Chapter 428: Russian Tea Room
Monday, February 13th Morning
Shown to her seat with great deference by the staff, she smiled; this showed the power she had. Taking her seat, she ordered her tea and waited. She avoided looking around the tearoom. She wanted to keep the people around her thinking she was cold to the opulence of the space.
The tearoom was founded in 1927, the very tail end of the roaring twenties, by former members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, next door to Carnegie Hall. A bastion for actors, writers, politicians, and executives, she didn't seem out of place. She seemed perfectly at home in the Russian style décor.
Finally, the person she was waiting for was brought to her table. Eulalia Coyle stood up, hugged, and kissed the cheeks of Janette Cussler. The two women looked at each other at arm's length.
"Janette, ma chère, tu es si belle, Quel est ton secret," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Eulalia, tu me flattes, mais nous savons tous les deux que c'est un mensonge," Janette said.
"Si ce sont des mensonges, alors je détesterais voir la vérité," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Tu as toujours eu la langue d'argent, Eulalia," Janette said.
"Merde, asseyons-nous et parlons," Mrs. Coyle said.
The two women took their seats. Janette ordered tea, and she looked across the table at Mrs. Coyle.
"Eulalia, not that I don't mind spending time with you, but what is this all about?" Janette asked.
"What no foreplay? Have you forgotten everything I taught you, Janette?" Mrs. Coyle asked.
"I work for Tanner Rich; he's a bit of a stickler," Janette said.
"Tanner's a prick," Mrs. Coyle said.
"He's still my boss," Janette said.
"Doesn't make him any less of a prick," Mrs. Coyle said.
"That's neither here nor there; why did you bring me out here?" Janette asked.
Mrs. Coyle sighed, "Grant has himself a girlfriend," she said.
"Oh! Wow! About time for my godson," Janette said, "Why don't you seem happy?"
"I'm trying to set him up with someone higher up the social ladder," Mrs. Coyle said.
"I thought you were happy when you thought he was seeing that artist," Janette said.
"That was until I found out the artist was more interested in my other son and then daughter," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Alright, I didn't see that one coming," Janette said.
"Me either. So, yeah, Grant is dating again," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Why does this displease you, Eulalia?" Janette asked.
"She's in her early thirties, has all the qualifications, but seems stuck working at a non-profit," Mrs. Coyle said.
"There's nothing wrong with that. Maybe she has a big heart," Janette said.
"Or looking for a husband," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Why do you always think the worst of these young women?" Janette asked.
"Weren't we these young women once?" Mrs. Coyle asked.
"That was a long time ago," Janette said.
"Not that long ago, Janette," Mrs. Coyle said.
"With what Grant has done, considering his brother and sister, he should have some freedom and fun," Janette said.
"Having fun is fine, but she's not the type to add to the family," Mrs. Coyle said.
"It can't be all that bad," Janette said.
"He told me she lives in this tiny one-bedroom walk up on the East Side," Mrs. Coyle said.
"We all have to start somewhere," Janette said.
Mrs. Coyle shook her head.
Janette sighed, "I see this is really causing you some distress," she said.
"Yes, it is," Mrs. Coyle said.
"So, is this why you wanted to get together?" Janette asked.
"I thought you would like an update on your godson," Mrs. Coyle said.
"I would; last I heard, he was at the Knight Center," Janette said.
Mrs. Coyle rolled her eyes, "Yes, he still is there," she said, disappointed.
"So, how did he meet this woman?" Janette asked.
"Mrs. Coyle sighed, "God! Grant went to some Brooklyn Loft Party with Carter, and that's where they met," she said.
"I see," Janette said.
"So, they've seen each other pretty much since then," Mrs. Coyle said.
Janette nodded, "I see," she said.
"So, yeah, they've seen each other since," Mrs. Coyle shook her head, "I can't believe he met some party girl, at some loft party, so unlike Grant."
"How is Carter doing?" Janette asked.
"You know, one day at a time, we've been trying to keep him on the straight and narrow," Mrs. Coyle said.
Janette nodded, "It has to be tough," she said.
"It is," Mrs. Coyle said, "But we make do."
"Maybe, I could help a little for your peace of mind," Janette said.
"How would you help?" Mrs. Coyle asked.
"Eulalia, you know I've worked in non-profits since we graduated college," Janette said.
"yes," Mrs. Coyle said, "How can you help?"
"I have connections with many non-profits; I could ask about her," Janette said.
"Thank you," Mrs. Coyle said.
"You're welcome," Janette said, "So, what's her name, and at what non-profit does she work for?"
Mrs. Coyle gave Janette a sly smile, "funny you should ask, Janette," she said.
"What?" Janette asked.
"She works for you," Mrs. Coyle said.
"At the Stafford Foundation?" Janette asked.
"Yes, that's what she said," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Mhmm," Janette said, "I'm intrigued now; what's her name?"
"Fallon Adams," Mrs. Coyle said.
Janette's lips got thin, and she nodded. "Are you sure that's her name?" she asked.
"Yes, that's what she said her name is," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Okay, it's not the most common first name," Janette said.
"I know, that's why I surprised you don't know her," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Did I say that?" Janette asked.
"Your face said it all," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Well, it was more shock," Janette said.
"Why the shock?" Mrs. Coyle asked.
"As I said, it's not a common first name," Janette said; she held up her hand, "Let me finish, I may not work with a Fallon Adams, but I do work with a Fallon."
"What's her name?" Mrs. Coyle asked.
"She's my boss, Fallon Stafford," Janette said.
"Fallon Stafford? So, this woman is lying; she works there," Mrs. Coyle said.
Janette pulled out her smartphone and slid through the various menus. Finally, Mrs. Coyle picked up the smartphone and looked at the picture. "That was taken in December," Janette said.
"I see; that's you and Fallon Stafford? Your patron?" Mrs. Coyle asked.
"Yes, that's Fallon Stafford and me at the foundation's holiday party," Janette said.
"That's Fallon Adams," Mrs. Coyle said.
"It is?" Janette asked.
"Yes, it is," Mrs. Coyle said.
"Interesting," Janette said.
"Yes, indeed," Mrs. Coyle said and nodded.
