Killer Blonde Read Online Free

and my fingers twitched on the keys as I copied the undeserved praise for this goldbrick. I itched to change those sentences, but I couldn’t. Vicki would read my work, then personally deliver it to Mr. Hammonds.
    Vicki came back from every man’s evaluation giggling and pink-cheeked, as if she’d been at an assignation. The men were always smiling.
    By Friday, I knew all the men got good reviews, even the drones and drunks. Vicki, like many bosses in those days, considered alcoholism a manly vice—until the man started making embarrassing scenes. Then, like a cute puppy who’d grown into an unruly dog, he was out on the street.
    I got my evaluation on Friday morning. Vicki made me wait, but what she said was fair. More than fair. Vicki praised me to the skies, so I knew she was still afraid of me. My evaluation didn’t come with giggles and prime rib, but I didn’t want to spend any more time than I had to with Vicki.
    There were no lunches, drinks, or even a soda from the company cafeteria for Jennifer and Minnie. Vicki made them endure a wretched weeklong wait. By three o’clock Friday, they still hadn’t had their evaluations. Jennifer wasn’t worried, but Minnie was a wreck.
    I didn’t know what comfort I could give her. From the way Vicki was prancing around the office, I was sure she was up to no good.
    Vicki dropped Jennifer’s and Minnie’s evaluations on their desks at five o’clock Friday. Then she flounced out the door without a word. Vicki had typed them herself, and I could see the
X
’s crossing out her mistakes. Too bad Vicki wasn’t evaluated on her typing.
    Jennifer read hers, then slammed it down on the desk and said, “That miserable bitch. I’ll get her if it’s the last thing I do.”
    I raised an eyebrow. Gentle Jennifer never talked like that.
    Minnie read her evaluation and wept. “It’s not fair,” she sobbed. Her sharp little nose was red and dripping. Her eyelids were pink and swollen. “I’ve worked so hard. I don’t know what else I can do to please her.”
    â€œYou can’t do anything, Minnie,” Jennifer said. “Haven’t you got that through your head yet?”
    I’d never heard Jennifer speak so harshly to her friend. Minnie only cried harder, but for once, Jennifer didn’t try to comfort her.
    â€œCome on, ladies, you’ve had a horrible week,” I said. We didn’t use expressions like
stressed-out
then. “Let me buy you a drink.”
    â€œNo, thanks,” Jennifer said. “I have work to do, Margery. I think you understand.”
    Jennifer had a fire in her brown eyes I’d never seen before. She rummaged in her desk until she had a big pile of papers. Jennifer shoved them in her briefcase, along with her accursed evaluation, and marched out.
    Minnie gathered up her fat black leather old-lady purse and put on a sad brown scarf. “Thanks, Margery, but I just want to go home,” she snuffled. Minnie’s reaction wasn’t healthy. I wished she had the same angry fire as Jennifer.
    At eight thirty Monday morning, drab little Minnie was at her desk, slaving away in a hopeless effort to please Vicki.
    At 9:00 A.M., Jennifer walked into Vicki’s office without knocking, a thick file under one arm. Her step was bold. Her long blonde hair waved defiantly.
    I was out of typing paper, which I kept in a cabinet near Vicki’s office. While I rooted around for it, I could hear everything Jennifer said. Dear, sweet Jennifer had quite a mouth on her when she was riled. I liked the little blonde even better for that.
    â€œWhat do you mean, giving me a poor evaluation, you incompetent twit?” Jennifer’s low voice cut like a knife.
    Vicki made a gurgling sound. No one, not even me, spoke to her that way.
    â€œDo you know how many times I’ve saved your bacon?” Jennifer said. “Obviously you need a reminder. So