Read J'adore New York for Free Online Page B

doesn’t she know that a woman’s reputation at work can be destroyed faster than you can say déshabillé ?
    “Okay, now tell me about the turf wars.”
    “I wish I could, dah-ling, but I don’t know much. I overheard someone in the elevator say something about a senior partner leaving, but I have no idea who it is. All I know is that there have been lots of closed-door meetings lately and that everyone seems to be on edge.”
    “I’m not surprised. There’s always some kind of dramagoing on. What about Antoine? What’s his story?” While Rikash is dishing, I might as well ask.
    “He’s a fantastic lawyer, but I’ve had a hard time trying to figure him out. He keeps mostly to himself. I think he’s sexy and I was hoping he’d be otherwise inclined, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the only sheets I’ll ever see him in are his damn time sheets.”
    “I know. I’ve had trouble sizing him up too. He’s so intense. One minute he’s yelling, the next he’s offering advice. But you’re right, he is pretty sexy.”
    “He just needs to take that highlighter out of his buttocks.”
    I giggle. “What about you? You always have an interesting project in the works.”
    Rikash rambles on about his recent amorous conquests—“Men are like fish, the longer your rod, the better their bod”; his upcoming documentary about an Indian transsexual, “The title is Mahotmama ”; India fashion week, “Have you ever heard about the nipplegate scandal?”; Bollywood movies, “You definitely get your money’s worth with a thousand pelvic thrusts a minute”—until our talk turns back to office gossip.
    “Please stay away from Harry Traum,” he warns. “He’s in the middle of a messy divorce so he’s a real nightmare. And you better watch out for some of the secretaries, they’re real bitches: Roxanne is psychotic and Maria’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown; you’ll see, sooner or later she’ll crack. Antoine and Bonnie have been working her around the clock.”
    When Rikash mentions Antoine and Bonnie, I nervously look at my watch. Our lunch has gone on for an hour and ahalf and now I’m seriously behind in my work. I’ll be stuck in the office late again tonight.
    “Sorry to cut our lunch short, but we aren’t in Paris. I need to get back to the office and bill some hours.”
    “Thanks for cheering me up, dah-ling. This lunch gave me a nice little morale boost. Now I’ll make it through the afternoon without having to pop any pills.”
    “I need you to create a new client profile for me.” I stand beaming in front of Rikash’s cubicle. “Christian Dior.”
    “Are you serious? You can’t kid around about things like that. I don’t think my heart can take it.”
    “I’m not. They’re a new client. Exciting, isn’t it?”
    He jumps up from his chair with hands stretched high above his head. “Yay! Finally an interesting file that isn’t named after some barbaric war or military program!”
    I can’t help but smile at Rikash’s reaction. It’s true that many acquisition files are opened under secret code names such as Operation Gulf War, Kandahar II, or Minuteman Missile Project. I guess they’re appropriately named given the internal wars being waged at Edwards & White these days.
    Antoine passes by en route to the reception area.
    “Going out to grab lunch. Catherine, don’t forget to finalize those files for tomorrow morning.”
    I nod and close my office door to get some work done.
    At six thirty, after printing out the PRO-IP Act and readingthe white paper prepared by the Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, I emerge from my office. Rikash has left, but Maria and Roxanne are whispering away. They immediately stop and try to look innocent. I’ve obviously walked in on some heavy gossip.
    “Working late?”
    “Yep. We have four files to finish for Antoine tonight,” Maria replies, looking annoyed that I’ve interrupted their dishing session. In her late thirties, Maria has a