Who didn’t want to go to a doctor who utilized cutting edge technology to increase a woman’s comfort during an exam no woman enjoyed? Her waitlist for new patients was extensive. Healthcare tools for women, by women. She was a pioneer in the industry and her life story was worthy of a book of its own.
Although not a children’s book.
Joanna and Aly were two of the most intelligent, grounded woman Angelina knew and that was why she was anxious to hear their opinion of her week. Angelina put her coffee cup down on the counter and said, “Okay, I’ll just jump in. Do you remember I told you Connor Sutton was coming to speak to the drama department at Reemsly?”
Joanna perked up. “How could we forget? Is he as good-looking in person as he was in the movie? Even if he isn’t, just lie to me. Leave me with my fantasy.”
“He’s even better in person,” Angelina said, her cheeks warming at the memory of just how good it had felt to be near him. A simple memory shouldn’t have the power to set her heart racing, but it did.
Aly laughed. “Wow, you liked him. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you get flustered over a man.”
Trying to downplay her reaction, Joanna said, “I don’t meet many movie stars.”
Aly’s eyes narrowed with skepticism. “All of a sudden you’re impressed by celebrity status?”
Angelina hopped up on the counter and looked skyward as she admitted, “He was hot, okay? I’m talking about the kind of hot that is dangerous. I have too much I’m responsible for to have sex with a guy who is probably with a different woman every week.”
“Whoa,” Joanna said in amusement. “You turned down sex with Connor Sutton? Aly, you need to check if her bits and pieces are faulty. If he’d asked me it would have been a yes, wrapped in a yes, with a side of hell yes.”
Shaking her head, Angelina said, “I’m serious.”
“So am I,” Joanna insisted. “I have watched his movie five . . . maybe twelve times. Oh my God, that scene of him in just a towel. I would have pulled it off with my teeth.”
Angelina turned to Aly. “What do you think she needs? Therapy? More batteries?”
Aly shrugged, but a smile stretched her lips. “Did you really turn down Connor Sutton? I don’t know that I could have. I believe in carefully choosing sexual partners, but an opportunity like that? Oh, sweetie, did you at least get his number?”
I should have started this conversation with how I’m currently unemployed. This is ridiculous.
“I just mentioned him because meeting him kicked off what is turning out to be one crazy week.”
“Crazier than turning down that beefcake?” Joanna asked.
“It doesn’t get crazier than that,” Aly added.
Angelina clapped her hands to get their attention. “Focus. I need my two clearheaded friends to help me decide what to do.”
“I thought we were being clear,” Aly joked.
“Crystal,” Joanna said with a laugh as she high-fived Aly.
“I was fired from Reemsly,” Angelina said in a frustrated tone.
“Oh,” Aly and Joanna said in unison as all humor left their faces.
“How? Why?” Joanna asked.
There was no way to explain it without walking them through the whole week. She started with meeting Connor, thinking there might be a spark, offending him, then how moving his speech to the soccer team had been. She quickly shared what she’d overheard Mr. Svete saying to Mrs. Tellier and how she’d been unable to turn a blind eye to it. Her subsequent termination. Whitney’s expulsion. Mr. Svete’s threats.
“He can’t do that,” Joanna said in outrage.
Aly made a pained face. “He shouldn’t be able to, but I’m glad you removed Whitney from that situation.”
“Poor Mrs. Tellier,” Joanna said with a shake of her head. “I hope she quits. She’s too old to put up with that ass.”
“She gave her notice.” Angelina jumped off the counter. “This is where things start getting strange. I spoke to her two days ago and she said she’s accepted a job offer from Connor Sutton. An offer that was delivered by his bodyguard. She starts at his office in New York in a few weeks, but her signing bonus was enough to pay off her daughter’s college loans in full. In full. Who does that?”
“A man you definitely should have fucked,” Joanna said wistfully.
“He didn’t technically ask me out.” It wasn’t easy to admit that.
“Ah, now this all makes sense.” Aly exchanged a look with Joanna.
“I would have said no even if he had.”
Joanna hid her face in her coffee.
Aly gave Angelina’s arm a pat. “You don’t have to explain. He didn’t ask either of us out, either. You’ve got nothing to prove. Lucky Mrs. Tellier. She definitely landed a job with a view.”
“You don’t think it’s strange that he offered her a job? Weird that he knew she’d quit hers in the first place? Mrs. Tellier said she’d told his bodyguard everything when she ran into him while shopping. Shopping. Doesn’t that sound unlikely?”
They both seemed to ponder the question. Joanna answered first. “You said you left him with the impression that the school wasn’t a great place to work. I bet he was just checking if you were okay.”
“Maybe.”
Aly cocked an eyebrow. “What nefarious reason could he have for offering employment to a senior citizen? Sounds like a simple good deed to me.”
Angelina wasn’t paranoid by nature, but things were happening that she couldn’t explain. She went to her oversized purse and pulled out seven manila envelopes. She withdrew a few from the bunch and laid them on the table. “These are acceptance packets from the three schools Whitney applied to this week.”
“That’s fantastic,” Joanna cheered.
“These are acceptance packets from four elite private schools we didn’t apply to.” Angelina laid those on the table as well. “They’re willing to take Whitney immediately and on full scholarship. No records requested. No references needed. He’s just in.”
After looking the packets over, Aly said, “Perhaps word got out about what happened? Your aunt was in good standing with high society. Could her name still have pull?”
“Not this kind of pull.”
“At least it’s not college acceptances,” Joanna joked. “I’d hate to see you in the news.”
Angelina’s hand went to her throat. “Oh my God, I didn’t even think of that. Would it be illegal for me to say yes?”
“Did you forge test scores?” Joanna asked.
“Of course not.”
Aly didn’t look concerned at all, which did a lot to calm Angelina’s nerves. “You’re fine, then. Are these the same schools you applied to work at?”
Angelina scanned the packets and practically smacked herself in the forehead. How could she not have thought of that? “They are.”
“There you go,” Joanna said. “I bet the next contact you get from those schools is to set up a time to interview you for the position you applied for. It’s a small world. They probably heard you’re awesome at what you do and are vying to snap you up.”