Read Online On a Slippery Slope by Melody Fitzpatrick - Free Book Online Page B

perfect board, you know?”
    â€œYup.”
    â€œSo what board are you looking at?”
    â€œOh gosh.” I gasp. “Look at the time. I have to be at work in seven minutes.”
    â€œSeven minutes? Well, you better get going then, business-lady . Oh, and don’ t forget, I ’m looking forward to hearing more of your great ideas.” He winks.
    I’m pretty sure he is making fun of me. I look down at my watch and slam my locker shut. I have six minutes left.

10
    No Laughing Matter
    L uckily it only takes one minute to get downstairs and out of the school and another three and a half minutes (running at top speed) to make it to the Channel Nine building.
    Rodrigo at reception looks up and smiles. “Cutting it kinda close, Hannah.”
    â€œActually, Rodrigo, I’m one minute and thirty seconds early.”
    We’re both laughing when Cranky Lady, who I found out is named Gwendolyn, comes through the front doors. Gwendolyn is the vice-president of production. She knows everything about everything, and, according to Andy, she expects perfection at all times. She is a tall, thin, attractive woman with grey-blue eyes and short silver hair that’s always perfectly done. She must have a thousand pairs of shoes because she wears different heels every day. And suits! That’s all she wears. Either with skirts or pants; she’s always in a suit, and nice ones, too, tailored to fit her to a T. She is easily the most elegant woman I have ever seen in my life. It’s not hard to tell that she’s the boss.
    â€œHannah, your hair,” Rodrigo whispers, shoving a little compact mirror in my hand. I look in the mirror, gasp, and quickly try to run my fingers through it to get the knots out. It is no use; it’s all over the place. What am I going to do? The words Gwendolyn said to me on my very first day of work are now front and centre in my brain — “Miss Smart, if you’re going to work here, then you must maintain a professional appearance at all times — clothing must be impeccably neat, makeup should be minimal and your hair …” She stopped at that point, shook her head, and let out a heavy sigh. “It must be cut … a minimum of six inches.”
    So, then I said, “Six inches? Do I have to?” Rodrigo shook his head no .

    This made Gwendolyn really mad. She shot Rodrigo an angry glare and then turned back to me and said, “Well … legally, I can’t enforce this, of course, but, Hannah, you must realize your hair is long and unruly and needs styling. I will talk with Andy and have her arrange for you to meet with our stylist. This has to happen immediately. Do you understand?” She lowered her steely eyes to meet mine. I nodded. “A properly groomed employee makes a hard-working employee. Do you agree?” I nodded again. “Good. The next time I see you, I expect perfection, and, at the very least, a trim. Is this okay? Do you think this is possible?” Of course, I nodded yes again.
    Now Gwendolyn is talking to a man in an expensive-looking grey suit. He must be important because she is (uncharacteristically) smiling, even laughing, and touching his shoulder every few seconds. She’s either star-struck , in love, or desperately trying to impress this guy.
    â€œI can assure you, Phillip, that we are making great strides toward broadening our audience. We are looking to diversify our programming so we will appeal to younger and older audiences.”
    â€œYeah, I’m impressed with the new weather guy you hired,” Phillip replies. “I’ve been going over the stats and ratings are up — way up. Wise decision, indeed.”
    â€œIndeed!” Gwendolyn laughs, touching his shoulder again.
    â€œSeems to be a hit with the older generation.”
    Gwendolyn nods. “Yes, our polls confirm this.”
    â€œI’ve seen the results of those polls, Gwendolyn. Quite