Sometimes It Is Rocket Science by Kara Thorpe Read Free Book Online Page A

“Aaah, shit,” she hissed.  She pulled the tissues away to assess the damage.  The mascara streaks could be washed away and Visine would help with the redness.  Not a total catastrophe.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I’m fine,” she lied, dabbing at her face with a cotton ball doused with cleanser.
    “Georgiana has suffered a minor corneal abrasion following a mishap with a makeup applicator,” ERIC supplied helpfully.
    Yvonne was silent for a moment.  “I don’t even think I know what that means.”
    Georgiana dropped the cotton ball into the wastebasket, glared up at the camera.  “You can be reprogrammed, you electronic tattletale.”  After clearing away the redness with a few drops of Visine, she applied a layer of mascara to replace what she’d wiped off.  “It means I jabbed myself in the eye with the mascara wand, Yvonne.”
    “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Yes.”  She slammed her makeup drawer shut and padded out of the bathroom.  She tapped a code into the panel beside the closet.  Her clothes hangers were bar-coded, as was her shoe rack, so she could have ERIC pull the necessary items.
    “Tell Wepfer that I have no comment.  I want to find out who leaked that quote.  It’s from a private email I sent to the directors last night, so there’s your suspect pool,” she added.
    “Yes ma’am.  I will see you when you get to the office.”
    As if aware of Georgiana’s exasperation, ERIC piped soothing, light jazz music into her bedroom and closet.  Her mood gradually improved.  The music did as well.  By the time she’d finished dressing in a neutral linen straight leg pants, silk taupe camisole, and linen pinstripe jacket, they had progressed to the lively Zydeco music she typically preferred in the mornings.
    The rustle of clothing and creak of the wooden floors coming from her brother’s room brought a faint smile to her face.  It was rare for Tab to wake before she left.  She hoped it meant he was going to have one of his good days.  After securing the clasp of her rose gold watch, she slipped on a pair of rose gold and diamond hoop earrings.  ERIC had already retrieved her shoes from the automatic shoe rack in her closet.
    “You’re going to break an ankle in those.”  Tab ambled into the room, collapsed on the end of Georgiana’s bed.  “Don’t you have that meeting in R&D?”
    Georgiana stepped into her camel-colored Italian leather pumps.  The five-inch heel gave her enough height so that she was just shy of eye level with most male members of upper management.  She gestured towards the custom chocolate brown sneakers an electric arm was setting on the small platform just outside the closet.
    “I’ll switch for that meeting.  I’ve learned my lesson.  I also have a few other meetings, and I need to deal with the board.  I’ll take every advantage I can get.”  She scooped up the shoes and stuffed them in a canvas backpack along with a pair of jeans and a brown long-sleeved Henley.  “I’m going to spend the afternoon at the hospital with Dan.  Want me to swing by and pick you up?”
    Tab didn’t issue an automatic denial.  Georgiana held her breath but kept her eyes fixed on the zipper of her bag.  She didn’t want to pressure him.  Her heart sank when he shook his head slowly.
    “No?  Okay.  Nada problemo , brother o’ mine.”  She released the bag, hooked an arm around his neck.  He stiffened instinctively, but relaxed when she pulled his head towards her and planted a wet, smacking kiss on his smooth forehead.  “Just means more tapioca pudding and lime Jell-O for me.”
    Tab’s shoulders shook with laughter.  “You’ll tell Dan that I’m glad he’s okay, won’t you?”
    “Of course I will.”  She rested her forehead against his, tucked a bit of hair behind his ear.  He was due for a haircut but getting him out of the house was likely to be difficult, if not impossible.  “I’ll stop at the gift shop and pick