Breath of Scandal(89)

After reading the article several times, a plan began to form in Jade's mind. At the time, she was working for a company headquartered in Atlanta, but she knew where she wanted to go next. That evening, she had placed a longdistance call to New York City.

"Hank? Hi. It's Jade."

"Hey, what's up? How are you? How's Graham?" "Growing like a weed. One of these days he'll be as tall as you."

"Is Cathy okay?"

"She's fine. As invaluable to me as ever."

Following Jade's encounter with Lamar Griffith at Mitch's funeral, she had had a solemn and frank talk with Hank. She told him that, in spite of the psychotherapy she had undergone, she could not engage in a physical relationship. At the risk of sacrificing his friendship, she wanted, him fully to understand that it would remain platonic.

Encouraged by the kiss they had shared that morning, he was initially dismayed, then angry, over Jade's sudden reversal. He stormed out; Jade didn't see him for months. Then one evening he unexpectedly showed up at the house as though nothing had happened. Their friendship resumed where it had left off. By way of explanation, he had simply said, "I'd rather be your friend than nothing."

As she moved from city to city and job to job, she and Hank stayed in close contact, writing and calling each other frequently. Consequently, he wasn't surprised to hear from her when she called him in New York, where he had moved as soon as he'd received his degree in art and design.

Once they had caught up on personal news, she asked, "Didn't you do some work for GSS at one time?"



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Sandra Brown

"Last year. There was an article about them in the Journal today. "

"That's what sparked my memory."

"I was commissioned to redesign their corporate offices, " he told her. "I figured they needed a hefty tax writeoff. The bid I submitted was so capitalistically inspired that even I was ashamed to ask that much."

"I doubt that."

He laughed. "Anyway, they went for it."

Hank had done very well for himself. After working with a commercial decorating firm for a few years he had gone out on his own, taking most of his clients with him. Their references had provided him with a solid and lucrative client base. Now, he designed interiors for new commercial buildings or existing ones under renovation. By delegating most of the dirty work to his two apprentices, he enjoyed creative leisure time, most of which he spent painting.

"As a company, how is GSS to work for?"

"Old man Stein-George is his first name-runs the place with an iron fist. Everybody is scared to death of him. "

"Did you meet him personally?"

"Naturally. We consulted on my designs to see if the) were compatible with his idea of a productive work environment. Later, he became a real fan of my art. Forgive my immodesty."

Jade wrestled with indecision. She hesitated to ask Hank for this particular favor. So far she hadn't involved anyone else in her quest for retribution. Even Cathy, who knew about the rape and its appalling consequences, thought that Jade's orchestrated career advancements were simply that. She didn't know Jade's ulterior motive.

Hank would grant any favor she asked, but she hated to exploit him. On the other hand, he wouldn't be affected by the outcome. Rather than using a friend, she was simply taking advantage of a unique opportunity.

"Hank, could you get me an introduction?"

"To George Stein?" he asked, obviously surprised.

Breath of Scandal



249

"If he's the one everybody's scared of, he's the one I need to talk to."

"Can I ask why?"

"I want to work for them."

"You mean here in New York? God, I'd love having j'all up here, but I'd better warn you, they sure talk fast. You can't find a fried catfish that's fit to eat anywhere in this town, and, compared to George Stein, Leona Helmsley is Miss Congeniality."

"I'm fully aware of the drawbacks, but it's time I started playing hardball with the big boys."

-GSS has a personnel department for each of its companies. Why not go through normal channels?"

"How many people apply for a job every day? My resumd looks good, but it could be months before it's even reviewed. Besides, I want to go in at the top, not middle management. "

Hank whistled through his teeth. "Couldn't you have started out with a smaller favor, something like asking me to scale the Empire State Building naked at high noon?"

"I know it's asking a lot, Hank. If you can't arrange it, I'll understand. "

"Did I say I couldn't? It's just that George is a crotchety old man who has to be stroked just right or you've blown it. Give me a couple of days to think of an angle."

"I'd rather meet him in a friendly, relaxed environment, somewhere away from his phalanx of subordinates. Can you swing that?"

Hank came through for her. He invited Mr. Stein to his studio to see a painting he had just completed. He baited the elderly man by telling him that the contemporary piece would look fantastic behind his desk.

Jade was waiting at Hank's Soho loft when Stein's chauffeur dropped him there. She was introduced as an out-oftown friend. Stein fell in love with the painting, haggled with Hank over a price, and purchased it for his office, which left him in a favorable mood.