The Research Project

Chapter Three

"Lainey, are you busy?"

"A little bit," Lainey said. "But I'm always happy to help you, Penny."

Lainey smiled at the older woman. She felt more affinity with Penny than girls like Madison and Sarah who actually were closer to her age. Maybe that made her a nanna, Lainey thought, especially since Penny had just become a grandmother about two days ago. But Lainey really liked Penny and she was a good person to be friends with. She also seemed to be treated a bit better by Byron than anyone else in the office.

"I knew you'd say that. I need you to check Mr. Vidler's travel itinerary with him."

"Wait, what? I've never done that before. Ask me to check a document, ring a client, anything but check his travel itinerary."

"I think you're ready. Besides, I need you to be ready. I'm so flat out I haven't even had time to look in the mirror today. Do I have lipstick on my teeth?" Penny pushed her lips up to reveal her teeth.

"No, you look impeccable as always. Please, Penny. Get Madison or one of the other girls to do it. They love that kind of thing."

"Mr. Vidler finds Madison annoying."

"Well, he thinks I'm even more annoying."

"No, he thinks you're..." Penny paused.

"What?"

"A little standoffish."

"He said that? About me?"

"Actually, he called you a cold fish. Maybe try to smile a little," Penny said, reminding her of something her mother would say. Penny tapped at her iPad screen. "I've emailed you the itinerary. Now get in there, all you have to do is read it to him. If there's something he doesn't like, change it."

But Lainey didn't want to go into his office, not when she was still reeling from Penny's revelation. "Doesn't he have a personal assistant for this?"

"Isabelle's off sick today. I really need your help."

"Fine, but you owe me."

"Okay, I'll let you ring a client when you get back," Penny said, smiling dryly as she turned and walked in the opposite direction.

"I meant chocolate," Lainey called after her. Penny only waved her hand in response, already onto her next task.

Lainey sucked in a huge breath and picked up her own iPad. She opened the attachment on the email Penny had sent her and quickly perused it. Didn't seem too hard, she thought. She made her way over to Mr. Vidler's office, or The Presidential Suite, as she liked to call it and tapped tentatively on the door. She opened it and went in the same as she'd always done on the rare occasions she'd had to come in here, except this time was a little different.

"Oh, golly. I'm really sorry," she said, closing the door again like there was a raging fire on the other side.

Mr. Vidler was currently preoccupied with a previous appointment it would seem, in the form of an attractive, supermodel type sitting on his lap with her lips glued to his.

"Wait!" came Mr. Vidler's sharp voice.

Lainey paused, took a deep breath and opened the door again, but was careful to keep her eyes down.

"Yes, Mr. Vidler?"

"Renee was just leaving."

"What!" came the shocked gasp from Renee.

"I'll call you tonight," he said in a tone that was businesslike and brisk, in other words, he didn't want to be argued with. Seemed he treated everyone the same- employees, lovers... Renee left the room with a flounce, shooting fiery daggers with barbs at Lainey as she left.