Read Online The Almost Truth by Eileen Cook - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Eileen Cook
Tags: General Fiction
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receipts. Otherwise people will see you hunched over all this paperwork for the rest of the night and think you have no life.”
Thomas pushed the pile of receipts on the table into a tidy stack. “Life isn’t what other people think of you; it’s what you get accomplished. Keeping this place running isn’t too shabby of a legacy.”
“The Keppler would fall down if it weren’t for you,” I agreed, getting up from the table.
Thomas waved me off. “Nah. It would keep standing. Now mind you, it wouldn’t run nearly as well.”
“Or be as fashionable,” I added.
Thomas threw his napkin at me. “Go on, get out of here. Go pick on someone else.”
I blew him a kiss and waved to the waitstaff as I left. Thomas might tell me to get out of here, but he had no idea how far I was willing to go to get off this island. I could only hope the information he gave me was going to help.
chapter eleven
I f the McKenna Foundation was going to do a big media event, then I was willing to bet they were planning to use the Arbutus Ballroom. It was the largest of the four, they could easily get three hundred people in there, and the floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over a cliff, so the views were amazing.
I peeked into the Arbutus room. The curtains were drawn and the lights were off. I could see there were stacks of chairs in the corner waiting to be set up, a few tables with tablecloths sprinkled around, and a pile of audio equipment at the front.
There was a sound behind me and I heard people coming up the stairs. “If you head this way, Mr. Parker, you can see the room.”
Shit! It was Mr. Stanbury, the general manager. If he saw me here, he was going to yell at me for being on the property.Not to mention, I didn’t want to meet Mr. Parker wearing a T-shirt and flip-flops. That probably wouldn’t make him want to spill his guts to me. I yanked up the tablecloth and dove under the closest table just before they came around the corner.
“We’ll set up the tables for the guests over here,” Stanbury said. I heard the screech of the curtains being pulled back. “Depending on the weather, we can open up all of these French doors and people can mingle on the patio as well. We typically suggest setting up at least two buffet and bar stations with a crowd this size.”
“The McKennas would prefer to use waitstaff versus having a buffet. They don’t want guests waiting in a line.”
“Not a problem. We’ll arrange staff to circulate with hors d’oeuvres and to bring cocktails.” Stanbury snapped his fingers, and I suspected his secretary was trailing after him taking notes. Being Stanbury’s secretary would be its own special level of hell. I would rather clean toilets with my tongue than have to spend my days saying, “Yes, sir, right away, sir,” to feed his ego.
“Is it possible to set up a screen? I’d like to have a slide show running during part of the event, some photos of Ava, but also of the children the foundation has been able to reunite with their families.”
“Brilliant idea,” Stanbury said. The only thing that he liked more than people kissing his ass was a chance for him to kiss the asses of the rich and powerful. “I’d be happy to assist you withorganizing the media if you like.” Stanbury gave a chuckle. “In my position, I’ve had a lot of experience.”
“I couldn’t ask you to be a media spokesman on top of your already massive duties,” Mr. Parker said with a flat voice. I would have high-fived him for giving the smack down to Mr. Stanbury except for the fact that I was hiding under a table. “The McKennas have provided me with clear directives on how they would like the media handled. As you might imagine, they would like to keep the focus on the positive action of the foundation, not on a sensationalist review of the loss of their daughter.”
“Of course not,” Mr. Stanbury said. “Would you like to take another look at the menu?”
“No. I was happy with the
Thomas pushed the pile of receipts on the table into a tidy stack. “Life isn’t what other people think of you; it’s what you get accomplished. Keeping this place running isn’t too shabby of a legacy.”
“The Keppler would fall down if it weren’t for you,” I agreed, getting up from the table.
Thomas waved me off. “Nah. It would keep standing. Now mind you, it wouldn’t run nearly as well.”
“Or be as fashionable,” I added.
Thomas threw his napkin at me. “Go on, get out of here. Go pick on someone else.”
I blew him a kiss and waved to the waitstaff as I left. Thomas might tell me to get out of here, but he had no idea how far I was willing to go to get off this island. I could only hope the information he gave me was going to help.
chapter eleven
I f the McKenna Foundation was going to do a big media event, then I was willing to bet they were planning to use the Arbutus Ballroom. It was the largest of the four, they could easily get three hundred people in there, and the floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over a cliff, so the views were amazing.
I peeked into the Arbutus room. The curtains were drawn and the lights were off. I could see there were stacks of chairs in the corner waiting to be set up, a few tables with tablecloths sprinkled around, and a pile of audio equipment at the front.
There was a sound behind me and I heard people coming up the stairs. “If you head this way, Mr. Parker, you can see the room.”
Shit! It was Mr. Stanbury, the general manager. If he saw me here, he was going to yell at me for being on the property.Not to mention, I didn’t want to meet Mr. Parker wearing a T-shirt and flip-flops. That probably wouldn’t make him want to spill his guts to me. I yanked up the tablecloth and dove under the closest table just before they came around the corner.
“We’ll set up the tables for the guests over here,” Stanbury said. I heard the screech of the curtains being pulled back. “Depending on the weather, we can open up all of these French doors and people can mingle on the patio as well. We typically suggest setting up at least two buffet and bar stations with a crowd this size.”
“The McKennas would prefer to use waitstaff versus having a buffet. They don’t want guests waiting in a line.”
“Not a problem. We’ll arrange staff to circulate with hors d’oeuvres and to bring cocktails.” Stanbury snapped his fingers, and I suspected his secretary was trailing after him taking notes. Being Stanbury’s secretary would be its own special level of hell. I would rather clean toilets with my tongue than have to spend my days saying, “Yes, sir, right away, sir,” to feed his ego.
“Is it possible to set up a screen? I’d like to have a slide show running during part of the event, some photos of Ava, but also of the children the foundation has been able to reunite with their families.”
“Brilliant idea,” Stanbury said. The only thing that he liked more than people kissing his ass was a chance for him to kiss the asses of the rich and powerful. “I’d be happy to assist you withorganizing the media if you like.” Stanbury gave a chuckle. “In my position, I’ve had a lot of experience.”
“I couldn’t ask you to be a media spokesman on top of your already massive duties,” Mr. Parker said with a flat voice. I would have high-fived him for giving the smack down to Mr. Stanbury except for the fact that I was hiding under a table. “The McKennas have provided me with clear directives on how they would like the media handled. As you might imagine, they would like to keep the focus on the positive action of the foundation, not on a sensationalist review of the loss of their daughter.”
“Of course not,” Mr. Stanbury said. “Would you like to take another look at the menu?”
“No. I was happy with the
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