Doris let go of the mouse and offered it to Raymond. He started to click and type. "Now we're going to edit the name change so that it looks like a marriage." He worked quickly, expertly, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "There. Now Samson is her maiden name and Gershon is her married name." He pointed at the screen and showed Doris. She nodded. Raymond clicked and typed, and then he leaned back in the chair. "Done! The paychecks go to her mother, Kay Samson. Much more believable."
"Thanks, Raymond. You're a life saver."
"I know." He beamed. "So what's the deal with you, Kay?"
She laughed. "You've been doing so well on your own, Raymond. Why don't you tell me?"
"Well, the story is that you were half naked and did your snake dance on Avery's desk. And in the middle of a business deal!" He looked at Kay and narrowed his eyes, apparently trying to gauge her reaction. She gave him none, so he went on. "I figure you for some kind of Mata Hari. You know, a corporate spy."
"Oh! You were doing so well, but I'm not a spy. I work here, as you already know-my office is just down the hall."
"Then what are you?"
"Would you believe that I actually fell on that desk by mistake?" She turned and looked away, trying to avoid his analytical stare.
"Oh, stop it!" Raymond leaned back and thought some more. "If you're not a spy, then my next guess is that you're the snake in Avery-the-Charmer's basket. You two worked Jason Mack over as a team."
Kay froze, and Doris started to say something but Raymond cut them off. "Look, I'm on your side here. If you want to seduce those boys, I say go for it! Sounds like a hoot to me. I promise not to tell anyone that I met the famous snake dancer, okay?"
Doris exhaled and smiled. "Thanks, Raymond. I owe you a long and interesting story someday, but for now, we just can't talk about it."
"That will be fun. Listen girls, I gotta go. Nice to meet you, Kay." He got up, waved goodbye, and left.
Doris turned to Kay with a blank face. "Rumors travel fast, don't they?"
"That's no rumor-he got it right. Mack must have told someone about his encounter with the snake dancer. Probably some fellow executive at whatever watering hole those guys frequent."