, reaching out to shake hands. “Looks like I work here…”
    “Welcome! I’m so glad.”
    Claire couldn’t quite reckon that she’d actually been hired, but she smiled at Hilary all the same, happy someone was happy to have her.
    Henrietta said, “I’ll get the credit card set up and delivered to you in the next day or two. Hilary, I have to hop. Will you show Claire the rest?”
    “Sure. No problem.”
    “Bye, Claire. Good luck…you’re gonna need it!” Again with the backhanded well-wishing. Claire wanted to chalk it up to her own nervousness, but it was obvious that some of the people who worked here were bitter or just worn out. She had a hard time imagining ever being anything but insanely grateful for the chance to do what she basically did anyway, or had done for the past twenty years, but to have someone pay her instead of the other way round.
    Hilary introduced her to Erin, who handled human resources and payroll, and then to a rather severe-looking woman with a strong Brooklyn accent. She was a beautiful brunette, with an appealing toughness about her.
    “I’m Roberta, the resident bully.”
    Claire wasn’t sure how to respond.
    Then Roberta laughed and gave Claire a little shove on the upper arm. “I’m the one who yells at all the deliverymen and painters and manufacturers who try to tell us they’re running late