Who's on Top? by Karen Kendall Read Free Book Online Page B

and the teenagers just give you lip and attitude. Dominic Sayers, for example, is a teenager.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œMy God, yes. And I simply won’t put up with his insubordination.” She cast a glance into the hallway and shut her door. “So what have your impressions been so far?”
    â€œWell,” said Jane carefully, “he definitely seems to be a strong personality.”
    Arianna laughed. “Honey, you don’t have to be tactful around me. He’s an asshole . And he believes he’s a lot smarter than he really is. And he thinks with his pecker. He just can’t handle having a woman in charge.”
    â€œMmm,” said Jane, trying not to think about Dominic’s pecker. “Well, in order to do a full evaluation, I need to observe quite a bit more and do some experimentation with role-playing. Have him take some tests. That sort of thing.”
    Arianna blinked impatiently and pulled a nail file from her top desk drawer. Using precise slicing movements in one direction only, she smoothed the edge of each nail on her left hand. “How long—” slice, slice “—is all of this going to take?”
    Jane knit her brows as she gazed at the woman. “Well, at least a few weeks. Why? Are you on a timeline of some kind?”
    Arianna transferred the nail file to the other hand and went to work. “Not at all,” she said just a shade too casually. “I just like to know about these things up front.”
    Jane nodded.
    â€œBy the way,” Arianna began, changing the subject. “Have I mentioned that I’d like to see you work with HR at Zantyne on a national level? To orchestrate some company-wide seminars like Breaking New Ground and Morale Boosting?”
    â€œNo, you didn’t mention that,” said Jane, her pulse quickening. “But I’d love to!” What a coup for a new company like Finesse! They would definitely break even, maybe even make a profit in their first year, with just one such client. Jane tried not to salivate openly.
    â€œLet’s talk about a presentation, then,” Arianna nodded. “Of course you’ll have my full backing…assuming that I’m pleased with the way you handle this current issue.” She laughed a too-melodious laugh. “And I’m sure I will be.”
    Jane nodded and smiled. “Of course. Finesse may be a fledgling company, but we’re aptly named and very professional.”
    â€œI can see that, Jane. I’m sure this is the beginning of a long and profitable relationship for us both.” Arianna smiled broadly.
    My goodness, her teeth are white. Almost blinding. Jane followed Arianna to her office door and shook her hand as the vice president showed her out. Did the woman gargle with Clorox?
    Â 
    H ER D AD AND G ILBEY WEREN’T too talkative at this Sunday dinner, either, even though Jane brought Lilia. Lil brought a beautifully wrapped bouquet of mixed flowers and wore a sapphire-blue silk blouse for the occasion.
    Jane shook her head and grinned. “Miss Manners, honey, this is my dad and the backyard grill, not dinner at the White House.”
    Her friend raised a brow. “So? Even a picnic table can use some fresh blooms. And I’m not going to show up empty-handed.”
    Jane gave her a fond glance and let her be but had to laugh when her dad just stared at the flowers and then back at Lilia.
    â€œWhat, nobody’s ever brought you flowers before?”
    â€œUh, thanks, hon.”
    â€œDad, you might want to put them in a vase. Or a pitcher. I know we have a pitcher around here somewhere.”
    â€œRight.” Her father ambled into the kitchen and poked around in a few of the blue-painted cabinets, coming up empty-handed. Finally he opened the refrigerator and grabbed a plastic container with a swallow of orange juice left in it, which he poured down the sink. He rinsed the thing, refilled it withwater and