Walter turned to wave back at a girl who was walking toward them. It was hard to tell her age. She might have been about ten years older than Casey but possessed the ideal figure of a twenty-year-old and dressed like one. She wore no stockings. Remarkable legs. Her plate held mostly vegetables and a large piece of bread.
“Hi, baby,” she said. The men on the floor craned their necks to check out her rear end as she passed them.
“Hello, Delia,” Walter said cheerfully.
She came to a full stop to talk to him. Delia wore a short blue linen skirt and a paler blue blouse with its shell buttons gaping slightly across her full bosom. Her eyes were also blue, the color of mint candy, and they shone beneath the waves of curly red blond hair. She had a soft Staten Island accent, almost unnoticeable—it showed up when she said “yeah” now and then. Her facial expression was alert, but it was easy to overlook the intelligence in her eyes because of her suggestive clothing and curvy figure. There was a lushness about her skin, a ripeness. Jay’s literary friends would have called her a fox and deemed her legs sonnet-worthy.
“And this is Delia Shannon. The brilliant and talented sales assistant on the European sales desk.”
“Walter, you’re brokering again.” Delia smiled at Casey warmly.
“Hi,” Casey said, feeling something sisterly about her.
“Casey Han is interviewing to be our sales assistant,” Walter said.
Delia felt sorry for the poor kid. Kevlar wasn’t a bad guy, but his wife should blow him now and then before he left for work. That’s what uptight men needed—Delia felt sure of this. She shook Casey’s hand. “Good luck.”
Casey withdrew from Delia’s weak and powdery handshake. Used to the firm, make-eye-contact masculine handshakes at Princeton, she found Delia’s grasp anachronistic and overly feminine.
“So we’re just going to tell Kevin that Casey’s a hire. It’s a no-brainer,” Walter said.
Delia smiled knowingly.
“Maybe you’ll help Casey out if she wants to take the job.”
“Yes, I’d love that. I mean, if everything works out,” Casey said.
Delia clasped Casey’s large hands with her small white ones, saying, “Anything for Kevin’s new victim. Anything at all.” There was no malice or cynicism in her tone. Casey liked her.
Walter put his index finger dramatically across his lips, and Delia winked at him.
“I don’t think you have to worry about Casey. Ted Kim tells me that Casey is as tough as anything,” he said.
Casey tried not to look surprised.
“Oh? Is she Ted’s friend?” Delia asked.
Walter nodded. “Well, I think she’s Ted’s fiancée’s friend. A family friend.”
Casey nodded, not thinking it necessary to explain. Delia winked again, then excused herself. She had to speak with someone in the mailroom about a package. The men nearby watched her stroll away. Delia’s backside, shaped like a small blue heart, twitched with each gingerly step.
Delia was a perma-assistant, Walter explained. Never having gone to college, she was stuck in what was supposed to be a two-or three-year job. But apparently Delia did not complain.
The way Walter confided in her made Casey feel that she might be getting the job. Why else would he tell her these things? When they returned to the desk, Kevin curled his hand toward him, and she went to sit.
“Two years. Minimum. You’re going to have to work out. I swear. You have to make hotel reservations, get airline tickets, arrange conferences, send out reports, make copies, pick up faxes and packages, and coordinate details. Perfectly. You have to pay attention to everything. Do you understand? Two years. Or else. You will not get a recommendation from me unless you fulfill that two-year mark. Get it?” Kevin was looking hard at her, making sure she understood.
Hugh put down his fork, amused by Kevin’s offer. “It’s hard to believe that he was once a stellar broker. A salesperson. His personal skills have deteriorated beyond recognition.” He held out his hand. “Casey, welcome to our desk.”
Casey shook his hand but looked directly at Kevin when she said, “Deal.”
“And don’t trust this guy,” Kevin said, widening his eyes. “No matter how much he was fighting for you to get the job.”
Hugh laughed, unfazed. “Yes, don’t trust me. I’m just awful.”
Walter said, “So you’ll come to work tomorrow?”
“Yes, of course,” Casey said.