Read Online Temping Is Hell by Cathy Yardley - Free Book Online Page A

Or horny,” Kate said. “Just his own worst enemy, I guess.”
    “Uh-huh.” Prue’s gracefully curved eyebrow went up.
    Kate crossed her arms defensively. “He’s a nerd. He’s one of my people.”
    “ So one of yours.” Prue agreed. “So why did you need the help of a hacker?”
    “For the job.” When Prue stared at her blankly, Kate rolled her eyes. “Fiendish. You know.”
    “You mean the job you don’t want? The job that sucks?”
    “It’s complicated.” Kate rolled her neck a little. “Gotta pay rent now, for one thing.”
    “What, you’re moving out already?”
    “No. Still living with my parents.” Kate frowned, seeing Prue’s surprised expression. “I’m paying them rent. Which makes sense, right? I mean, I lost my apartment, but I’ve got to pull my weight. I’m twenty-nine, not twelve.”
    Then Prue sighed, putting an arm around her shoulders. “You could live in my loft for free,” she said quietly. “You basically lived on my floor all through college anyway.”
    The instant, unconditional generosity cheered Kate more than the beer or anything else that had happened this week.
    “Thanks, Prue. You know I love you like a sister,” Kate said, swallowing hard against tears that were choking her. There was no way she could accept Prue’s generosity, though. In a weird way, it would probably make her feel like even more of a failure—the fact that Prue didn’t expect anything.
    Besides, it had been different when they were in college. Now, Prue’s chic, open loft was like a Zen monastery. Kate knew that, like sisters, the two of them would probably clash when it came to actually living together. She chuckled. “But I don’t think I could live in a vegan house. I need meat.”
    “This so sucks,” Prue said. “But at least they pay you well, right? The head guy, what’s his name… he owns the top selling video game company, and all those night clubs, and the clothing lines, and that crazy theme-park island for rich people. He’s got to be rolling in the cash.”
    “Yeah, he’s rich.”
    “I hear he’s hot, too.”
    “Hotter,” Kate said without thinking. Her skin tingled a little.
    “Really.” Prue wiggled her eyebrows. “Dish.”
    “He’s got these great eyes. Blue eyes,” Kate said, picturing him easily. “And dark brown hair with kind of a wave to it, like artistically mussed without being contrived about it, so he looks a little just-got-out-of-bed-but-I-still-look-sexy.” Then she remembered Maggie’s picture of him shirtless. “And the guy’s yoked. Seriously. You wouldn’t think it with the suit, and trust me, he works the suit, but…”
    Kate trailed off at Prue’s open amusement.
    “Somebody’s hot for bossman.”
    “He’s good looking is all I’m saying,” Kate answered, feeling her cheeks burn as Prue laughed. “Any woman with a pulse would fantasize about him. But he’s Mr. Corporate. Super successful, super rich, super everything.” She thought about the Basement Boys. “And his company is basically evil.”
    “You think all big companies are evil,” Prue pointed out. “Except for your dependence on Starbucks.”
    “Starbucks is the exception. They…” Kate took a deep breath. “We’re not having the Starbucks argument, Prue.”
    Prue laughed, a loud, rich sound. “Sorry. You’re too easy.”
    “The thing is… there are these guys I’m working with,” Kate said, and slowly, the words tumbled out. Prue’s eyes got rounded as she listened.
    “No lunch? No breaks? I bet they don’t get paid overtime, either, if that’s the kind of treatment they’re getting. ‘Contract workers.’ What kind of bullshit is that?” Prue spat out. “Don’t they have a union rep? You’ve got to tell somebody!”
    “Tell who what?” Kate countered, shaking her head. “I’m a damned temp. Who’s going to believe me?”
    Prue’s eyes blazed. “Still. You’ve got to do something.”
    “I’m doing what I can,” Kate shot back.