Read Online Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes - Free Book Online

with
fear and the heads are twirling with gossip about “the new head honcho.”
    “Okay. You obviously know who I am, so
let’s get to who you are.” I hear the words come out of my mouth, but am
thinking: How did I get here?
    We spend the next thirty minutes
introducing ourselves and getting to know each other.
    One of the new steamer associates
catches me before I go into my office.
    “Hallie?” There is a slight tremble in
her voice. She rubs her hand down her short styled, Posh Spice look.
    I admire her for wearing suck a cut. Not
many people can pull it off, but she does it well.
    “Yes, uh…” I turn around before I get
into my office, where my much-needed cup of coffee is waiting for me.
    “Beatrice,” she says, maintaining eye
contact. “This lady named Piper called. She’s called twice today, asking all
sorts of questions about your schedule this week.”
    “Go on, I’m listening.” I want to
dissect every one of her words, but damn, her eye contact is good.
    “I told her I’m your secretary and would
give you her message.” Her eyes grow dark, like she knows exactly what I’m
thinking. “She wants to know your schedule and what’s shipping here.”
    “Secretary?” I stand up and begin pacing
while rubbing my chin. I like the way this girl thinks. Piper never had a
secretary. “Secretary? I like that.”  
    “She said the same thing.”
    “Hold on.”
    I dial the New York office.
    “Yes this is…” I continue my
conversation, telling human resources about my new proposal.
    I want a secretary, who I want and why I
need her. With a little persuasion, they are on board. It couldn’t have gone
any better if I had a genie lamp and rubbed the heck out of it.
    The associate sits with a smirk on her face.
She knows I put my neck on the line for her and me.
    “Congratulations.” I smile. “You are my
new secretary.” We stare each other down. She is good at this eye-to-eye
contact business. “That’s what I’m talking about. You can do this. Stick with
me, girl, and you will be running this place in no time.”
    She impetuously darts out the door.
    “Wait!” She stops dead in her tracks.
“What is your name again? I can’t just call you secretary.”
    “Beatrice,” she repeats in an upbeat
voice.
    “Great, Beatrice. You like coffee?” God,
I hope she likes coffee.
    “Yes I do.” Her words met my sigh of
relief.
    “Run across the street and grab us a
cup. On me.” I wink and grab my wallet out of my purse.
    I’m going to work my butt off to one up
on Piper and the Michigan store. I’m sure she’s only trying to get information
to use it against me or to see what she’s up against.
    I can promise that, this store is going
to surpass everyone’s expectations. I’ll be sure of it.

 
     
     
    Week Three
    Beads, the
creative addiction.
    Author Unknown

 
    Chapter Fifteen
     
     
    With the
boutique opening, time to myself has been scarce. Since it’s my first Sunday
off, I want to hang around and take it easy. And accepting a call from Piper is
far from taking it easy.
    “Hello?” I
decide to take the call because I can’t avoid her forever. I try to sound as
upbeat as I can all while I make a nasty face at the phone.
    Besides, it
won’t be so bad, not with the great opening week we had.
    “You are one
tough gal to get in touch with.” I can picture Piper sitting in my chair
behind my desk getting ready for the tourists to rush down Michigan
Avenue. A big difference between Cincinnati and Chicago. Chicago is for the
tourists, while Cincinnati is more local traffic.
    “How can I help
you on my Sunday off?” I cut to the chase.
    The laughter in
the background catches me off guard. She only called to be nosy. I listen
closely to see if I can hear one of my co-workers from the Chicago store, but
only laughter—male laughter.
    Piper’s voice is
muffled, and I faintly hear her whisper, “one more minute.”
    “Sorry about
that.” There is little sympathy in her