“My lips are sealed.”
But Stephanie wondered if Jan was capable of keeping anything a secret. Her co-worker was much too friendly, and much too eager to see something develop between Stephanie and Jonas.
The day went smoothly although Stephanie was constantly on edge, expecting to hear from Jonas. Each time her phone rang, she felt certain it would be the company president, issuing a request to have her join him in his office. He didn’t call, and by five o’clock Stephanie felt both disappointed and frustrated. Jonas had said he’d talk to her on Monday, and she’d taken him at his word.
Jan, Toni, Maureen and Barbara sauntered in together at quitting time. “Well? What did he say?”
Stephanie glared at Jan, who quickly lowered her eyes. “I couldn’t help it,” she murmured, looking miserable. “Toni guessed, and I couldn’t lie.”
“You didn’t have any problem promising me your lips were sealed.”
“She had to tell us,” Maureen insisted. “It was our right. We’re the ones who got you into this.”
Stephanie straightened the papers on the corner of her desk. “I’m not sure I can find it in my heart to thank you. Jonas Lockwood has been a thorn in my side from the moment we met.”
“Perfect,” Barbara announced, her head bobbing once.
“Enough of that. We want to know what he had to say today.”
“Nothing.” Stephanie tried unsuccessfully to hide the disappointment in her voice.
“Nothing!” the others echoed.
“I haven’t seen him.”
“Why not?”
“Good grief, how am I to know?”
Toni paused, and pressed her forefinger to her temple. “You know, in mulling over the events of Saturday night, I don’t think it was necessarily such a bad thing that Jan’s friend was there with Stephanie. It lets Mr. Lockwood know that he’s got some competition.”
“It may be just enough to scare him off, though,” Barbara disagreed.
“Then he isn’t worth his salt as a hero.’’
“Would you four stop!” Stephanie demanded, waving her arms for emphasis. She returned her attention to Jan. “Are they always like this?”
Jan shrugged. “What are you going to do?”
Stephanie hadn’t given the matter very much thought. Jonas had said that he’d talk to her Monday, and several hours remained in the day. It could be that his intentions were to contact her at her apartment. Stephanie quickly dismissed the notion. He wouldn’t be back; she’d seen it in his eyes.
“Steph?”
She looked up to notice that all four of her co-workers were studying her expectantly.
“I’m going to his office,” she said, the announcement shocking her as much as it did the others. The upper floor belonged to Jonas and was well guarded by his secretary, Bertha Westheimer, who was reputed to have slain more than one persistent dragon.
Jan made an O with her thumb and index finger and shook her head. “Didn’t I tell you she was heroine material?”
“The perfect choice,” Maureen agreed.
The four of them followed Stephanie out of her office and to the elevator. Barbara pushed the button for her. Toni and Maureen stood behind her, rubbing her shoulders as though to prepare her for the coming confrontation. For a moment, Stephanie felt as if she was preparing for the heavyweight boxing championship of the world.
“Don’t take any guff from Old Stone Face.”
“Just remember to smile at Mr. Lockwood.”
“And it wouldn’t hurt to bat those baby blues a time or two.”
Armed with this excellent advice, Stephanie entered the waiting elevator. Jan gave her the thumbs-up sign just before the heavy metal doors closed.
Now that she was alone, Stephanie felt herself losing her nerve. She sighed and leaned against the back of the elevator. The others had lent her confidence, but standing alone in the chilly, dimly lit elevator gave her cause to doubt. If there had been any way of disappearing from a moving elevator, Stephanie would have been tempted to try it.
The doors opened, and Bertha Westheimer raised her eyes to frown at Stephanie’s approach. A pair of glasses were delicately balanced at the end of her nose. She was near forty, Stephanie guessed, tall and slender, with a narrow mouth. Just looking at the woman inspired fear.
“Do you have an appointment?” Bertha asked stiffly, giving Stephanie a look that was not at all welcoming.
Stephanie stepped off the elevator and thrust back her shoulders, prepared for this first encounter. “Mr. Lockwood asked to see me.” That was only a partial white lie.
“Your name, please?” With the eraser end of her pencil, Bertha flipped through the appointment schedule.
“Stephanie Coulter.”
“I don’t see your name down here, Ms. Coulter.”
“Then there must be some mistake.”
There was challenge in Bertha’s dark brown eyes. “I don’t make mistakes.”