The Pen Pal Who Turned Out to Be My New Boss novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Terms

Dear Marguerite,

Here are my terms, in order, and I would like them kept. One. No more secrets, not even kind ones. Two. You tell the staff who you are, yourself, out loud. Three. I get to say no to you in print.

Hallie

I had written those on the back of a dry-cleaning ticket, and I read them to her across the pressing table, in the steam.

Marguerite did not argue with one of them.

"Agreed," she said. "All three. Do you want it in writing?"

"I just wrote it."

"Then I'll sign the ticket."

She took the pencil my mother had left on the counter.

She signed her full name at the bottom of a ticket for two pairs of wool trousers.

My mother's voice came through the curtain.

"That is a legal document now," she said. "I am a witness."

Marguerite put her hand over her mouth, and her shoulders shook.

I laughed so hard that I had to hold on to the press.

On Monday morning she stood in front of the staff at nine thirty with no notes.

I sat at the back by the radiator, which banged, as it does.

Gordon was in his chair at the far end with his arms crossed, wearing a half-smile.

"I have something to say," Marguerite said, "and then you can all hate me, and then we'll do the schedule."

Thirty people put down their coffee.

"For six years, the Ask Lark column has been written by one person," she said. "That person is me."

For a second nothing happened.

Then the intern said, "Oh my God," quietly, to himself, and somebody in sales started to laugh and couldn't stop.

"Gordon has known all that time," Marguerite said.

"He kept it from you, and he is not the only one who kept things."

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