“I’m fine. Everything’s fine,” Judith said hastily.
Margo gave a curt nod and left. Judith’s wide shoulders
relaxed. She stiffened again when she heard someone else
enter the kitchen. To her relief, it was Renie.
“Thank heavens!” Judith cried. “I’ve just been visited by
two of the three witches.”
“Which ones?” Renie asked. “By my count there’re four.”
Judith winced. “Are all the women who work for this outfit
like Ms. Weiss and Ms. Chang?”
Renie’s round face grew thoughtful. “I’m not sure. By
chance, I’ve dealt mostly with those two. You have to realize,
coz, that I don’t know most of these people very well myself.
I’ve only done a handful of smaller projects until now.”
“But you’ve actually worked with the ones I just met?” Judith was aghast.
Renie nodded as she surveyed her cousin’s handiwork in
the kitchen. “I’m used to it. You have to remember that all
these executive types must be fairly tough to get to the top.
The women have to be even tougher.”
Judith, who was slicing kiwi, looked a bit puzzled. “But
Whatshername—Weiss, right?—isn’t a vice president or an
officer. Or is she?”
“That’s the problem,” Renie said, leaning against the
marble countertop. “She feels she should be. As administrative assistant, she wields a lot of power, but she doesn’t get
the same perks or the big salary. In the last few years that
I’ve dealt with Nadia and the p.r. v.p., Margo, I haven’t seen
any love lost between them. Nor with Andrea and Ava, if it
comes to that.”
“Andrea and Ava? They sound like a dance team.” Judith
tried to visualize the list Renie had given her. “Which ones
are they?”
Renie smiled indulgently. “Ava Aunuu is vice president–information technology services. Andrea Piccoloni-Roth is vice
president–human resources, which used to be
known as personnel. I’ve never understood the name change
in a world that keeps dehumanizing people.”
A quick glance at the digital clock on the stainless-steel
range told Judith that it was 12:25. “I’d better start serving
the food. When are you going to eat?”
Renie shrugged. “Later. I don’t like to make presentations
on a full stomach.”
Judith started to say,
began dishing the fresh fruit onto heavy brown earthenware
plates. “I’m surprised they didn’t ask for a buffet.”
“Everything else will be buffet,” Renie said, rummaging in
her big purse. “Since you’re here only for one meal, they
decided they’d like it to be a sit-down event.” Renie took out
a package of cigarettes and lighted up.
“Coz!” Judith almost dropped a crepe.
