Page 30 (1/2)

Then he opens his mouth, and I see his color return "Yeah," he says "You’reAt least now it’s out in the open "Me? You ether? Is that what you call it?"

"At theat all"

"We’re not working together," he says,boss now"

"Yeah," I say "I aest you think before you talk to uy’s problem?

"This was supposed to be e since day one I know it inside and out And I’ve proven to Bruce over and over again that I can head up a teaed little bitch decides she wants to work for pin money, and suddenly I’m booted back downstairs"

"Pinin?"

"What’s the ht you’d cos up? Do you kno many calls Cindy’s had to field? Dozens of calls from reporters who just want to know if you really work here It’s a fucking waste of her time"

The tempo of e How the hell would the press know that I work here? And on’t they back the hell off? Even with Da

On the upside, Tanner’s enigmatic "flavor of the month" comment makes more sense

"And you knohat really chapsfor an answer "The fact that you’re here just because the boss wants toI haven’t got a clue what Giselle has to do with this, but at this point, I’aain, then turn back to him once it lurches into motion "This job requires a certain amount of finesse An ability to communicate with clients and the public Andat people that you’d htest Social Nikki smile at him "Tanner," I say "I don’t think this position is for you"

We reach the lobby, and the doors open I step out, leaving hie here, and he can da he’s just said, but I know enough to know that if I don’t take control now, he’ll do whatever he can to snatch it froh the lobby toward the exit, I see a poised-looking Asian wo what looks to be a stock report, and in the brief instant when she flips a page, her eyes lift and catchin her poised, confident ot it on merit, not because of Dae here, and I’ to prove it

I h the doors--and half a second later, ht, shiny bubble of self-assurance pops as six paparazzi with flashing ca voices rush toward us fro lot

Before I can even think about reacting, I a to take over Innovative Resources?"

"Nikki, what exactly is your role at IR?"

I fight to keep my composure To keep my Business Nikki face plastered on I hate this, but I’ it