Armani Angels Read Online Free Page B

Mercedes,’ Gemma said, sitting up again to continue her conversation with Chantelle.
    â€˜You know how Wally left?’ Wally Robinson had been the ineffective CEO at Gemma’s firm for the past five years.
    â€˜A coupla months ago, yeah?’ Chantelle sipped her herbal tea.
    â€˜Well, the powers-that-be in bloody New York have been dragging the chain on hiring a replacement.’
    â€˜So who’s running the place then?’ Chantelle asked.
    â€˜Me! That’s who. The bastards are so cheap they’ve got me doing twice the work on half the salary of the CEO because, unlike the useless Wally Robinson, I don’t have a me to help me. If you get what I mean.’
    â€˜So why don’t they make you the permanent CEO?’ Chantelle asked.
    â€˜No chance. A: I’m not male, and you know how “glass ceiling” PR is. And B: I’m far too young. I’m a good ten years off being considered.’
    â€˜Can’t you, like, ask them anyway?’ Chantelle asked. ‘You could do that job in handcuffs, you’re so good. And what about that Peter bloke? He’s beautiful, he’d support you. I think he fancies you.’
    Mercedes sat upright, interested now that the boardroom gossip had ventured a little closer to the bedroom.
    â€˜Ooh,’ she teased, ‘you got an admirer, have you? What would your Stephen say?’
    â€˜Oh, shut it, Mercedes. He’s IQPR New York’s CEO. We’re colleagues; of course we have to get along. Get your mind out of the gutter.’ She turned back to Chantelle. ‘You’re a troublemaker.’
    â€˜He does, but. I saw him looking at you at the IQPR Down Under conference last year. He’s a bit chunky but so loverly and all.’
    â€˜Thanks, Chantelle. But you’re right, though; I do need to call him about this situation, to find out when a new CEO will be appointed so I can stop working so damn hard.’
    Mercedes piped up again. ‘Oh, any excuse will do to call your mystery Yank.’
    Gemma just rolled her eyes at her and continued to talk to Chantelle.
    â€˜I figured that if I just kept the company running smoothly, the recruitment process would kick in eventually, but I think I’m going to have to start making some noise.’
    Mercedes was back in coma pose but mumbled, ‘I bet Peter would like to make some noise with you.’
    â€˜Mercedes, just drop it,’ Gemma snapped angrily.
    Mercedes’s bottom lip stuck out slightly and she turned her head away from the others.
    Gemma felt immediately guilty. My God, she was on edge. Mercedes was giving her the shits big-time, but such good-natured teasing never normally bothered her. And today her heart was racing, her hands were shaking and she was finding it difficult to get her breathing into the deep, slow rhythm that Plethora usually commanded.
    Chantelle’s eyes continued to rest gently on her friend. ‘And I know things haven’t been easy at home, either,’ she said.
    Gemma just sighed in response. ‘Where do I start?’
    â€˜Well, how are things going with Tyler these days, then?’ Chantelle asked.
    Gemma rubbed her hand across her forehead. ‘I know teenagers are supposed to be hard work, but he does seem to go out of his way to give me grief. I’m so worried about him.’
    â€˜Kids. It’s just a phase; he’ll be fine,’ Mercedes said as she stood to follow the therapist into a treatment room. ‘Ciao, girls. See you in the massage room when I’m plumped, pricked and polished.’
    Another therapist guided Chantelle and Gemma into a second room. The ladies nestled into their heated cocoons as the threading and plucking began.
    â€˜Oh, that’s a shame, that is, about your boy, darling,’ Chantelle said. ‘He’s brill, that kid. What do you think went wrong, Gemma? He seemed so great a couple of years back.’
    â€˜He was doing so