Chapter 38: DEPLOYED

Ashleigh was talking on the phone with a member of her analyst staff. Her eyes kept darting to the clock. Damnit! It was already 11:17 and Gloria was still going on and on about non-work related stuff. Why did people go into details about their personal business?! Why couldn't she understand that no one in their right mind needed a detailed accounting of your weekend when all you did was hang out with the same man that you've been married to for twenty years and go out to eat at the same restaurant you went to each Friday???

Gloria wasn't exactly her boss but high enough on the food chain that Ashleigh had to carefully consider her exit strategy.

"...so the bartender is single and he's such a nice guy. I think his wife died in '07…wait, maybe it was '08 because it was the same year that Bob and I bought the Tahoe—"

"OH MY GOD!"

"What?!" Gloria exclaimed.

"There's a…fire! FIRE DRILL! I gotta go. Talk to you later!" Ashleigh quickly disconnected the phone and then she sighed and sho