Free Gamer Girl by Carmen Willow Page B

that I didn’t want to be a shrink. A friend suggested that, since I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, I might think about getting a stop-gap career. A paralegal certificate didn’t require a single math class, so I went for it. So, what did you want to do with art history?”
    Nicole put down her fork. “A nything I could. I love art. I draw, I paint, but I also love where art comes from, how it affects us and our culture.”
    S arah wiped her mouth. “Do you have a portfolio? I’d love to see your work.”
    Nicole’s blue eyes sparkled. “Sure, I’ll bring some tomorrow.”
    “Thursday would be better. I’ ll be over at Rainwhite all day tomorrow,” Sarah said, “but don’t forget. I really want to see what you do.”
    “Sure thing.”
    As Sarah and Nicole left the cafeteria, Bill Edgar the head of programming who was sitting with Martin watched Sarah leave the room. Martin watched him watch her.
    “Whoa, who the hell is that gorgeous thing?”
    “Eamon’s new project manager, Sarah Adams. He brought her over from Rainwhite to help facilitate the transition.”
    “Well, she can facilitate my transmission!”
    “I said—”
    “Yeah, I know what you said.” Bill turned back around. “Eamon certainly has good taste.”
    “Yeah, well—”
    “If you are about to warn me to keep my hands off, Martin, there’s no need. I may be horny, but I am not stupid.”
    “Good,” Martin replied drily, “I was beginning to have my doubts.”
    “Yep, hands off, but I don’t guarantee I won’t look.”
    “Yeah, well, we all look.” Martin sighed and turned his attention to his meal once more.
    Back on the eighth floor, Sarah received an email from Eamon with instructions to send flowers to a woman. She went into his address book and pulled up her name. There alongside the picture of a gorgeous girl was a complete dossier: Name, date of birth, horoscope sign, marital status, home address, work address, phones, Facebook, Twitter, favorite color, favorite perfume, favorite flowers, etc. etc. She was shocked and disappointed to see that the woman was married. You see? You don’t know him at all! Sarah sent the flowers. Curious, she looked her own name up in the database. She wasn’t even listed.
    Just before five, Eamon asked her to step into his office. He looked up from his work when she got about half way into the room. “Did you send those flowers to Danielle?”
    “Yes. White lilies and pink roses. The card read as you instructed.” Sarah kept he r voice level and revealing nothing of what she felt.
    Eamon let her stand there a moment to see if her demeanor would change. It did not. She was the p erfect professional. “Thank you. Have a good evening, Miss Adams.”
    “You too, sir.” Sarah left the room.
    Sarah went back to her desk and sent out emails to the Rainwhite employees. They would be allowed back into the ir building in the morning to move to Gryphon World, Inc. Sarah set up a meeting schedule for each employee to take place over the next two weeks, and then she went home.

Chapter 9
    The next morning, Sarah dressed in boot cut jeans, a dark green wool sweater and sensible boots and toned down the hair and makeup for the interviews. She put on coffee and set out the donuts and bagels she’d picked on her way into the office, and then packed her own things for the move.
    At their scheduled times, Sarah escorted each employee to the conference room. Before the meeting, Sarah requested that each of the writers and artists bring in samples of their work for her to evaluate. She had the programmers bring in numbered samples for someone from Gryphon World to review anonymously. With each and every person she interviewed that day, she did her best to get an understanding of what they did, how they did it and how they liked their jobs. A few people told her that they had accepted other jobs and were giving notice, but most either were too frightened to tell her or were undecided.