Ninety-Seven

VALERIA

Why had I allowed Noah to talk me into going to Rosy's place? I asked myself. Now facing Rosy was sure going to be awkward. I considered going back the way I came and finding another way into my office, but Rosy's sharp eyes had already picked me out of the other staff moving around.

"Hi, Valeria," Ellen called.

With my eyes on Rosy, I raised a hand in greeting to Ellen as I made my way to Rosy. She was seated in the waiting room with a magazine on her lap. She had abandoned all pretense of reading the moment she had spotted me. I hoped I had not said anything last night that would affect her business dealings with Dimitri's company. There would certainly be hell to pay if that were the case. I pulled the glass door of the waiting room half closed behind me.

"Good morning, Rosy. You're here early."

She straightened the lapel of her immaculate pant suit. "Yes. I'm waiting for Dimitri."

"I thought you knew that Mr Dimitri is not not around. He won't be around for a while... At