Part 7 (2/2)
”Good. My a.s.sistant, Cathy Rosen-well, she's also one of my best friends-is making the taxi arrangements. I'll tell her to find you when we're ready to leave.”
”That'll be great.”
”See you in a few, then.” Carmen spun away, her mind already working on how she was going to explain her impulsive invitation to her friends.
As Carmen walked away, Judith replayed the conversation in her head. She couldn't believe she had just been invited to have dinner with not only the keynote speaker at the conference, but 52 also a partner at Zeigler-Marsh, who just happened to be the vice president of the a.s.sociation. She wanted to pinch herself. Never in her life had she kept company with people like that. How ironic that all the good things happening to her right now were the result of disasters-Bob Durbin canceling their interview and Jose the waiter dumping soup in her lap.
She looked numbly back at the job board. Was Carmen really serious about her applying for an opening at TDG? There was a posting for an account rep . . . another for a software programmer. She was neither, so it didn't matter if Carmen had meant it or not. Besides, TDG was in Chicago.
Judith folded her notes and stuffed them into her coat pocket.
From the job board, she had three new possibilities in the New York area, two in corporate travel departments and one at an airline club lounge at JFK. And now Carmen had suggested there may be a chance to get on at Zeigler-Marsh, one of the biggest agencies in the country. No question which was the best opportunity.
Inside the ballroom, Judith breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Celia and Denise at a table near the center of the room.
She would have hated standing around by herself waiting for Cathy's cue that it was time to go.
”Hey, you guys mind if I join you?”
”Of course not,” Celia answered. ”This is a great spot. All the waiters come by here with the hors d'oeuvres.”
Denise stood and rested her hands on Celia's shoulders in what looked like a gesture of affection. ”I was just going to the bar, Judith. Would you like a gla.s.s of wine?”
”Yes, thank you. Whatever you're having.” She pulled out a few bills.
”It's an open bar. The airlines are sponsoring this.”
Judith peeled off three ones. ”Tip the bartender, then.”
When she disappeared into the crowd, Celia whispered excitedly, ”What do you think of Denise?”
53.
”You mean Denise who's practically all over you?” Judith grinned, happy to see that her friend had hooked up with someone nice. ”I think she's cute.”
”She is, isn't she?” Celia checked over her shoulder to make sure Denise wasn't nearby. ”I had no idea it was even happening till this afternoon when we were talking about me maybe getting that job at the network. She said she hoped I didn't have a problem with going out with somebody from work.”
”That's really great, Cee. I thought I saw something between you two-”
”Excuse me, Judith?”
They looked up to see a smiling Cathy Rosen.
”Hi, Cathy.”
”Sorry to interrupt. I just talked to Carmen and she said you were coming with us tonight. I wanted to let you know that we'll be taking two taxis. You can ride with me if that's all right.”
”Of course.”
”Great. I'll give you the signal in about fifteen minutes.”
”I'll be watching.”
As she walked away, Denise returned and placed a gla.s.s of wine in front of her. Judith became aware of Celia's fingers digging into her forearm.
”Did I just imagine all that, or are you actually going to dinner with Carmen Delallo?”
”It's not a big deal or anything. I was just talking to her and-”
There was no point continuing in this vein. She wasn't kidding anyone. ”I might as well tell you guys the whole sordid tale.” She went on to relate the story of her humiliating experience in the restaurant and Carmen's rescue.
”I bet she thinks you're hot.”
Celia and Denise giggled with mischief, causing Judith to cover her face with her hands. ”Stop, you're embarra.s.sing me.”
”Well, it might be true. You never know.” Celia grinned at her smugly. ”You two would make a cute couple, don't you 54 think?”
Denise nodded. ”Maybe we can double date.”
”You guys are killing me.” Judith had enjoyed that fantasy too, but refused to give it serious credence. There was no legiti-mate reason to think Carmen was a lesbian, or if she were, that she was interested.
55.
Chapter 6.
”You invited her to dinner?” Priscilla stared across the ballroom as Cathy spoke to Judith. ”What's going on inside that head of yours?”
”Nothing at all,” Sofia answered instead, lightly rapping her knuckles against Carmen's head. ”Because there's nothing in there.”
”I felt bad for her. Bob Durbin blew her off.”
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