“I don’t want to keep you, because I’m sure they are missing their mama. But I wanted to introduce you to Gia Gravel. She has her résumé with her, and I’d like it if you could review it and see if there is anything open you think would be appropriate for her.”
Gia reached in her purse and pulled it out. Brittney quickly scanned it and said, “Compliance auditor?”
“Yes. I review documents, policies, and procedures, looking for inconsistencies. It requires knowing the difference between company polices and the letter of the law.”
“I’d like to set up some time to sit with you later this week if that works for you,” Brittney said.
“That’d be fine.”
“Great, I’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you, Brittney. I know you’ll find something for her,” Lena said.
Gia didn’t want Brittney to feel as though she had to hire her, but then again, if it got her foot in the door, maybe it wasn’t a bad thing.
“I’m sure I will.” Brittney waited as she and Lena left the building.
“Don’t worry. We have a few openings, and I’m sure Brittney will be calling you soon.”
“Only if you really need me,” Gia said. She didn’t want to be indebted to Lena any more than she wanted to be with Roger. This was supposed to be business. Normally she wouldn’t be going to lunch with the owner’s wife, but Roger encouraged them to spend time together. That was yet another question she had for him, and she was sure he, once again, would avoid answering.
“Gia, we take care of family and friends. Although we have not known Roger all that long, he is best friends with Brice’s brother. That carries a lot of weight. And besides, Roger didn’t accidently mention it, you know.”
That was the only thing Gia was sure of. “It was very nice of him. Unnecessary, but still nice.”
As they drove to the restaurant, Gia asked, “How did you and Roger meet?”
The same way you and I did.“Nothing all that exciting. He kind of left an impression one day on my way home from work. And here we are.”
Lena leaned back and said, “That’s how it happens sometimes. Brice and I met years ago when we were in college.”
“”You guys have been together a long time.”
“We’ve been married for several years, but there was a gap in time, almost four years where Brice and I didn’t even speak.”
Gia could see that still bothered Lena. “Must have been tough.”
“It was. He was a different man then. Our separating was for the best. I didn’t know it at the time. I think if we had stayed together, things wouldn’t be as good as they are now.”
“I hear every couple faces rough times.”
Lena smiled. “It’s how you come through them that determines where you’re going. Just remember that when it comes your turn with Roger.”
“Is that a warning they are coming?” Gia asked, knowing darn well there was nothing real between them so no issue could creep up.
“We all hide things we don’t share with anyone except . . . someone special. For me that is Brice and vice versa. I can tell Roger holds something inside, but what that is, none of us know.”
“Not even his friend Caydan?” Gia asked.
Lena shook her head. “Which is why I asked you to lunch.”
“Thank you, but you don’t need to worry about me.”
“I’m not. I’m worried about Roger. Brice tells me I should mind my own business, but that man is hurting. I know it. Even though it might be tempting to tell the stubborn, pigheaded man to take a walk, step back and exam why first.”
Gia was thrown yet again. She really had only met Roger a few days ago. Surely she wasn’t the one he was going to open up to. But she would respect Lena’s request. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The limo stopped at the restaurant and Lena said, “Oh by the way, Brice wasn’t joking.”