Read Online Hotshot by Julie Garwood - Free Book Online

tight-lipped and wouldn’t say a word about Drew. The only thing I got out of her was how much she needed this job. I think she was scared.”
    Lars agreed. “That’s the truth of it. I once saw her walking down the hall as he was coming toward her. She did a one-eighty and ducked in the first office she could find. And I noticed she never went into the file room if he was in there. It’s dark and there aren’t any windows. She’d always wait until he left.”
    “Drew ended up firing her,” Mimi said. “She tried to make trouble, didn’t she, Lars?” She apparently didn’t expect an answer because she continued right along. “April went to HR to complain. She accused Drew of sexual harassment, but she was wasting her time,” she added with a nod. “Drew’s wife is best friends with Annette, the head of HR. April’s complaint didn’t go anywhere but the shredder.”
    “No wonder,” Peyton said.
    “Sorry?”
    “I went to HR to file a complaint. Annette wouldn’t let me. She said I had to wait at least three months before I could file any complaints.”
    “That’s nonsense,” Mimi said.
    “Didn’t April intend to sue?” Lars asked.
    “Eileen nipped that in the bud. I don’t know what she threatened, but she and Drew have a guy who will do their dirty work for them when they need it. April packed up and left town in a real hurry.”
    “This is crazy,” Peyton said. “In this day and age Drew shouldn’t be able to get away with his obscene behavior, and neither should his wife. By helping him, Eileen is just as culpable.”
    “We agree with you,” Lars said. “But most of the town depends on this company for their income, and they’ll protect it any way they can. No one wants bad publicity or—God forbid—a lawsuit. Randolph wants a big happy family.”
    “Eileen especially doesn’t want any trouble. She’s on thin ice with her father as it is, and if anyone were to sue Randolph Swift’s beloved magazine because of something his daughter or her randy husband did, Randolph would be mighty upset.”
    “What do you think he would do?” Peyton asked. She picked up a pencil and began to twirl it between her fingers.
    “It’s hard to tell. He hasn’t come to the office for ages, but I’d like to think he’d stay on as CEO until his son, Erik, is ready. I imagine Randolph would show him the ropes and let him run the company. Erik’s smart. He’d do a good job. I’m guessing Randolph would cut Eileen out altogether,” Lars suggested. “Randolph lost his wife a little over a year ago. He was devastated, and that’s when everyone thought he would retire.”
    Mimi nodded. “Miriam was sick a long time, and he was always at her side. I think the worry wore him out. Both he and his son were very close to her. Erik took a semester off from college to be with his mother in those final weeks, but Eileen . . . well, she didn’t have much use for her mother once she took ill. Eileen is what you would call . . .”
    “A very self-involved woman,” Lars supplied.
    “I was going to say bitch,” Mimi said. “She’s a real bitch.”
    Peyton laughed. Lars looked shocked.
    “How do you know so much about the family?” Peyton asked.
    Mimi shrugged. “I listen. Being an assistant gives me a lot of time to do nothing but listen. I’m sort of invisible now. People gossip and they don’t seem to notice I’m standing right next to them. When you’ve been demoted the way I have, I guess they figure I’m nobody. I certainly can’t do them any damage. Who would listen to me? Working as an accountant, I never had time to gossip. These days I’m ashamed to admit gossip is the highlight of my days. That and chocolate.” She shook her head. “I really have to get out of here.” Turning to Lars, she said, “That job at the Quickie Market is looking better and better, except I can’t live on minimum wage. No one can.” She scooted off the desk. “Come on, both of you. I’ll make