Once Bitten. Clare Willis

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      The emergency meeting was in the Ferlinghetti Room, which overlooked the Bay and was decorated with photographs of the author and poet standing in front of City Lights, the bookstore he founded in North Beach in the 1950s. When I got there everyone was already seated. Dick Partridge was at the head of the table, tapping his pen and looking at his watch.

      On his right was Kimberley, looking like she had suffered no ill effects from her late night. She was dressed in a more somber than usual blue suit with a short-sleeved jacket, in deference, I supposed, to the unfortunate circumstances of the meeting. Around her neck was a necklace bearing a cashew-sized, presumably real, diamond pendant.

      To Dick’s left was Lakshmi Roy, the other Consumer Products account executive, so small she looked like she should be sitting in a booster seat. A native of India, she was the classic American success story. By the age of thirty she had gone to Yale and worked in Hollywood and had already amassed credentials as grand as she was little. According to Steve, who worked for her, Lakshmi’s managerial style was as different as night and day from Lucy’s. Lakshmi was kind and fair, open to suggestions and gave credit where it was due. On her left was my pal Steve, watching me closely like he was expecting me to fall down at any moment from the after-effects of Rohypnol.

      Next to Steve was Lakshmi’s other AAE, Chase Johnson, a recently graduated frat boy whom Steve referred to as “the human beer keg.” Theresa was also there, with her laptop open, ready to take notes. Her silky red shirt plunged to reveal two prominent collarbones and not much else. I took a seat next to Webster Northrup, manager of the Creative department. Web tried to bridge the sartorial gap between Creative and Accounts by dressing in Levi’s Dockers and button-down shirts with the sleeves rolled up. In his mid-thirties, he had a round, pleasant face with brown eyes, thick dark hair, and a bit of a belly. Also in attendance were a copywriter and a media coordinator.

      “Now that Angie is here, we can commence,” said Dick. “As you all know, Lucy Weston has not been at work since last Friday. She hasn’t called in or answered her phone at home. We apprised the authorities yesterday and they are looking into the situation. Naturally we hope for the best. Our task now is to reassign the more pressing duties to ensure that our clients do not experience any discontinuity of service.”

      Lakshmi gave me a smile from across the table without moving her lips. She was the reigning mistress of account executive telepathy.

      “Our clients at Macabre Factor called me this morning. They were very pleased with the presentation. I would like to offer my commendations to Angie and Kimberley, who stepped in and took over that meeting at a moment’s notice yesterday. Laudable work, ladies.” He smiled thinly at each of us. “They have specifically asked for Angie to manage their account, even when Lucy returns. Whatever you did in there, Angie, it was well-received.”

      I looked down at the table to hide my confusion. Why in the world was Macabre Factor giving me their account? I hadn’t taken the lead on the presentation, they didn’t like the pitch anyway, and it was Kimberley who hung out with them at the House of Usher while I was off hooking up with their top vampire model. The only person I’d impressed last night was Eric, and I wasn’t even sure how successful I’d been at that. As I raised my head my eyes collided with Kimberley. The look she was giving me was one of sheer malevolence. I wondered if I’d find the locks changed when I got home.

      Chapter 5

      “Let’s go over Lucy’s accounts and get an update on when the next client contact is occurring.” Dick checked his notes. “Unicorn Pulp and Paper Products. Angie, I think you’ve been working with Lucy on Unicorn?”

      “Yes, Dick, and we’ve got a presentation coming up next Monday.”

      “Very well,” Dick answered, “who are you working with in Creative?”

      “Me.” Dave was our newest copywriter. Normally he had iPod earphones growing out of his ears, but in deference to Dick he’d removed one.

      “I’d rather have you work with someone a little more senior on that. Web, can you take over for Dave?”

      “Sure, no problem, Dick.” Web made a few marks on his СКАЧАТЬ