Chapter 19 - The Winter Audit
|
January brought a brutal cold snap and a massive audit for Vanguard Strategies.
Claire was buried under paperwork, reviewing design budgets and contractor bids for three different hotel renovations.
She was sitting at her kitchen island, surrounded by files, when her phone rang.
It was Evelyn.
"Claire."
"Hello, Evelyn. Is everything alright?"
"I am reviewing my tax documents," Evelyn said, her voice tight. "I cannot find the receipt for the charitable donation we made to the symphony last year."
"We didn't make that donation, Evelyn," Claire said, not looking up from her spreadsheet. "Daniel forgot to authorize the transfer before the deadline."
A long pause on the other end of the line.
"I see."
"Is there anything else?"
"No." Evelyn hesitated. "Yes. The new caterer at the gala was a disaster."
Claire smiled slightly.
"The salmon was dry?"
"It was practically jerky," Evelyn complained. "And they ran out of sparkling water before eleven."
"That’s unfortunate."
"You would have managed it better."
It was a rare compliment, buried under a complaint.
"I would have," Claire agreed easily. "But I didn't have to."
"I suppose you didn't."
Another long pause.
"I miss your competence, Claire."
"You miss my utility, Evelyn."
"Perhaps," Evelyn conceded quietly. "But I also miss you."
Claire stopped typing.
"I appreciate that, Evelyn."
"Will you consider coming to lunch next week? Just the two of us."
Claire looked at her calendar. It was mostly empty.
"I can do Thursday."
"Thursday is fine. I'll make a reservation."
May you like
"No," Claire said firmly. "I'll make the reservation. I'll text you the details."
She hung up the phone, feeling a strange sense of victory in taking control of the very thing Evelyn used to dictate.
