Addie Combo Read Online Free

desperate than cunning. “Sometimes
they call be Combo ... because I want it all.”
“Well, Miss ... um, you seem like a fine young woman, I know you’re very bright and very
talented, but I also know that they’re gonna wanna see at least two years experience in real
estate. I’m sorry you came all the way down.”
“Yes, but -”
“But if you meant what you said, I’m free for lunch in about an hour.” He smiles, raising his
eyebrows and grinning. “I wouldn’t mind ordering ... the combo platter. ”
“Oh, gee, that’s really nice of you ... to hit on me in this workplace situation -”
“No, I wasn't -”
A little louder, I go on, “I suppose a girl has to compromise herself sexually to get a job
around here, is that it? I may not have any real estate experience, but I do have some legal
experience -”
“I didn’t see any of that on your resumé.”
“Well, I ... ” Nice improvising, dummy, I chide myself. “It was volunteer work, at a law
firm. The biggest one in Colorado!”
Now bereft of any of his sexual hunger and getting fed up withmy aggression, he says, “And
which law firm was that?”
Rats! I think to myself. No way to lie your way out of this! Pick one like Jacoby & Meyers
and he may call. Make one up and he’ll check the directory anyway.
Well, I tell myself, at least you won’t be in the room when he does.
But I decide to say, “You’ll find out when they serve you with the papers. You won’t be
hard to spot; I’ll just name the lost Hungry Hungry Hippo as one of the defendants.”
With my head held high and my shoulders back, I cross the reception area and pull the door
open, putting the office and the entire event behind me as quickly as possible.
I walk through the courtyard a bit faster than I should. Some of it is righteous indignation,
but most is simple embarrassment and a fervent hope to get out of there before anyone in the
office comes out and calls me on my strictly empty threats.
I turn the corner, stepping out of the courtyard and into the entrance area, a kind of bricklined outdoor reception patio. But I don’t see the man in front of me until it’s too late. It
happens in a flash; the bump, the gape, the pause, the splash, and suddenly I’m standing in a
coffee-soaked Anne Klein and he with an empty Styrofoam cup.
“Oh, I am so sorry,” he says, looking around and finding nothing to clean it off. “Are you
okay? I didn’t burn you or anything?”
Nope, I’m happy to discover, just soiled and soaked!
“I’m fine,” I say, taking in the damage. If the suit isn’t ruined, it’s certainly a history lesson
as far as today’s interview is concerned. I check my watch. “Two o’clock, no time to get home
before the interview.”
“Interview?”
“Yes, at ... well, it doesn’t really matter now.”
“What kind of position, what do you do?”
“Business management,” I say.
He nods. “I see. That’s why you’re here, a job interview?” I nod, and he adds, “How’d it
go?”
I can only shake my head. “If you’re interviewing, I’d say you’ve got an open door.”
“In more ways than one. I own this building actually, here to see one of the tenants about
renewing their lease.”
“Really? You ... wow, you own the building, that’s ... wow.”
We stand in an awkward silence for a moment or two before he suddenly says, “I’m sorry,
where are my manners? I’m Randolph, Randolph MacLeish.”
He extends his hand and I take it. “Addie Compo ... with a P.”
Randolph looks around, spotting a waste paper basket and chucking the Styrofoam cup.
“Well, Addie Compo with a P, let me make it up to you. You said your appointment’s in an
hour? How far from here?”
“It’s just up on Melrose, actually. But my clothes -”
He takes my hand. “C’mon, there’s a nice shop close by. I’ll buy you something and we’ll
get you to your interview on time.”
I hesitate; not because I don’t deserve to have my clothes replaced (I do) and