the remote and mutes the broadcast. "Here we go again, God, does it never end?"
David throws his Chinese food in the garbage can that Dana brought out to clear the table. "That's just great, I leave for South Korea in two days, and I will probably spend a full day of the seven days in airports. So much for Adriana's great planning."
Dana looks at him. "What do you mean, Adriana's great planning?"
David realizes he started something. "She put together all of the itinerary, ground transportation and my presentation format for the Kiatsu account and had every detail handled. It was flawless."
Dana senses his high regard for her work. "Boy, I have to meet this new personal assistant of yours, since the only thing I know about her is that every time I call she sounds like a cat with her ass up against a tree. I thought Betty Reynolds handled all of the company travel stuff?" He looks at his girl, trying to minimize his comment.
"Come on, Dana, she's the new girl at the firm. She is trying to make an impression and has been kicking ass since she got there, and she has made my job a lot easier."
Dana clears the table in a huff.
"You know I needed help. Shit, you're the one who complained that they should get me a personal assistant so that I could have a life."
Dana sits down on the couch, crossing her legs like a whip snapping, to demand David's attention.
"How old is this chick that has enriched your life so much?"
David looks at her knowing where this is going, "Jesus, Dana, she is in her late twenties I guess. Let's not do this."
Dana knows that she will get nowhere if she goes too deep.
"I'm sorry. I got a little weird when I hear you praising her plans for you. I will try to get used to you having another woman in your life that attends to your every need at the agency."
She continues to placate him putting on her cute voice, "I am human you know, I just have one question and then I'll drop it."
David answers, "What's that?"
Dana looks him straight into his eyes. "Is she hot?"
David's head falls with his chin to his chest. He shakes his head knowing he is not getting laid tonight. "Most would say she is hot. I did not interview her. Marci recruited her from PBS for her language skills, and she was assigned to me by human resources."
Dana tries to keep a calm face and maintains her insecurity regarding this chick. "Well then, I guess the well qualified Miss Adriana Pucci is no dog. Thank you for being honest with me." Dana gets up from the couch. "I have to do dishes and clean up." She tosses the remainder of the food in the trashcan, and quietly walks into the kitchen carrying the can.
David sits there staring at the muted television and rubs his face with both hands, disgusted where the evening has evolved to. David hits the remote to shut off the flat screen.
He walks to the door of the kitchen, watching Dana process dishes as if she is on a mission.
"I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. Are you coming?"
She shoots him her "Can't you see I'm busy look" with no verbal response. He rolls his eyes and walks on down the hall with his head tilted upward in frustration as he scratches his ass and turns off the hall light. He disappears into the master bedroom.
Dana comes out of the kitchen with a hand towel and hears the shower running. She heads over to the computer, sits down, and logs on.
Her home page comes up and she types in "Adriana Pucci Denver Colorado" in the Google search window.
The results pop up and Dana begins to scroll,
"Honor Student Lands PBS Post"
"GRADUATE BOULDER UNIVERSITY" "MAGNA CUM LAUDE"
"BOULDER UNIVERSITY CHEERLEADER GRADUATES WITH HONORS"
Dana clicks on the cheerleader post and three photos pop up of the dark-haired, dark-eyed Italian bombshell.
Dana's fear is validated. She reviews the photos of Adriana Pucci. She bites her bottom lip as she thinks, and this chick is dangerously gorgeous. She clicks on the PBS post to see if she can find a more up-to-date photo.
The
Michael Cunningham
Janet Eckford
Jackie Ivie
Cynthia Hickey
Anne Perry
A. D. Elliott
Author's Note
Leslie Gilbert Elman
Becky Riker
Roxanne Rustand