White Lies by Linda Howard Read Free Book Online Page A

conscious of a deep sense of relief. Until it
had been lifted, she hadn't been aware what a burden that job had been, how
desperately she had been driving herself to compete. Competition was a fine
thing, but not at the expense of her health, though part of it could be blamed
on her own intensity. She had channeled all her temper, interests and energy
into that job, leaving nothing as an escape valve. She was lucky she hadn't
developed an ulcer, rather than the less severe stress symptoms of a nervous
stomach, constant headaches and disturbed sleep. When she reached her office in
the high-rise office building that housed many such firms, she scrounged around
until she located a cardboard box, then swiftly cleaned out her desk,
depositing all her personal items in the carton. There weren't many: a tube of
lipstick, an extra pair of panty hose, a small pack of tissues, an expensive
gold ballpoint pen, two small prints from the wall. She had just finished and
was reaching for the phone to call Farrell Wordlaw to request a meeting when
the intercom buzzed.
                  "Mr. Clements with EchoSystems on line
three, Ms. Granger. " Jay depressed the button. "Please transfer all
my calls to Duncan Wordlaw."
                  "Yes, Ms. Granger."
                  Taking a deep breath, Jay dialed Farrell on
the interoffice line. Two minutes later she walked purposefully into his
office.
                  He smiled benignly at her, as if he hadn't
cut4ier off at the knees three days before. "You're looking well,
Jay," he said smoothly. "Is something on your mind?"
                  "Not much," she replied. "I
just wanted to let you know that I won't be able to work out the two weeks'
notice you gave me. I came in this morning to clean out my desk, and I left
instructions for all my calls to be transferred to Duncan ." It gave her a measure of
satisfaction to see him blanch. "That's very unprofessional!" he
snapped, surging to his feet. "We were counting on you to tie up the loose
ends—"
                  "And train Duncan how to do my job," she interrupted,
her voice ironic. His tone was threatening. "Under these circumstances, I
don't see how I can give you the positive recommendation I had planned. You
won't work again in investment banking, not without a favorable
reference."
                  Her dark blue eyes were steady and cold as she
stared at him. "I don't plan to work in investment banking, thank
you."
                  From that he decided she must already have
another job, which took away the leverage he had been planning to use on her.
Jay watched him, practically seeing the wheels turning as he considered his
options. She was really leaving them in the lurch, and it was his fault,
because he had fired her. "Well, perhaps I was too hasty," he said,
forcing his voice to show warm paternalism. "It will certainly leave a
black eye on this firm, and on you, if the matters on your desk aren't handled
properly. Perhaps if I add two weeks' salary as severance pay, you'll
reconsider leaving us so precipitately?"
                  She was supposed to fall back in line when he
waved the magic carrot of money in front of her nose. "Thank you, but
no," she declined. "It isn't possible. I won't be in town."
                  Panic began to edge into his face. If the
deals she had been handling fell through, it would cost the firm millions of
dollars in fees. "But you can't do that!
                  Where will you be?"
                  Already Jay could imagine panicky phone calls
from Duncan . She gave Farrell a cool smile. " Bethesda Naval Hospital , but I won't be accepting any calls."
                  He looked absolutely stunned. "The...the
naval hospital?" he croaked.
                  "It's a family emergency," she
explained as she walked out the door. When she was outside again with the