I had been side-stepping the job for the past three days, and had begun to hope that Paula had forgotten about it I should have known better.
‘Eh?’ I opened one eye and looked at her reproachfully.
‘The Wingrove job,’ she said firmly, coming into the office.
I sat up.
‘How many more times do I have to tell you I don’t want that job? Send the money back, and say I’m too busy.’
‘You’re not suggesting we should refuse five hundred dollars, are you?’
‘I don’t want the job.’
‘What’s wrong with it?’ she asked patiently. ‘It won’t take you more than an hour. Why, it would be tempting Providence not to do it.’
‘If Providence can be tempted that easy, then I’ll tempt it. Now, don’t bother me. Get on to Wingrove and tell him we’re far too busy to handle the job.’
‘I sometimes wonder why we’re in business at all,’ Paula said acidly. ‘I hope you realize there’re bills to be paid at the end of the month. I hope you haven’t forgotten this desk you insisted on having hasn’t yet been paid for.’