Read Online The Sinister Touch by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page A

wanting to hurt Carla’s feelings. But damn it, she told herself, it was time Carla was out on her own again. Besides, Guinevere wanted her office back, even if she might not run it quite as efficiently as Carla did. “You know I’ve been extremely grateful for all the work you’ve done. It’s just that now you have everything down to such an efficient routine that I’m beginning to feel like an unnecessary accessory around my own office. It’s time you took on a new challenge, Carla.” She waved a hand around the room, indicating the sum total of Camelot Services’ headquarters. “This place is just too small for you. You’re trained for bigger and more exciting things. You’re too skilled, too much of a professional, to continue working here as a clerk.”
    Carla’s mouth trembled a little. “I’m not sure, Gwen. I just don’t know.”
    “What I need is part-time clerical assistance,” Guinevere said gently. “Hiring a skilled executive secretary such as you to work here is like hiring a Thoroughbred race horse to pull a wagon. I’ve got a dozen people in my files who can handle the clerical work required by Camelot Services. You should be out earning big money and managing an executive office. Carla, you mustn’t let that incident at StarrTech keep you from going back to the kind of work you were trained to do.”
    Carla’s beautiful eyes were wary and wistful. “I know, Gwen. It’s just that I’ve felt, well, safe here.”
    “I realize that. But you’re also getting bored here. You were born to organize someone or something.”
    “You don’t get bored here,” Carla pointed out.
    “I own the place. It may be humble, but it’s mine.” Guinevere smiled. “It makes a difference, you know.”
    Carla sighed. “All right, I can take a hint. I’ll start keeping an eye out for another position.”
    Instantly Guinevere was stricken with guilt. “There’s no rush, you know. We can watch for something interesting that might come through Camelot Services. Lots of times people ask for short-term, temporary secretaries whom they then wind up hiring as permanent staff.”
    Carla’s insipient depression disintegrated beneath a wave of humor. “I know. And you chew nails every time it happens.”
    Guinevere was pleased to see how quickly her sister had thrown off her bad mood. A few months ago such a mood might have settled on Carla for a full day or more. Her sister really was back to normal, and it was time she went back to the kind of work she liked. “Well, it is a little irritating to have some of my best temps stolen, but I guess it goes with the territory. Besides, it’s good advertising in a way. The people who get full-time jobs tell others how they landed them through Camelot Services, and the new employers are impressed with the quality of the people we send them. You have to look on the positive side.”
    “I’m glad you’re feeling so positive and philosophical this morning, because Bonny Hatcher’s husband just phoned to say Bonny went into labor last night and had her baby at three this morning.”
    Guinevere stared at her. “But she wasn’t due for another couple of weeks!”
    “These things happen, Gwen. Healthy baby girl. Seven pounds, two ounces.”
    “Good grief. Zac was right?”
    “About the sudden onslaught of baby making?”
    Guinevere nodded dolefully. “It’s scary, isn’t it? Everyone is either talking about babies or having them. And you read all the time about how well all those new fertility clinics are doing. It’s the latest fad among educated, successful women. Biological clocks. Probably just a craze, but when it’s all over, there are going to be a lot of kids running around.”
    “Oh, my God,” Carla breathed. “You are really starting to worry about this, aren’t you?”
    “My imagination has been running riot a lot lately.” Guinevere pulled a stack of folders toward her as she sat down at her desk. “But business comes first.”
    “Wait a