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"Fighting my own battles. Good morning." She forced herself to be pleasant as she was transferred to the man's office. "My name is Delores Pennant from Gallagher's Publishing. Is it possible for me to speak to Mr. Manchester?" She gritted her teeth as the snotty assistant told her Mr. Manchester would be in meetings all day.
"Could you ask if there was any way he could see me after business hours? I am aware that his time is valuable, but this is a matter of urgency." She waited again while the woman debated. "Thank you very much. You can reach me at my number." She reeled it off before hanging up the phone.
"That is not a good idea."
"If I wanted your opinion, I would have asked. Now, if you don't mind, I have work."
"You are digging your own grave." He warned as he rose.
"It's mine to dig. Just go away."
She waited until he left before pushing away from her desk and walking over to the table where the refreshments were. She had had her quota of coffee and was too revved and upset to drink another cup. What she was in sore need of was a strong drink. How dare he? What the hell did he know about publishing anyway?
He was a corporate raider scooping up companies and playing God. Well, this was her career, and she had worked too hard to let some damn man come in and trample all over it. It does not matter that he was a fricking multi-billionaire with issues. He was playing with their lives, and she would not stand for it.
It might very well cost her job, but right now, she did not give a flying damn. She was not going to stand by and do nothing. She was going to the source of the problem. Whirling around, she went to her desk to press the intercom. "Mariel, prepare all the expense and business reports from the international book fairs over the last five years."
"Five?"
"Yes. I want it concise and detailed."
"You got it."
She hung up and sat at her desk. Now, she was too furious even to finish the manuscript. Pressing the intercom again, she told Mariel she was going out for a while. "Just call me if there is anything urgent." Getting her jacket, she headed out.
*****
"I am happy you suggested the park." Angeline stretched her long legs out and breathed in the sharp, clean air. "I needed to get out of the apartment. It was depressing."
"I thought you were going away?" Delores could feel the calm settling over her as she watched the ducks make their rounds around the pond. It was too early for the crowd, but several nannies were pushing strollers, and she had spotted a couple of ice cream trucks doing decent business.
"It has been put off for a couple of weeks. I am at loose ends as it is."
"And thinking about Thomas, no doubt."
Angeline shrugged slender shoulders. "The man was a hero in bed and had a very energetic cock. He did things to me that -" She shook her head. "And maybe it was just the sex that was keeping things alive between us. But I just want to bash his skull in with a blunt object for making me feel like an idiot."
"You are not the first woman to be cheated on and certainly will not be the last."
Angeline cast her a wry look. "You are as cold as they come, aren't you?"
"If that is what you want to class me as, then fine." She turned on the bench and looked at her friend. "You are Angeline Stone. Men salivate over you and probably masturbate over your photos. You deserve better than that cheating asshole."
"Now you I’ve got the picture of men masturbating while staring at my pics in my mind and I cannot get it out." Her friend muttered.
"Perhaps it should replace the one of that bastard you have inside your head. Look, honey, I might appear to be cold and unfeeling where relationships are concerned, and maybe I am a little jaded-"
"A little?" Angeline's eyebrows lifted.
"Okay, more than a little." She agreed with a laugh. "But my point is, we are powerful women who certainly do not need men to make us feel good about ourselves.
If they cheat on us, decide in their tiny minds that we are not enough, then to hell with them. Stop wasting your time thinking about Thomas and giving him any power. You are better than that."
"And that might be the reason I love you." Angeline leaned over to hug her. "I wish I could somehow turn into a lesbian."
Delores laughed and shoved her away. "I might not like men very much and am sometimes disgusted with their way of doing things, but when it comes down to it, I prefer the penis."
"Me too." Her friend said with a sigh. "Now I feel so much better."
