"I've been waiting for two years for that old man to die, or retire," the woman said, her tone dripping with spite. "That was my position, and you stole it right out from under me."
Tiffany's perfectly painted lips curved into what might have been meant as a smile, but looked more like a sneer. "That position should have been mine. I have seniority here."
There didn't seem to be anything to say to that, and Harper's spine stiffened. She would be damned before she apologized for accepting a job that was offered her. "I see," was all she allowed herself to say.
They're just humans,Reyna whispered in Harper's mind.And not very nice ones.
She glanced down at the files on her desk, the top one open, needing to be read. "Well, if that's all..."
"It is not all!" Another of them said, bristling. "You stay away from Jake. He's ours."
Harper stared at them, not quite sure what she was hearing. "Jake?"
"Yes. The security guard," the third said, preening. "He's going to choose between one of the three of us." Her raking glance indicated scorn for Harper's carefully chosen pantsuit in forest green linen, and her copper hair pulled back off her face in a simple twist. "You can't even begin to compete, so don't bother trying."
"That's right," the third said, her face twisting with ugly spite. "You stay away from him, or you'll be sorry."
Harper debated telling them that Jake was engaged, coming quickly to the conclusion that it wouldn't make the slightest difference. The least said, the soonest done. "I'll keep that in mind," she told the girls, and pointedly turned her back on them, swiveling her chair around to face her computer. Inwardly, however, she was trembling. She hated this kind of confrontation. Hated it. Her fox whined, and she sent it soothing thoughts. After all, these women couldn't do anything to hurt her, after all. It was just words.
Unfortunately, she found out how wrong she was about that, when it came time for lunch. Her first clue was when she opened the container that had her sandwich in it, loaded with roast beef, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. No onion, of course, because... bank. But when the top came off, a stench arose, making her recoil. Was that... licorice?
She peeled up a corner of the bread to glance beneath it. Some kind of weird paste clung to the bread. Fennel, to be sure, she thought, sniffing, but also... toothpaste? What?
Cringing now, she opened the lid to her salad, sighing when she realized the entire salad had been soaked in vinegar. A rumble from her tummy informed her that her tummy would like very much to be fed, please. But she'd only brought these for lunch.
Harper dumped her ruined lunch in the trash with a sigh. The pungent mix of fennel and toothpaste still lingered in her nose, making her stomach turn. At least she had a protein bar stashed in her desk drawer for emergencies.
As she headed back toward her office, a crisp British accent called out. "Harper! How's your first day going?"
She spun around to find Kelly Carter approaching, the banking heiress moving with graceful confidence in her fitted dark blue skirt and lustrous top. Though she belonged to theprestigious family that controlled the bank, Kelly exuded a genuine friendliness.
Harper managed a genuine smile for Kelly, pushing thoughts of her ruined lunch aside. "It's going really well, actually. I went over my client portfolios, and had a great conversation with Benjamin this morning - he helped clarify some questions I had, so I'm feeling pretty confident." Harper's tension eased as she thought about her productive morning. "The office is perfect - I love the plants on the windowsill, and there's so much natural light. And the client files are meticulously organized."
Harper glanced back toward her office, admiring how the sunlight streamed through the windows. "The portfolio management system here is more streamlined than what I used in California. And everyone's been so welcoming." Well, almost everyone, but she refused to let those three women dim her enthusiasm.
Kelly's warm smile brightened further. "I'm so pleased you're settling in well. From what I understand, Benjamin's decision to retire took administration by surprise. Lydia mentioned you have excellent credentials - we're lucky to have found you."
Harper's cheeks warmed at the praise. "Thank you. That means a lot, especially coming from a board member."
"Please, let's skip the titles." Kelly brushed off the comment with a gesture. "After all, we're both staying at the West Side Inn." She checked her dainty timepiece. "Are you free for lunch? I found this charming cafe just around the corner. Let me treat you for your first day at work."
Relief flooded through Harper. Her stomach had been protesting the loss of her lunch, and the protein bar in her desk wouldn't have been nearly enough. "I'd love to, actually. My lunch plans fell through."
As they walked, Kelly chatted about the bank's history and her family's connection to it. Harper found herself relaxing,drawn in by the other woman's genuine enthusiasm and knowledge. Despite her prestigious background, Kelly had none of the pretension Harper might have expected from a banking heiress.
"The building itself is quite historic," Kelly explained as they passed through the ornate lobby. "My great-grandfather had it built in 1923. The architectural details are all original - see those marble columns? They were imported from Italy."
Harper looked up at the soaring ceiling with new appreciation. "It's beautiful. So different from the modern glass and steel banks in California."
"That's exactly what we've always tried to preserve - that sense of history and permanence." Kelly pushed open the heavy front doors.
The small cafe Kelly led them to was bright and airy, with fresh flowers on each table. After they settled into a cozy corner booth and ordered, Kelly leaned forward with enthusiasm.
"You know, while banking isn't my first love - that would be French literature and culture - I've absorbed quite a bit growing up in a banking family. It's rather like osmosis," Kelly said, her British accent lending elegance to her words. "Though Ethan's the one who truly lives and breathes finance. He's absolutely brilliant at it."
Harper nodded, remembering the bank president from their brief meeting at the inn. "Your brother seems very dedicated to the bank."
"Oh yes, he is. It's his passion, while I prefer spending my time teaching French and dreaming of Paris." Kelly's eyes sparkled. "Though I do understand enough about banking to serve on the board effectively. When Benjamin announced his retirement so suddenly, we were quite concerned about finding someone with the right qualifications and experience."
