Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
I wake up the next morning in a ball of nerves over the stockholders’ meeting. I run five miles in the park and still manage to be at work an hour before the rest of the staff and dressed in a red power statement suit dress. I even have time to pick up scones and set one on Sallie’s desk with a note on the bag that reads: Now you have to make me some of your butterscotch cookies, because I love those cookies and because she loves that I love them. By eight-forty, I’m well caffeinated and nervous about the stockholders’ meeting.
Sallie buzzes my office. “Connie is on the line. She’s Reid’s secretary. And FYI, she is setup with security clearance.”
“Great, thanks.”
The line buzzes and I answer. “Hi, Connie.”
“Hi, Carrie. Looking forward to meeting you soon.”
“I thought you were coming here today?”
“Reid meant after the stockholders’ meeting, which we’re hosting, which I know because I have learned to decode his meanings over the past ten years. So that most likely means tomorrow. Aside from that, I just wanted to tell you that if you have any trouble dialing into the meeting, call me. Sallie has all my contact numbers.”
“Oh. Great. Thank you.”
“Thank you. There is a novel combination of words. Perhaps together we can teach them to Reid. No. Never mind. We’ll just get drunk together at some point.” Reid’s voice sounds in the background. “Speaking of the beast. Gotta go. Bye, Carrie.” She hangs up.
I like her. I like her a lot. Sallie pokes her head in the door, giving me a thumbs-up that means she likes her, too. And she’s been with cranky, mean Reid for ten years? I shove aside that thought for later reference and ten minutes later I dial into the meeting, though no one in the room knows who is on the closed line.
Reid calls the meeting to order and he cuts right to the chase. “As you all know at this point, I’m now partnering with Carrie West to reach our profit projections.”
Partnering.
It’s not a word I expect him to use.
There are several questions about me that follow and Reid shuts them down. “I don’t waste my time or money, or yours. Carrie is not her father. She was against the bad decisions that were made, which are documented in each case. She’s CEO material: smart, sharp, embraced by the staff and the backbone of the profits for the corporation. I expect to recommend a power shift from me to her in the next thirty days.”
There’s debate and talk of that timeline being too fast, but Reid is strong in each turn that is taken. Once they get past talking about me, the talks turn to financials, future projects, strategies, overhead, and the list goes on. I take detailed notes on my open computer. During lags in the meat of the meeting, I type out my rebuttals to each question, comment and statement I feel deserves them.
It’s a full two hours later when the meeting ends and I resist the urge to text a thank you to Reid. He made it clear last night that he doesn’t want that from me. Instead, I quickly finish typing my notes and email them to Reid, when my cellphone rings with Reid’s number.
“Hello,” I answer quickly.
“Get me answers to every question in that meeting,” he says without preamble. “I need your point-of-view to compare to mine before I head into a lunch meeting.”
“Already in your mail.”
“I need details, Carrie.”
“I typed as I listened and perfected when I was done. You have what you need.”
He’s silent two beats. “I’ll be into the office by five. Plan for a later night.” He hangs up in full asshole mode again, which worries me.
Just how much pressure is he getting outside the boardroom and on what? Me? Is that why he wants my notes? Are the board members rejecting me even as I sit here and push Reid to the point of no return? I think of exactly what that man wants me to think about; him between my legs. And from there, I can almost feel his big body crowding me against his door or some wall. He keeps touching me. He keeps pushing every female button I possess. And maybe that’s the point. It’s not the board that’s the real issue. It’s Reid who wants to push me to the point of no return, but to what end?
Chapter thirteen
Carrie
Idon’t hear from Reid for the rest of the day, but right before I expect him to arrive, Sallie pokes her head into my office. “I’m about to leave, but your father is on the line.”
“Put him through and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’m bringing cookies,” she says with a smile, then disappears, and I hope she brings a ton because I’m a really good stress eater.