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I gestured to the blue chair in front of my desk. “Close the door and sit.”
She did as I asked, and the look on her face told me she was scared. It wasn’t unlike the looks I received at Spotlight. If I’d still been with Austin, my attitude would be different, but I was the ice queen again.
“Your dress is inappropriate.”
She hesitated. “I’m sorry. I thought since it was Saturday.”
“Why would you assume that? I’m dressed appropriately.”
I gestured to the frumpy brown business suit I was wearing.
“When Mr. Pelter had me come in, we dressed casually on the weekends.”
“Mr. Pelter has been relieved of his duties in case you were unaware.”
I knew she was since she had seen security escort him out the day before.
“I understand.”
“I’m not sure you do. There’s a new sheriff in town. I expect excellence the way I do of my employees at Spotlight. This company’s management structure is a disaster. I’m here to enact new policies and procedures. When I’m here, so are you. You will dress appropriately as you do on regular weekdays. Is that clear?”
I stared at her and saw that her dark brown eyes were brimming with tears threatening to fall. I’d upset her, and the sick thing was that I was enjoying her misery. What the fuck was wrong with me? Had my heart grown so dark that I could no longer feel compassion? The answer was apparent.
“Yes, Miss Stone.”
“Now that we have that out of the way let’s get to work.”
We worked until six that evening, and I told Luna was expected in tomorrow since I would be here. She nodded, and I suspected she was afraid to speak. I hadn’t eaten since the night before and caught a cab to a restaurant where I ate dinner several times last week. I had no qualms about eating alone, and I had no desire to go back to my hotel.
The restaurant was busy as I expected, but the manager gave me a booth to myself in the back. I pulled The New York Times from my briefcase and began reading, only glancing at the waiter when he brought me a glass of white wine. I was engrossed in an article when my name was called. I looked up to see Edith Doyle standing in front of my table.
I folded my paper and put it down on the table. “Edith, so nice to see you.”
“I thought that was you. Austin said you were spending some time in New York.”
“I’m surprised he said anything.”
“May I sit down?”
“Uh, sure.”
She moved in next to me and gave me a quick hug which surprised me. My heart opened a sliver, and I hugged her back, actually wanting to feel the comfort of another person.
“What happened between you two?”
“Didn’t Austin tell you?”
“He only said it didn’t work out, and you were moving to New York.”
“I’ll only be here for a few months; then I’ll be back in Los Angeles.”
“He made it seem as if you were moving here permanently.”
“I tried to make it work. I tried to compromise, but he accused me of putting my career before us,” I blurted out.
“He’s hurt. I think he lets that terrible situation with his former fiancée wear on him.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
