“If you nail this, there’s a VP spot with your name on it. Now, get to work.”
“I will!”
When Wendy got in the office at nine, she made a beeline straight to Damita’s office and shut the door.
“Well, I hear congratulations are in order, you heifer!”
“You heard already?”
“You know the rumor mill around here. Not only that, Kevin Wilson is fighting mad that he’s not in the running for that VP spot or that Underhill didn’t think he was capable of getting Kushner and Sloate, especially since Kevin has been running screens and researching Kushner for years now.”
“Who hasn’t? Any investment banker worth their salt has had Kushner and Sloate on their radar for years. I’m sure we’re not the only firm that is trying to get their business.”
“Yeah, I know. I wanted to congratulate you and warn you that Kevin, and maybe even some other folks around here, might be less than cooperative given their resentment.”
“What about you? You still got my back?” Damita asked.
“Hell yeah, I got your back. You earned this. Before you got married and got in that car accident, you spent more hours in this place than you did at home. You deserve it.”
“But what about you? Didn’t you want it, too?” Damita asked.
“Our goals have always been different, Damita. We don’t want or need the same things. I told you. I’m good at what I do, but I don’t need this. I would be just as happy finding true love and being a portly housewife.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
“Yes, I would. I work because I have to, not because I love it. That’s the difference between you and me. That’s exactly why you deserve it. As far as Kevin Wilson, he doesn’t have the stuff. You do.”
“I most certainly hope you’re right.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Damita hit the ground running. She did her homework and was soon working eighty- to one-hundred-hour weeks once again. Not surprisingly, Neal hated it and was constantly in a bad mood, but he left her alone and that was fine with Damita.
“Hey, Dee.”
“Hey, chica.”
Carmella and Damita hadn’t been in contact much since Damita found out she was being considered for the VP spot at Underhill, Simpson and Whitehall. Her hours were long and her work so intensive, she seldom had time to talk on the phone while she was at the office and by the time she was home, she was too exhausted to do anything but sleep.
“I can’t wait until you get that damn Vice Presidency. I was afraid to call you today. I didn’t want you to be pissed off that I was interrupting your work. I miss your ass.”
“I would never be pissed off at you for interrupting my work. And, I miss you, too.”
“I’m so glad to hear that, because I’m going to use my influence, as your best friend, to try to get you out of that damn office.”
“Oh Carmella, I ca—”
“Before you say you can’t, I have to tell you, I’m calling you for more than social reasons. I saw something last week that I thought you should know about.”
“What? What is it?”
“I’d rather talk to you about it in person.”
“Okay. An hour is all I can do. Meet you at Fitzpatrick’s in an hour?”
“See you in an hour.”
Carmella greeted Damita with a hug. “You look pretty damn good for a woman who has been working eighty-hour work weeks.”
“Eighty? I’m up to one hundred hours.”
“That is crazy.”
“Crazy and well worth it,” Damita responded.
“It would have to be.”
“So what’s so important that it couldn’t be discussed over the phone?” Damita asked.
“Wow! What, no cocktail, no small talk?”
“If anyone ever comes over and asks what we want,” Damita commented impatiently.
Carmella motioned to one of the waiters and he came over.
“You ladies ready to order,” the tall, handsome young man asked.
Carmella eyed the waiter seductively. “Apple martini for me,” she said.
“I’ll have the same,” Damita said.
“Coming right up,” the waiter added, with a smile.
Damita laughed. “You are positively incorrigible. I can’t believe you; eyeing that jailbait.”
“He’s got to be legal or he wouldn’t be working here.”
“You hope.”
“Besides, you know I’ve never been able to resist a Brazilian man. They’re so damn sexy. I mean, look at that beautiful tanned skin,” Carmella said, as he returned with their drinks.
“Shhh,” Damita cautioned.
“I hope he does hear me. That’ll remove some of the footwork. Then he’ll know how hot I think he is.”