Read Online Dreams to Sell by Anne Douglas - Free Book Online Page A

lunch by then, I suppose.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, they’re all going out to lunch, eh?’ Norma’s brow had darkened. ‘No question of anybody inviting us, you’ll notice.’
    â€˜Did you think they would?’
    â€˜Well, you should’ve been asked, Roz. You’ve worked with Mr MacKenna for a long time.’
    â€˜I think he would have liked to invite me, but he’s the one being taken, you see. It wasn’t his place to tag me along.’
    â€˜Well, maybe the new chap will have different ideas.’ Norma’s eyes gleamed. ‘If you ask me, I think he’ll be different altogether from the guys we’ve got now.’
    As Miss Calder came tapping along the hall, Roz shook her head warningly, and Norma, colouring up, rapidly began to sort a sheaf of papers on the reception desk.
    â€˜Everything ready for the presentation, Miss Rainey?’ Miss Calder asked. ‘Mustn’t mislay the briefcase, must we?’
    â€˜No, Miss Calder. It’s safe here in Reception.’
    â€˜That’s good. Now, when Mr Banks and the lawyers have gone to lunch, I’d like you both to help me put out some glasses in Mr Banks’s room. There’s going to be wine and sherry provided, so that we can all drink Mr MacKenna’s health and wish him luck.’
    â€˜Ooh, nice!’ cried Norma.
    â€˜What a lovely idea,’ said Roz.
    â€˜Yes, Mr Banks is always thoughtful like that, of course. Don’t forget to put out a glass for Mrs MacKenna. She’s coming in to say goodbye, too.’ Miss Calder gave a brief smile. ‘We didn’t see her often, but she was always very pleasant when she looked in.’
    â€˜Very pleasant,’ agreed Roz, who’d always found her so on the rare occasions when they’d met.
    â€˜Now, our new Mr Shield isn’t married,’ Miss Calder went on, rather unusually staying a moment to chat. ‘But then he is very young.’
    Catching Norma’s look, she laughed a little. ‘Perhaps you don’t think so, Miss Ward, but to me he seems that. Not of course that I mean he is too youthful,’ she added hastily, yet giving the distinct impression she did mean exactly that. ‘Well, I must go – I have things to do. You too, girls. Don’t forget to put out the glasses and some small plates for potato crisps. I’ll leave out some packets.’
    As she tapped away, Roz said yes, she must get back to the property department, but the irrepressible Norma couldn’t resist a last word or two.
    â€˜Fancy her going on about Mr Shield’s age,’ she whispered. ‘Bet I know what’s bothering her.’
    â€˜What?’ asked Roz, mystified.
    â€˜Well, what she probably thinks is that he’s too young to be working with you. Now don’t look like that – you know what I mean.’
    â€˜I do not!’ cried Roz. ‘What’s it matter how old we are?’
    â€˜Well, Mr MacKenna was old enough to be your father, eh? And Mr Shield isn’t. So, if the two of you are always together …’
    â€˜Oh, Norma, you’re hopeless! Mr Shield’s only just started and you’re talking like that? He’s here to do a job, and so am I, and that’s all there is to it!’
    â€˜OK, OK, I’m just joking. No offence, Roz.’
    â€˜All right, but let’s just cut out all that stuff, eh?’
    â€˜Sure.’ Norma drew her finger across her throat and laughed. ‘I promise never to say another word!’
    â€˜That’ll be the day,’ said Roz, hurrying back to the property department and, without meeting the eyes of either Mr MacKenna or Mr Shield, made for her own office and closed the door.

Fifteen
    In fact, the lawyers were not late back from their lunch, Mr MacKenna having said that he needed to be back in good time to complete his handover to Mr Shield before the end of the day. Even so, the men were all