Read Online Bound by Suggestion by L.L. Bartlett - Free Book Online

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    “Always a pleasure to see you, Wes.” Richard could bullshit with the best of them, including Timberly. And he was adept at getting along with everyone—a trait that had served him well over the years. If he became committee chair he’d have to interact with Timberly on a regular basis.
    The door to the inner sanctum opened and Mona Humphrey stepped into the room. Though not a beauty, and of indeterminate age, the chic, snowy-haired woman gave off an air of supreme confidence.
    “Richard, good to see you.” Her enthusiasm quickly waned. “Wes.”
    “You won’t believe what Dr. Alpert did,” Penny said, handing the checks to her boss.
    Mona looked into the envelope, then gazed at Richard in surprise. “There’s twenty-seven thousand dollars here.”
    “Twenty eight,” Richard said. “I was hoping Penny could schedule time for us to talk.”
    “Will now do?” Penny asked, without even consulting Mona’s calendar.
    “I’m booked for the rest of the day, Mona, and I really need a few minutes of your time,” Timberly said.
    “Oh, very well. Can you wait, Richard?”
    “I’d be glad to.”
    Mona nodded, then stepped back into her office, with Timberly at her heels. The door closed.
    Penny frowned after them. “You didn’t hear this from me,” she said, lowering her voice, “but last year Dr. Timberly had twelve people on his list and he only got six thousand. It took him a month to get it, too.”
    Richard nodded. The way Penny chattered, no doubt the entire board would soon know of his accomplishment—probably before the hour was out.
    “It’s disgusting the way he sucks up,” Penny added. “Especially since Mona announced there’d be changes in committee heads. I for one am glad he’s got some competition.”
    Richard remained silent, unwilling to become part of the office gossip mill. “Do you have any back issues of the Foundation’s newsletter? I’d like to read up on the events they’ve sponsored in the past.”
    “No problem, Doc.” Penny swiveled her chair to a lateral file cabinet behind her desk, plucked papers from various folders, then handed them to him. “This is what we’ve done in the last eighteen months. I can dig further if you want.”
    “This’ll be fine.” Richard flipped through the top copy. Pictures of black-tie dinners with society matrons, and long lists of donor generosity filled the pages. Spending money to make money. There had to be a more efficient way to buy needed hospital equipment.
    He was about to take a seat, when the door to Mona’s office burst open and Timberly strode through, gaze riveted straight ahead. The door to the corridor banged shut behind him.
    Penny’s lips curled up in a satisfied smirk. “He just keeps blowing it.”
    “Should I escape?” Richard asked.
    “No, Mona will be fine. Go on in.”
    Richard tucked the newsletters into his briefcase and headed into the office, which leaned more toward comfort than a standard business office. Two upholstered wing chairs sat before the director’s desk.
    “Have a seat, Richard,” Mona said and sighed. “I’m sorry you had to wait. Especially after that lovely surprise you dropped off. You are, without a doubt, the King of Schmooze.”
    “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.”
    “Take it as a compliment,” Mona said. “Since you joined the Gift Planning and Corporate Giving Committee three months ago, our contributions are up thirteen percent over the same period last year.” She leaned forward in her chair. “What can I do for you?”
    “It’s more a case of what I can do for you. Last Friday I toured the hospital’s x-ray facilities. Most impressive.”
    “But?” she prompted.
    “Frankly, we need new MRI equipment. The technology is evolving faster than we can find the money to pay for it.”
    “Don’t I know it.”
    “And with all the other capital expenditures, it’ll be another year of cocktail parties and galas before the Foundation can