Windward Whisperings Read Online Free Page A

course, people outside the company are competing for
this job. But you know this business better. Remind him.”
“I’ll pretend to be strong in finance.” She sighed and glanced at her calendar opened to January,
the start of their fiscal year shakeup.
“Kitzie, you understand accounting well enough. Your projects align with allocated funds.
You’ve built connections in every department. The senior financial analyst, possibly you, will report
directly to the guy we hate.”
“Should I share that with him as well?”
“Don’t get cute. Make it good for both of us. Land the position.”
“In case I do, you’ll get the same documents as the board, Grayson Warner Biltmore, and other
officers.” She wanted to move ahead in the company, but she wasn’t an opportunist.
“Me first.” He pointed to his watch. “Get going.”
“Don’t give away my position while I’m gone.” She smiled and pushed herself up from her
chair. She noticed a coffee stain on her silk blouse and tucked it into a long, tweed skirt. She left the
sleeves rolled to the elbows. With her messenger bag over a shoulder, she scooted between cubicle
partitions toward the open hallway. She gave her neck a few rotates to get out the kinks.
“Hold on a sec, Kitzie. I’ll give you moral support as far as the coffee station.”
Out of respect, she slowed.
His cell beeped with a message, and he gave her a “hi” sign. Nearsighted, he peered over his
spectacles at the text.
Moving like a snail, she returned her thoughts to Garrett. Given their history and decade apart,
he wouldn’t know she’d become more like him. Yesterday, he was like she used to be, reckless. Their
working styles couldn’t possibly mesh. At the same time, she didn’t want to be passed over for the
position. He would only be in charge for six months, and her promising future came first. Damn, I’ve
earned that slot in finance.
Edgar caught up and gave his ringing cell a disgusted nod.
“What’s wrong, Edgar?”
“Maryrose and I bought a new boat. You know, Naiad’s big ones are selling at a discount. We
can’t seem to come up with a good name. I sure as hell don’t have time for her whining.”
“Call Maryrose back. Tell her help is on the way. We’ll have a lunchtime boat-naming party.”
She stepped up the pace.
Edgar kept up. “Seriously? She’ll be thrilled.” He followed her down the row of cubicles.
The fishbowl’s oppressive atmosphere was getting to her. On Monday mornings, employees
popped heads over cubicles while they exchanged weekend news. Today, they were bottom feeders,
nosing around bits of gossip.
“Have you heard the sales department’s name for Mackenzie?”
“I don’t know. Piranha, maybe?”
“Loup de Mer.”
“How did he earn that?”
“He’s a wily fox when it comes to cutting costs.” Stopping at the coffee station, Edgar poured
himself a cup. “Mackenzie’s last project was saving a billion-plus international conglomerate. His
business acumen, power, and ability to save businesses put him in the stuffed-shirt category.”
“Like you said, he’s the head .”
“Exactly. Get him to come to lunch with us sometime.”
“He can be the guest of honor at our name-your-boat lunch.” On her way toward the financial
wing, she paused just long enough to dust off lint from her spikes.
The oak door of the CEO’s corner office had been closed for a week. Major stockholder G. W.
Biltmore had taken to the high seas.
Wondering where Garrett was stashed, she stopped at the department’s receptionist’s desk.
“Morning, Sed. Good weekend?”
“I put away all my baby shower items.”
Unmarried, Black, and pregnant, Sedona Hudson hadn’t worked at Naiad long before she’d
announced her due date. Kitzie had organized her shower. “I hope they’re useful.”
Sedona smiled. “You’re here for your appointment with the New Yorker. Too bad I’m with
child. Otherwise, I’d be among the hordes throwing myself against his door