Free Minerva's Ghost by Danielle Elise Girard Page B

was hard, even perilous to ignore Doris’ ‘feelings’, which were both mysterious and accurate. Minnie usually took Doris’ advice about people.
     
    “Oh, Amanda, honey, how are you holding up?” Doris had her enfolded in a perfumed hug the minute she saw them.
     
    Amanda got a big, painful lump in her throat and tears in her eyes before she knew what was happening. “I’m O.K., but I miss her” Amanda squeaked.
     
    “Minnie has some tasks for you, Amanda. People have been up to stuff and this studly young fella is going to help you find your way.” She reached for Gabe and did a good job of squeezing the stuffing out of him while keeping Amanda in a group hug. Gabe found it impossible not to participate in the emotional moment. As a big man he just wasn’t accustomed to a woman being big enough to nearly look him in the eye.
     
    Doris let go before anyone else got panicky. In high heels she was over six feet of curly blond hair and huge boobs, pretty intimidating, actually. She found a fresh tissue in the pocket of her lavender silk jacket and handed it to Amanda.
     
    “They’re all in there. They’ve got plans, and you know what to do. How’s your sister, Gabe?”
     
    “Erin’s fine, Doris. Thanks for asking.” Gabe had only met her once. The woman truly was miraculous.
     
    “I met your parents years ago at church. Warren and Ann are fine people. Are they doing well?”
     
    “Yes, Ma’am. He’s retired and they are living at Lake Martin, fishing most days and making wood working projects. Mama paints them. They both seem happy.”
     
    “Good, good. I’m glad to hear it. Y’all go on in and I’ll have coffee and tea served.” She sent them off, having issued her instructions and extracted information with painless efficiency. Gabe reflected she was a better interrogator than anyone trained by the military.
     
    “Are you ready?” Gabe asked Amanda.
     
    She nodded yes and led the way into the conference room.
     
    John Wilder greeted them first, partly because he was standing next to the door, while Justin and Martha huddled in the back corner of the room, making Amanda even more suspicious of them than she had been. The sales managers were having an animated conversation that Amanda knew was probably personal. The women had been college classmates and friends for years.
     
    Amanda spoke to everyone and introduced each person to Gabe. He managed to interrogate them almost as masterfully as Doris could. After a social interlude Amanda asked them all to be seated.
     
    “As you know Minnie has given me the task of carrying on with the company and hired Gabe to help me in the transition. Minnie wants us to stick with her plans and goals and that is my intention also.” 
     
    Martha spoke up. “Justin has some plans and ideas to take the business public and control costs and enhance profitability.”
     
    “Minnie wished that the business remain a private company.” Amanda said. “I have no plans to take it public or to dilute the stock.”
     
    “This is something I don’t believe you are equipped to understand.” Martha said. She was starting to piss Amanda off.
     
    “Justin has the education and experience to handle this for you,” the woman continued.
     
    “I think you should let him take a leadership role running the company since Minnie is gone. He’s already met with investment bankers and begun the process. It’s already rolling and I think he’s done a great job. It’s time we had some new ideas.” Martha gave an oblique, oddly flirtatious look toward Justin. He preened like a peacock. Amanda had never before seen Martha flirt with a man. She had always been a rabid feminist. The incongruity distracted her momentarily and she glanced at Gabe to see if he was noticing. He took the hint.
     
    “I think you’ve done some things that the owners of the company did not authorize you to do.” Gabe said his piece and then went completely silent while he looked at