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Montaire Under Siege

By Linda Siebold

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Selena Simmons-Carmichael Russell sighed and slit the first manila envelope from her stack of mail. Even three days-worth filled her tray. She pulled the inquiry for background information out, logged it into the system, and created a file folder for it. Each week it took most of her first morning to catch up with the bookkeeping part of the job. She would rather be delving into the research. The guys were supposed to log in their cases, but likely as not she would have to pull them out from their notes and do that too. They were incapable of slapping a label on a manila envelope. The billing should go out the end of the week…

The office phone rang, and she glared at it. The research line had a separate number, so she knew the call was for the guys, but why didn’t they answer. It kept ringing so she picked it up and tried to sound cheerful. “R & S Retrievals. How may I direct your call?”

After the fifth call in a row Selena gave up and stalked to Sam’s office to find the three partners – Sam Russell, Matt Stevens, and Michael Rickard - discussing a case. She stared them all down. “I’ve had enough. I am through being the secretary for all of you. I don’t get my work done. We need to hire a secretary to answer the phone, log in the cases, and deal with the customers who walk in.”

Her husband Sam smiled. “We agree. And with Toby on board it’s only going to get busier. The ad goes into the paper tonight and it’s already on some of the internet job sites.”

“We keep you busy enough with our research. Needless to say, other activities like wedding planning.” Michael’s eyes met hers. Selena and Haylie, Matt’s wife, were providing guidance and help with Michael and Angel Townsend’s wedding in April.

Matt said. “All three of us have blocked our calendars for next week for interviews. We thought it might be safer if we didn’t dump that in your lap too. Besides, Haylie would hurt me if she heard about it. There are already responses online with credible applications.”

“Thanks, guys! You take care of me.” Selena’s eyes welled up with tears. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue from Sam’s desk. “Sorry, the hormones are driving me crazy this week.”

“Don’t I know.” Sam’s smile widened.

The office telephone rang again.

Selena’s hand hovered, but Sam’s was faster.

“R & S Retrievals, Sam Russell.”

An electronically altered voice on the line said, “Montaire will fall from within unless the contessa abdicates. If she doesn’t, the council will be destroyed one by one. She is not immune. She has one week.”
Sam’s eyes widened. He mouthed, “Record the call.”

Matt clicked the button on the credenza, but it was too late.

The dial tone buzzed in Sam’s ear.

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