Page 27 of A Girl Like Janet

“All right,” she told him stiffly, sitting in the chair opposite his desk. “Instead of wasting everyone’s time, including

yours and mine, let’s make up a list of exactly what you want in a secretary.”

“Fine.” He leaned back in his chair and began to dictate his demands. “I want someone with high organizational skills, computer

confidence, the ability to take shorthand and Dictaphone capabilities.”

Janet noted the information down on her pad, well aware that every applicant he had seen possessed all of these abilities.

“I’d also like my secretary to have won an award in spelling, enjoy apple pie and wear glasses that slip down to the tip of

her nose when she’s taking dictation,” he continued.

Janet’s thoughts clashed with the force of two mountain goats ramming their heads. Reese was telling her he wanted her. She

closed her eyes as a betraying light of love burned deep from within her eyes.

“Mr. Edwards,” she said with marked patience. “May I remind you that I will only be here a few more days. If you wish to have

me train my replacement, then I believe every effort should be made to hire one.”

Reese leaned forward to rest his elbows on his desk. His fingers formed a loose triangle, his index fingers pressed to his

mouth. “I agree,” he murmured, seeming deep in thought. “I agree wholeheartedly.”

With barely restrained irritation, Janet stood and returned to the outer office. After a quick phone call to the employment

agency, she cleaned off her desk. Gail would be up to meet her any minute and she didn’t wish to stay any longer than necessary

tonight.

“Janet”—Gail breathlessly burst into the room—“guess what? No, don’t guess. Ben ran into Gary Jensen this afternoon. Ben phoned

the office and wants us to meet them after work. Everything’s planned. We’re going out for Chinese food and to a movie.”

“Oh.” Janet did her best to hide her lack of enthusiasm.

“Hey, don’t look so thrilled.”

Janet refused to meet Gail’s piercing eyes. “I don’t know about you, but it’s been a long week. My idea of an exciting evening

is to go home, laze in a tub of luscious bubbles and read a good book.”

“Janet,” Gail pleaded in a hushed voice, warily eyeing the door to Reese’s office. “For heaven’s sake, you can’t pine your

life away on him.” Her head quirked toward Reese’s office.

“I’m not,” Janet insisted, her eyes rounding derisively. “Just because I don’t feel like fitting into plans you made without

consulting me isn’t any reason to concern yourself in matters that are none of your business.” Her voice increased in volume

with every word she spoke until the last phrase was practically shouted.

For a moment Gail looked stunned. Her mouth opened to say something, then closed again.

Janet rubbed her hand over her eyes. Why should she be waspish with the best friend she had in the world? It only proved that

working with Reese was becoming increasingly impossible. Perhaps in the back of her mind she was hoping that he wouldn’t find

a replacement, so she would have an excuse to stay.

“I apologize, Gail. I didn’t mean that. A movie does sound like a good idea. And seeing Gary again will be fun.” She made

every effort to force some enthusiasm into her voice, but she didn’t fool her friend, who continued to eye her suspiciously.

Her fingers fumbled as she pulled open the bottom drawer and took out her purse.

“We’ll have a good time,” Janet said, more to convince herself than from any inner belief. Gary was nice and they had dated

several times in the past, but he was so ordinary. There wasn’t that spark of excitement that being with Reese— She forced

her thoughts to an abrupt halt. This line of thinking had to cease immediately. She had to stop comparing every man she dated

to Reese. Her lungs hurt and Janet realized that she had unconsciously been holding her breath.

Apparently unaware of the tug-of-war going on inside Janet, Gail sighed longingly. “We will have a good time. I think meeting

Gary again is just the thing you need to take your mind off of you know who. Gary’s always been half in love with you. With

the least encouragement I think—” Gail stopped suddenly and stiffened. “Good afternoon, Mr. Edwards.”

“Miss Templeton.” Reese nodded curtly to Gail, but his eyes swung to Janet, his mouth tightly pressed into an angry line.

“Have a nice weekend, Miss Montgomery,” he told her stiffly.

“I’m sure I will.” Her voice sounded hard with determination as she stood and walked out the door with Gail. The door remained

open and Janet had the unshakable sensation that Reese had moved to the doorway and was watching her move down the long narrow

hall that led to the elevator. The nerves at the back of her neck were tingling with awareness. A crazy sense of loyalty,

and if she was honest with herself, love, burned within her. She wanted to turn around, run back and assure Reese that Gary

meant nothing to her.

“It’s better this way,” she said without realizing she had spoken aloud.

“Pardon?” Gail glanced over to her.

“Nothing.” Janet shook her head, hoping to disguise the sadness she felt must be showing in her eyes.

Sunday morning in church Janet sat with her mother and Joel. She bowed her head to prepare her heart for the coming message.

“Where’s Mr. Reese?” Joel leaned over and whispered in her ear.

Janet had no desire to give a long explanation to her brother and chose to ignore his question.

“Janny.” He poked her side with his elbow. “Mr. Reese said he’d be coming to church every Sunday. Where is he?” The whispered

question was more persistent.

Janet fluttered her lashes open and glanced to her mother, hoping the older woman would recognize Janet’s plight and handle

the situation. But her mother was busy writing notes on a prayer list she kept in her Bible.

“I don’t know, Joel. Reese didn’t say anything to me.”

“But he did to me,” Joel insisted. “He whispered it in my ear. He said that he wanted to learn about Jesus. He said that he

was going to come to church on Sundays, he even said—”

“Shush.” Janet placed a warning finger across her mouth. “Church is not the place to discuss what Mr. Reese said.”

“But, Janny—”

The fiery look she flashed him silenced him immediately.

Joel leaned against the pew, his back straightening. “I won’t tell you then,” he said and pressed his lips tightly closed.

“It was supposed to be a secret anyway.”

The next day Reese was scheduled to be out of the office until noon, so Janet made an appointment for an interview the following

morning. The woman’s qualifications were perfect. The lady from the employment agency assured Janet that there was little

to fault in Ms. Christy Karle. After listening to her list of accomplishments and skills, Janet could well understand why

she had received such a high recommendation. If Reese found an excuse not to hire Ms. Karle, then Janet would take immediate

action herself. His little game of blackmail wasn’t going to work. Friday was her last day and it didn’t matter how unpleasant

Reese was afterward. It wasn’t her concern. If the whole company quit on him, then he deserved it.

After sorting the mail, Janet took the items that would need his immediate attention into his office. His desk was in a terrible

state. How anyone could work in such mass confusion was beyond her. Since he wasn’t due in until noon, Janet decided to straighten

the mess. At least then he would be able to see what she had added to the desk. It wouldn’t be lost in the stacks of files

and reports.

Janet began by clearing the desk and stacking files, reports and cost sheets in neat piles. A caricature caught her by surprise,

stopping her movements as she found the likeness of herself staring back at her. Her face had been divided in two. On one

half she was smiling, happy, her look angelic, a halo above her head. On the other half her look was cruel and taunting. A

devil’s horn was projecting from her hair.

Janet stared at the likeness for a long time as the hurt began to grow inside her. Huge tears filled her eyes, thick lashes

damming the emotion until one spilled and then another, weaving a crooked path down her suddenly pale cheek. Reese saw her

as a hypocrite. The picture proved that he looked upon her relationship with Christ as phony. On one side she was good and

on the other, evil.

Her hand was shaking as she raised it to cover her mouth. Slowly her lashes fluttered downward as she struggled not to cry

aloud. Nothing had ever hurt so much.