Free Working It by Cathy Yardley Page A

think it’ll be better if you don’t sit in on this meeting.”
    Her eyes snapped with fire. “You might’ve mentioned this in the car,” she said. Her voice sounded perfectly calm, that smooth, smoky alto that he’d been drawn to since the first time she spoke to him in hisoffice. “Then you could have left the radio on and cracked a window for me so I got enough air!”
    â€œListen, Jade, you work for me, remember?”
    â€œI’m supposed to work with you,” she retorted. “And I—”
    â€œDrew!” A voice interrupted them. “It’s been too long.”
    Drew turned with relief to see the Hispanic man walking through the door. Alejandro Martinez might have aged, but he still moved like a young man—energetically. “Alejandro. It’s been way too long.” He gave Alejandro the handshake-half-hug that men had perfected since the advent of football.
    â€œWe’ve wondered how you’ve been,” Alejandro said. “I figured you were too busy, taking over at Robson Steel. How is it going?”
    â€œWe’re managing,” Drew said. “It’s been tough, no question, but we’ll get through it. It’ll just take some hard work.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Alejandro said, noticing Jade. “Who’s this, Drew? I didn’t mean to be rude.”
    Jade’s smile was like a sunrise. “I’m Jade Morrow. I’m a, uh, business student. Mr. Robson’s letting me tag along to learn about the business. Sales calls, especially.”
    Alejandro looked at her intently, then looked at Drew. “How altruistic.”
    Drew felt himself flush a little, like a little kid caught scaling the refrigerator. “Yes, well, Jade’s really incredible. She wants to learn everything there is to learn about the business, you know?”
    Suddenly he had a flash of brilliance. “I was wondering…do you think someone could take her on a short tour of the plant?”
    Jade’s full mouth set in a grim line. “I’m sure that would be fascinating,” Jade countered, “but I thought it’d be more educational to sit in on the sales call…”
    â€œIt’s hardly a sales call. It will just be two friends catching up,” Alejandro said, and Drew felt a wave of relief. “Rosa? Could you give Ms. Morrow a quick tour?”
    Rosa smiled. “Sure, Tio. Ms. Morrow, follow me. Hopefully I’ll be able to answer any questions you have.”
    Stymied, Jade sent one last caustic look at Drew. “Thanks, Rosa. That’s very nice of you.” She looked at Alejandro. “And it was very nice meeting you.”
    â€œLikewise,” he responded. Drew watched as Rosa escorted Jade out of the room. “Wow. That is a whole lot of woman you’ve hired there, Drew.”
    Drew shook his head. “You have no idea.”
    Drew followed Alejandro into his office. It was small and an utter mess. Drew grinned. “Nothing’s changed since the last time I was here.”
    â€œWe’re that kind of business,” Alejandro said with a casual shrug.
    â€œWe’ve been doing business together for a long time,” Drew said, sitting down. “I’m glad that Robson Steel’s been able to count on Martinez Motors, and I hope you’ve been able to count on us, too.”
    Alejandro sat in his seat with a heavy sigh. “I think I know where you’re going with this, Drew.”
    â€œI figured we’d get the sales order out of the way, and then we could catch up, maybe go for a little dinner. The whole family.”
    â€œDrew…I can’t.”
    â€œWell,” Drew amended, “we don’t have to do dinner…”
    â€œNo. I can’t put in an order for next year with Robson Steel.”
    Drew stopped. “Pardon?”
    Alejandro fidgeted with a small piece of machinery that was being used as a