“So now you’re a player? Tuesday night with Steven Gherring and Friday night with this Henri guy? I mean, not that I blame you.”
“No, no, no! It’s not like that at all. I was never with Gherring. We were at the same play but we didn’t go together. We went together, but we weren’t together- together. We didn’t even sit together in the first half. They just took that picture that made it look like we were together.”
“Yeah, right.” Disbelief was written all over her face.
“I mean, really. You know Steven Gherring wouldn’t actually go out with his hick PA from Texas.”
“This Henri guy from France didn’t seem to mind you were a hick PA from Texas.”
“Henri has less discriminating taste, I think. He’s probably dated half of the women in New York.”
“So you didn’t actually go out with Steven Gherring?”
“No, I didn’t. He really doesn’t date much at all. And I think he spends too much time alone. I’ve decided to find someone for him.”
“You’re going to find a girl for Steven Gherring?” Ellen stuck her hand up. “I volunteer.”
“Actually, that’s not such a bad idea.”
Ellen giggled. “I’ll agree to date Steven Gherring as soon as he asks me out or as soon as hell freezes over, whichever one comes first.”
Anne arrived at the office early on Monday, determined to be impressive in her work ethic, just in case Steven Gherring had seen the social column. She’d hate to lose her job over a bit of gossip. Perhaps if she worked really hard, he’d forgive her the embarrassment she’d caused him. He arrived shortly afterward, when she was already engrossed in her work.
“Good morning, Ms. Best,” Gherring swept past her desk. Anne returned the greeting, anxious to assess his mood, but Gherring disappeared into his office without another word. Anne fretted all morning, but he never reappeared. He hadn’t mentioned the first picture from Wednesday’s post, so perhaps he wasn’t the type who followed social media. Maybe she was worrying about nothing.
“And who are you?”
Anne looked up in surprise at the diminutive, white-haired woman with the piercing blue eyes who stood on the other side of the desk, examining her with a stern expression. Anne recognized Gherring’s grandmother from the picture on his desk, but she was intimidating in person. Anne found her mouth too dry to get any words out.
“Speak up, girl! I’m a bit deaf.”
“I’m just Anne.” Her voice came out raspy. She swallowed and raised her voice. “I’m Mr. Gherring’s PA.”
“No need to yell, honey. Do you want to wake the dead?”
“What? No. I mean, no ma’am.” Anne felt like she was back in elementary school, being scolded by her teacher.
“PA?”
“Personal Assistant. I take care of anything he needs done.”
“And do you always do what he says to do?”
“Most of the time. Except when he doesn’t know what’s good for him.”
Did I say that out loud?
A furrow appeared between her thick white eyebrows.
“Mrs. Gherring, please don’t tell him I said that.” Anne stood up, pleading words gushing out. “He’ll fire me for sure. I’m just here on a three-month trial. I really do respect him. I promise I do. I don’t know why I said that.”
The office doors opened and Steven Gherring appeared. A stone dropped into the pit of Anne’s belly. It was too late.
“Gram!” Steven exclaimed with more enthusiasm than Anne had ever observed from the prim and proper businessman. “I didn’t know you were coming. Why didn’t you tell me when we talked last night?”
“It was a last-minute decision.” Gram returned the vigorous hug to her grandson who stooped to greet her. “I decided I needed to check up on you.”
Gherring’s eyes crinkled in a smile. “Really? You’re here on a spy mission?”