Liz is smiling at me, no doubt interpreting the expression on my face to mean that I’m a lovesick puppy. “We’ll meet later to go through your lineup for next week before you take your week off.”
I was still very relieved that my request for time off for Laurie’s wedding so soon after my employment had been approved. All I had to do was conduct an interview and write an article about the rising star of the Barbadian literary scene during that one week, which wasn’t such a bad deal. I was already reading one of his books and it was excellent.
I start to say something back to Liz, but she’s looking at something outside the office. “Ms. Weyland is here,” she says in a hushed voice.
“Oh,” I don’t have time to add anything else before Liz is saying in a formal tone. “Good afternoon, Ms. Weyland.”
“Hello, Liz.” Gertrude Weyland’s familiar face appears at the door. She’s wearing a severe black dress, her black hair is up in a loose knot, her lips red and her face otherwise free of makeup, making her look years younger than her age. “How are you, Rachel?”
I haven’t seen her since that night with Jack at her apartment, and now my mind goes to what Landon said about finding out if she had anything to do with me getting this job. “I’m great,” I tell her. “Just settling in.”
“Good.” She gives me a small smile and starts to turn away.
“Ms. Weyland,” I say haltingly, making her stop. “May I have a moment?”
She looks at Liz, who gives me an encouraging smile before leaving. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” I say. “Yes, everything’s fine. I just… I applied for a job here more than two years ago. I was a little surprised to get the invitation for an interview.” I leave it as an open-ended question, watching her face.
“You surmised that I had something to do with it, and now you want to know why.”
“I suppose,” I say, feeling a little out of my depth. Her head is angled up, her eyes intent on mine. I try to read her expression, but it’s impossible to know what’s going through her mind.
“Let’s say I did,” she smiles a little. “What do you think were my reasons?”
I wonder how much she’s enjoying this. “I have no idea.”
“Do you always worry so much when you get the things you want?”
I stare at her, silent. I have no idea how to reply. Do I?
When I don’t say anything, she chuckles. “You signed an employment contract that protects you as much as it protects the Gilt Review. You obviously have nothing to worry about. So why are you bothered?”
“I’m not,” I deny. “I just wanted to know for sure.”
She smiles. “I will concede that after our conversation the other night, I was impressed. Add that to the fact that you actually want to work here...” She shrugs.
So she had something to do with it. “Well… Thank you for the opportunity.”
She makes a bored face and starts to leave, then stops herself. “You know that Jack is leaving Gilt?”
“I heard,” I say noncommittally. I don’t know how much she knows about my prior relationship with her son, and I don’t want to make it a subject.
“There goes my grand plan of moving across an ocean to be closer to him.” She sighs. “Like all grand plans.” For an instant, her face softens, and I’m actually sad for her and Jack, and the lack of communication that makes it so hard for them to have a real relationship.
“Well. Enjoy your week in Barbados, and make sure you come back with an excellent article,” She arches a brow, and I find myself thinking of Jessica Layner, and how alike they are. “Okay?”
“Yes,” I smile back. “Of course.”
AFTER Gertrude leaves me alone, I spend a few moments deep in thought, feeling some sympathy for her, and also for Jack. But ultimately, it’s none of my business, and now that I’ve got my anxiety about her motives out of my mind, I can concentrate on my job.
I spend the next few hours arranging my desk and personalizing the office. There’s a frame on my desk with a picture of me with my family, and another one of Landon and me. Laurie sent me a Doctor Seuss clock for the wall, which is cute and funny at the same time.
In the evening, I leave work early to get ready to go out to dinner with Landon and the Hayes. They are staying at the Swanson Court, but because of their full social schedule for the few days they’re in town, we decide to meet at the restaurant instead of driving over together.
Landon arrives when I’m almost ready, dropping a kiss on my cheek before changing quickly into an evening suit.
“Look at you all sexy,” I tell him when he comes to help me zip up my dress. He looks superb and he smells heavenly. “I don’t know how you expect a girl to function when you look like a fantasy all the time.”