Read Online No Nice Girl by Perry Lindsay - Free Book Online

told herself she was a low-down cat for resenting the presence of this nice girl who had taken over so completely in the apartment that had once been Phyllis’ cherished home….
    In the morning, Phyllis took Anice in to the big general office, and to the desk of Mrs. Currie, who was the head of office personnel. There was no love lost between Phyllis and Mrs. Currie, but they maintained an air of polite cooperation, since both were too sound as businesswomen to permit any outward friction.
    â€œMrs. Currie, this is my cousin Anice Mayhew, who’s an expert stenographer looking for a job. I wondered if you had something to give her?” said Phyllis politely.
    Mrs. Currie hesitated and then she said evenly, “Well, we could use a couple of good stenos, but the jobs are not private secretaryships.”
    â€œAnice wouldn’t expect that unless she works her way up to it, and is entitled to it,” said Phyllis pleasantly.
    Mrs. Currie nodded grimly. “Then I’ll look after her,” she said curtly, and Phyllis nodded and went her way to her own office.
    Kenyon came in on the dot at ten, as he always did, and Phyllis plunged immediately into the day’s routine, so that she forgot all about Anice. There wasn’t time for lunch, so she and Kenyon had sandwiches and milk at his desk, and worked straight through the afternoon.
    At a few minutes before five, Kenyon said apologetically, “I hate like the dickens to ask you to stay after hours, Miss Gordon, but there is some stuff that simply must be cleaned up before I leave for Washington tonight. I’m afraid there’s a couple of hours or more.”
    â€œOf course, Mr. Rutledge,” said Phyllis, and hoped her leaping heart didn’t make itself visible. She loved working after hours with Kenyon, when the two of them were alone in the big, handsome office, and the outer offices were quiet and empty. It was silly of her, of course, but then she was in love with him and to be alonewith him in even the impersonal intimacy of his office after hours gave her a thrill.
    It was a little after five when she went back to her office for a file that she and Kenyon had to check, and found Anice waiting there, ready for the street.
    â€œI thought we’d walk home together, Cousin Phyllis,” said Anice radiantly.
    â€œI’m sorry, Anice, but I have to work late,” explained Phyllis hurriedly, searching in her files for the papers Kenyon needed. “You’d better run along.”
    â€œBut I’m not in any hurry,” protested Anice.
    â€œLook, Anice, I may be here for a couple of hours, or even longer,” Phyllis explained. “Mr. Rutledge is flying to Washington tonight and there’s some stuff to be cleaned up before he leaves.”
    â€œOh,” said Anice, and there was an odd tone in her voice and a look in her eyes that made Phyllis stiffen and look at her sharply.
    â€œAnd just what do you mean by that?” snapped Phyllis swiftly.
    Anice’s eyes were wide and limpid pools of innocence, registering nothing but the hurt to a sensitive spirit caused by the curtness of Phyllis’ tone.
    â€œWhy, nothing, Cousin Phyllis,” she protested reproachfully. “I was disappointed, that’s all. I’m crazy about my job and I thought we could talk it over.”
    Kenyon spoke from the doorway. “Can’t you find the Emerson file, Miss Gordon?”
    Anice stood up and smiled at him eagerly and Kenyon looked pleased at the sight of so much youth and beauty there in his place of business at the tag end of a grueling day.
    â€œOh, hello, Miss—”
    â€œMayhew,” Anice supplied eagerly. “Anice Mayhew—and I work here now!” It was said with innocent exultation, as if she were a child unbelievably lucky in being given some unexpectedly glorious treat.
    â€œSwell! Glad to have you in the family,” said Kenyon lightly. “We like to