Free Monahan 01 Options by Rosemarie A D'Amico

caressed the monitor before I powered off. If I’m nice to the machine, maybe it’ll be running next time I need it.
    The office was quiet when I opened my door. On my way to Didrickson’s office, I glanced into the area where the secretaries and paralegals worked. No one in sight. The rats had definitely exited on time. Harold was on the phone when I stuck my head in his door so I waited until he finished. He’d be in the same position when I got in on Monday. Phone glued to his ear, pen in hand, writing furiously. The guy takes better shorthand than I do. I’m sure he takes down every word said to him over the phone. He keeps copious notes and heads up each one with the date, time and person he spoke to.
    Didrickson saw me standing there so he swivelled his chair. His back was to me and I overhead him say, “Okay Grace, I’ll let you know as soon as I speak with Chris. Right.” He swivelled back to face the desk and wrote something. “I’ll call you if I need you before Monday.” He hung up.
    “I’m outta here Harold. Have a good weekend.”
    “Okay Kate. If Vanessa’s at her desk let her know I’m still waiting to see Chris.”
    “He’s probably still in his meeting with Tom.” Harold’s eyebrows went up. He doesn’t ask how I know everything going on.
    “They’re meeting about the personnel changes for Marshton Systems,” I said.
    “Well, that won’t last long. Tom can’t concentrate more than half an hour at a time,” he said with a hint of a smile.
    Very good, I thought. The man’s getting some humour.
    “See you Monday,” I waved.
    I could see Philip Winston leaning up against the doorframe of Vee’s office as I turned the corner and headed down the hall. As I approached her office, I could see through the glass front that she was on the phone, furiously scribbling down information.
    “Philip, how’s it going?” I said.
    “Kathleen,” he said. At least this man got my name right. He stuck out his hand. The guy was so formal for someone so young. My mother would love him. I took a couple more steps and shook his hand. His aftershave filled my nostrils. God, I could chew this guy’s neck. He smelled so good. I mentally slapped myself. Boy toy, boy toy, I chanted under my breath. Problem was, he knew he smelled good and he knew he looked good. Tom James was going to have a resident rival. I looked up at Philip who was tall by my standards. He was slim and his suit hung on his body perfectly. No doubt about it, I thought, he didn’t shop at Wal-Mart. His tie matched the shirt, which matched the suit. I tried not to giggle as I wondered if his jockey shorts matched too. He didn’t have a hair out of place on his gorgeous head. Amazing how anyone can look this put together at the end of the day. Maybe he hair sprayed his whole body.
    He smiled at me and I noticed a dimple in his right cheek. After I finished chewing on his neck I was going for his bottom lip. I felt myself starting to blush and gave myself a mental cold shower.
    “Philip, who’re you trying to impress? It’s five-thirty. Go on home,” I urged. I said it like someone in charge. I’ve always believed that if you act like you’ve got authority, people will obey you. I tried this tact with all the new guys who got sucked in right away. Trouble was, most of them figure me out pretty quick and after a while they know I’m just joking. Philip on the other hand was still fair game.
    “I’ve got one more meeting for the day,” he replied. Obviously it was with Oakes or he wouldn’t be hanging around Vanessa’s office. Unless I interrupted him trying to put the make on her. If Tom James thought Rick Cox could make mincemeat of Philip Winston, wait until Vee got her hands on him. This woman had absolutely no time for men. Thanks to her ex and Chris Oakes, Vanessa was completely soured on the opposite sex.
    The door to Oakes’ office opened and we saw Tom James coming out. He stopped to button his suit jacket and