Playing With Fire (Sweet Redemption) Read Free

name she couldn’t remember at the moment.
    Still, she walked over to the group the secretary had just shared a laugh with.
    “What did you guys think of the meatballs?” Janet asked.
    Silence followed for a few awkward seconds.
    Then the group did what she suddenly realized they always did.
    “Not too fond of those,” a guy she remembered as Leroy said in a light tone.
    “Oh, I’m a vegetarian so I didn’t try those,” the secretary said with a bright smile.
    “Yeah, Brenda couldn’t eat most of what was here,” a girl with auburn hair said, and Janet was relieved she had mentioned the secretary’s name.
    She felt quite clearly they were all just obliging her, being nice as a result of her strong connections. They said the right things and smiled appropriately, but she felt no genuine warmth from them.
    But why would she? She never really had a reason to speak to them so they weren’t all that familiar with each other.
    Liz had always been all she needed. And her mother.
    All Janet was there for was to prove to her father she was a worthy heir anyway.
    “Hey Janet, your dad ditched us again tonight?” a voice behind her said, spinning her attention away from the grateful group who locked right back into their circle.
    “Oh hey Carl. My dad’s a busy man. We’ll see him at the Christmas party as usual—that’s all I can promise. He’s probably in China right now, working on a deal.”
    “I know that’s right,” Carl said before catching the eye of, then waving at someone else.
    He grabbed her arm.
    “Girl, I’ll catch you later. I’ve got things to see and people to do,” he said with a longing look at one of the new guys trying to look inconspicuous and failing, sipping his drink alone.
    “I didn’t hear that Carl.”
    Janet was never sure what to think of Carl. He seemed to always want to be her friend and treated her like they already were, but she didn’t trust him—didn’t trust most folks who tried to cozy up to her since it was probably an attempt to climb their way up. She had no interest in being used.
    Janet walked over to the drink table to pour herself some lemonade.
    “So we know we can at least find reception rooms together. This should work out.”
    The voice made Janet’s cup freeze on the way to her mouth.
    She turned.
    “Eric, right? Yes, I’m sure we’ll be able to work well together.”
    “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
    “I trust HR. Generally. I mean, you don’t quite look like a numbers guy but...”
    “And what does one look like?”
    “I don’t know...black-rimmed glasses, a pot belly...something like that.”
    His laugh thrilled her, so warm and genuine.
    She was glad she could bring some other kind of humor to their interactions beyond acting like a fool.
    “Well, for the record, you don’t look like a typical numbers person either.”
    Janet returned his soft smile.
    “So is this what you imagined in college or high school? Working in some stuffy building, attending lame receptions?” she asked him, relaxing.
    “Sort of. What about you? Fitting right into your father’s shoes?”
    Janet didn’t know why, but she immediately got angry. She knew he probably meant nothing by it but she couldn’t curb her feeling of offense.
    Then she realized she liked the feeling—anger made her feel more in control.
    “I’m very much my own woman thank you very much. Anyway, I appreciate the chit-chat. I’m sure we’ll learn a lot more about each other in the coming months—our childhood dreams and whatnot.”
    “I’m sure we will,” she heard him say as she walked off.
    As she headed toward the elevator, Janet wondered if her father, despite all that he’d built, still felt some level of discomfort in such situations, and if that was why he tended to stay away from most of the minor social functions. Perhaps they were alike in that way at least.
    No one is busy all the time , she thought as she performed her own disappearing act.
    ***
    Janet