CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Run that by me again. I don’t think I heard you. Like, not at all.” Rachel set her purse down on the sales counter. “You ran out on your easy money meal ticket, ran into Danny Idesley, and then hooked up with some other guy?”
“Don’t look at me like that. It was a long day.” Jeuley was about to get the third degree and she wasn’t sure why.
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and I’m almost positive you’re still holding out on me.”
“Not really. That meal ticket is the same Bradley March from high school. And the guy you’re thinking I hooked up with was only through email. Ordal Laverock. He owns BlueCentric Laboratories. He invented the Blue Root and I think he wants to either buy my programs or get me to work for him.”
Rachel’s eyes lit up and she jumped up and down. “That’s great! Just don’t sell out too cheap, okay?”
“Oh, I won’t. I’m actually glad I didn’t talk to Brad because now I’ll have some serious leverage after talking with Ordal…well, he goes by Orrick.”
“What the hell kind of name is that?” Rachel wrinkled her nose.
“My question exactly. I guess I’ll find out in about two hours at Le Rouge.” Jeuley pulled her sales tablet out from under the counter and scrolled through the menus. Nothing would get in her way of being on time. Not even misaligned tag entries.
“Hey, hey, hey. Look at you. Dinner at Le Rouge tonight with a rich man. I might have to be jealous.” Rachel walked back over to the counter and rummaged through her purse. “Sounds like you’re gonna have a great night.”
“I hope so. Because afterward, I’m going back to Fallen Bytes. Do you want to meet me there?” Jeuley squared her tags.
“Duh. Of course! We can celebrate your new career with a pitcher of Green Phantom.” After much fiddling, Rachel finally retrieved her lipstick and used the counter mirror as she applied the blue shade to her lips.
“I hope so. By the way. Have you ever heard of an azalea? What is it?”
She stopped in mid stroke. “They’re flowers. You didn’t know that?”
After being satisfied that all the records were in order, Jeuley set the sales tablet back under the counter. “Danny said to tell you that he still has your azalea. And I heard you and him messed around under the bleachers at school. And you never bothered to tell me?”
Rachel laughed, then finished off her lipstick. “I can have a secret or two, can’t I? I mean, would you want to tell anyone that you’d fucked Danny Idesley and actually liked it?”
Although she was shocked, Jeuley couldn’t stifle her laugh. “Good point.” Judging by the look on Rachel’s face, no healthy amount of goading would produce more juicy details about Danny under the bleachers. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your corner? Won’t anyone miss you?”
“I’m off for the rest of the day, actually. I’m on the way home. My Blue Root calls.” Rachel giggled. “I swear that thing really is the best invention since men.”
“Yeah, and wouldn’t it be cool for you to tell the world that you know the top programmer for it.”
“Hell yeah. Girl, knock that guy Ordal dead tonight, okay. I’ll be at Fallen Bytes at eight on the dot ready for our party.” Rachel tossed her lipstick back in her purse and slung the plastic contraption over her shoulder.
Jeuley waved. “I’ll check you later. Have fun with your Blue Root.”
“Oh, I will. No doubt about it. Later!” Rachel swished her way through the racks and Jeuley almost felt guilty for setting up her best friend, but at the same time, it’d be a blast to see the look on Rachel’s face.
