The Cinderella Reflex by Johanna Buchanan Read Free Book Online Page B

the save and close buttons on her computer. This was the third time Paulina had phoned this morning and Helene was finding it increasingly difficult to be nice to her. But Richard had warned her that this woman was Jack McCabe’s Representative on Earth and Helene was at all times to furnish her with whatever she needed to know. Which was an apparently endless supply of information about the radio station and all who worked in it.
    Yet for all Paulina wanted to know about them, Helene suddenly realised she knew pretty little about her. Apart from the fact that she was a PR supremo, whatever that meant. But if she was so important, maybe Helene should be making an effort to get to know her a bit better?
    “Paulina, why don’t we meet up and we can go over this stuff in person?” she asked suddenly. “I’m almost finished that appraisal you wanted
.
”
    “Sure. When?” Paulina sounded as perky as she had at seven a.m.
    “How about later this morning?” Helene asked hopefully. The walls of her office were starting to close in on her.
    “I’d have to re-schedule my other appointments.” Paulina seemed doubtful. “But it’s a good idea to meet up. Let me just check with my PA, Anita?”
    Helene heard her calling her assistant and made a face into the phone. That’s what she should have said!
Let me check with my assistant. Maybe she can find a window for you ...
    “Helene?” Paulina was back. “I can make eleven if that suits you? Shall I come around to the office?”
    “God no!” Helene blurted out. That was the last thing she wanted. She’d love to suggest a swanky hotel, where their meeting could roll over into a long liquid lunch, but Richard had warned her to be frugal with expenses at the moment. She wrinkled her nose, trying to think of somewhere she could meet Paulina without running into anyone from work.
    She remembered the new coffee shop she had stumbled into the other day. What was it called again? The Travel Cafe – that was what that guy Matt had said he was going to call it. It should be open by now – and it would show Paulina that Helene wasn’t being a spendthrift with company money. Paulina assured her she would find it and Helene put the phone down and sat back in her chair, her hand unconsciously rubbing the nape of her neck.
    The headache that had been threatening all morning was in danger of developing into a real humdinger – the result of too much caffeine and fretting about work, Richard and life in general. Insomnia was wrecking her life, Helene thought wearily. Last night she’d fallen into an exhausted sleep only to wake as usual at four a.m., her mind racing over the implications of this new situation at work.
    Where would she fit into the hierarchy if Atlantic 1 FM was sold? That was her main concern, really, and Richard had been of no help to her whatsoever. She’d hardly seen him since that night in her apartment in fact, because he was up to his eyes in whatever machinations were going on behind the scenes.
    Helene pulled a mirror out of her desk drawer and scrutinised her features. At least the stress wasn’t showing in her face. Her strict pampering regime was standing her in good stead, she consoled herself. Her skin looked dewy, as it should, after all the serum and primer and sunscreen she’d lavished on it. The tired bags under her eyes were camouflaged under layers of concealer, foundation, blusher and bronzer and her hair was still gleaming after her expensive salon appointment yesterday.
    Satisfied, Helene put away the mirror, swallowed two painkillers with the cold dregs of her coffee and settled down to finish her appraisal of the This Morning programme. Ninety minutes later she was putting the finishing touches to the report. Pleased with her work, she reached under her desk for her high heels, slipped on her charcoal jacket like a suit of armour, squared her shoulders and left the building.
    A frisson of excitement shot through her as she realised she