He made a face. “What about Henrietta’s
niece?”
“Derian?” Emily’s heart actually raced just
saying her name. Another thought she pushed aside.
“Is she likely to step in?”
“No,” Emily said. “She’s made it very clear
she has no interest in the business.”
“Maybe she’ll change her mind,” he said
hopefully.
“I wouldn’t count on that,” she said as much
to herself as to him. One thing she knew for certain, Derian’s stay was only
temporary.
*
Restless and agitated after Emily’s
departure, Derian walked outside for some air. She bought a hot dog from a
vendor on the corner and ate it standing out of the way of the crowds. When she
finished, she called Aud.
“Dere?” Aud said. “Everything all right?”
“Surgery is done. She’s doing okay. I haven’t
had a chance to see her yet.”
“That’s great news. Are you still at the
hospital?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna stay here for a couple of
hours still.”
“I can’t get away, but I should be free by
dinnertime. I could meet you—”
“Ah, I’ll be tied up later.” Derian smiled to
herself, thinking about dinner with Emily. The anticipation kindled the kind of
excitement she usually only experienced before a big race or a high-stakes
gamble at the tables.
“Oh,” Aud said with a hint of surprise.
“Okay, then.”
“What’s going on at the agency, Aud?” She
expected the silence, but that didn’t prevent the quick flare of annoyance.
“Look, I know Donatella is there, and that’s Martin’s doing. Don’t tell me you
don’t know.”
“That’s not my territory,” Aud said
evasively.
“Bullshit. You’re your father’s right-hand
man, and he’s
Martin’s personal attorney. Don’t pretend you don’t know what the long-range
plans are.”
“I swear, Derian,” Aud said, “I don’t know
exactly what Martin has planned. Someone has to take over at the agency in
Henrietta’s absence. It’s perfectly reasonable that Martin wants someone he
knows to have decision-making power.”
“You mean someone who will institute his
agenda. There are qualified people at the agency who can run things in
Henrietta’s stead. We both know that.”
“We don’t actually.” Aud made an exasperated
sound. “Look, as much as I love Henrietta, she and Martin aren’t all that
different. She keeps a lot of information about the agency to herself. As to
how qualified anyone else is to take her place, that remains to be seen.”
“Emily May is Henrietta’s choice.”
“Another thing we don’t know, and even if
that’s the case, Emily is—”
“Experienced, and personally trained by
Henrietta. Come on, Aud. The agency is a tiny part of Winfield Enterprises, and
the only reason Martin even cares about it is because he and Henrietta have
been feuding their whole lives.”