Mandy Makes Her Mark Read Online Free

looking at her, barely spoke, and left her wondering if he hated her or merely found her incredibly dull. Her ego didn’t need the hit today.
    Still, once she was safely past, she stopped. Guilt surged through her. Tad was probably devastated over his breakup with Luna, especially given her penchant for cruelty. Why, even now he might be trying to drown his sorrows in drink. Which could be disastrous for tomorrow’s shoot. Hangovers were notorious for causing problems that couldn’t easily be edited out—slumping posture, hollow eyes and cheeks, insincere smiles.
    Mandy gritted her teeth. She shouldn’t even be here. Her employees were professionals—she ought to be able to expect them to figure out how to behave accordingly. And yet, if any of her models tanked, they would take the agency down with them.
    She backtracked, dragging her suitcase. When she sat down on the barstool next to Tad’s, he barely looked up.
    â€œTad.”
    â€œAmanda.”
    That was another thing. He was the only person on earth who called her that. She had spent her childhood begging her family not to call her Mandy, but they were unmoved, as were every teacher, classmate, friend, and coworker she had ever had. “You’re just a ‘Mandy,’” one well-meaning friend had tried to explain. “You might as well get used to it.” And she had, finally, which made it all the more unsettling that Tad used her real name.
    â€œSo…what are you drinking?” she asked.
    He swung his head around and drilled her with a heavy-lidded glare.
    â€œReally, Mandy? I’ve been dating your sister for eight months, not to mention the fact that you and I have worked together for almost a year. We’ve spent how many dinners together? Events? Business meetings? Endless holiday meals?”
    â€œWow,” Mandy said, trying not to feel stung. “I wasn’t aware that you consider Thanksgiving—“ which she had hosted in her apartment, inviting Luna and Tad and a few friends—“to be endless .”
    â€œI hate the holidays. No offense.”
    Of course he hated the holidays. Tad could out-scrooge Scrooge himself. “None taken,” she said stiffly.
    â€œAnd in all that time, what have you seen me drink?”
    â€œDr. Pepper,” Mandy sighed. “Fine. Point taken. Did you at least have him add some rum? Because you look like you need it.”
    â€œI’m an alcoholic, Amanda,” Tad said in a withering voice. “Almost eleven years sober.”
    â€œOh!” Mandy felt her face flame. How did she not know this? “Should you even be here, then? I mean, in a bar? Is it…allowed?”
    â€œIt’s fine,” Tad said. “Some alcoholics prefer not to be around people who are drinking. I don’t especially mind.”
    â€œBut you’re under a lot of stress. You know, because of the breakup and all.”
    Tad looked at her unblinkingly, his frown seeming to deepen. “Ah. So now you’re a psychotherapist, as well. Thank you, Dr. Leif, I’ll take that under advisement.”
    â€œNo! I mean, I didn’t mean it that way. Just…look, Tad, I was trying to be sympathetic.” She considered. “I mean, I’ve certainly been the target of my sister’s moods often enough. I know it’s not especially pleasant.”
    Tad shrugged. “To tell the truth, I think we both knew the breakup had to happen. I give her credit for pulling the plug.”
    â€œYou do?” Wow, Mandy was further out of the loop than she even imagined. She hadn’t picked up on any discord between the two.
    Of course…their relationship had largely consisted of the two of them appearing together in restaurants and at parties and movie openings, glowering seductively into the camera. Tad was a perfect gentleman, holding doors and taking her coat, but the two of them never seemed to actually speak to each