Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“No, sir. I asked, but she said you’d probably know.”
Right.
Dad had probably had someone draw up the contract over the weekend. We were only two days away from the announcement, and we’d have to quickly decide when to leave if we were going to have at least some of the cottages ready before the summer season really kicked into gear.
“Very well. Have her come and see me when she returns,” I said, reaching for my coffee. “You said she brought this with her?”
“Yes, sir. It hasn’t been very long, but if it’s not hot, I’ll get you another.”
“It’s fine. You may go.” I turned my attention to the papers she’d brought me and scanned over it. I still had an hour and a half until the meeting would begin, and since it was virtual, I could take my time.
Maybe it would be best to have Chloe sit in on all these meetings now.
I tossed the papers right down on my desk and leant back in my chair, dropping my head back so I was looking up at the ceiling. There was so much to do for Adair Travel, and I really didn’t have the time to be sitting here feeling sorry for myself, but here I was.
Sitting here.
Feeling fucking sorry for myself.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on her face during the meeting. She’d been utterly horrified when Gramps had suggested she go with me, but that had quickly changed once he’d mentioned her resignation being accepted.
It’d swung right back to disgust when I’d brought up the fact we’d be living in the same house.
Was I that terrible to work with? Was I that much of a horrible boss? Sure, I was strict and had lofty standards, but did that make me a bad person? Laziness didn’t equal success, but it wasn’t as though I policed the lives of my subordinates.
I reached for my phone and dialled Harvey’s extension. His secretary answered, and I said, “This is Theodore Black. Is Harvey available?”
“Ah, yes, sir. Would you like me to patch you through?”
“No. Have him come to my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hung up and dialled through to Melody outside, telling her he was on his way, then put my phone back on the hook.
If it weren’t for those arsehole directors on the board, none of this would be happening. I wouldn’t have to go in person, I wouldn’t have to drag Chloe with me, I wouldn’t have to live with her.
‘When you’re at Buckley Cottage, you’ll be away from the eyes of the directors, and you can show her who you really are.’
Gramps wasn’t wrong when he said that, but there was a problem.
Who was I outside of the office? It’d been years since I’d done anything but work, and the past two years especially had been nothing but a grind to show the noisy people in this company that I’d earnt my place in this office.
“Yo.” Harvey strolled into my office, pushed the door shut, and threw himself down on the sofa with a grin. “What’s so important that you’ve called me over here when I’m so busy?”
Yes. He was so busy he could waltz up here on a whim.
I rested my elbows on the desk and looked over at him, bringing my hands together in the prayer position in front of my face. “Am I a bad boss, Harv?”
He blinked at me, and for a moment, I saw a flash of familial resemblance with Chloe. “I think ‘bad’ is subjective.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
He rubbed his fingers across his jaw. “You can be a bit hard sometimes, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I’m sure half the PR department would say I’m an arsehole, too.”
“Yes, but do any of your staff have you down in their phone as ‘The Bastard?’”
“Ha. You saw that?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t want to face Chloe’s wrath. Plus, it’s funny.” He shrugged. “Why are you so suddenly insecure? Is it because of this trip you’re both going on?”
I paused. “Do you know why she wants to resign so badly?”
“I’ve asked, but she wouldn’t give me a reason other than she wanted to do something else, but she does complain about you bugging her outside of working hours a lot.”
“So, I am a bad boss.”
“Well, not really. She says herself it’s not like she doesn’t get paid well for it, and she often had to help your grandfather out outside of office hours. Not as much as your demanding self, though.”
“Absolutely nothing you just said is an argument against me being a bad boss.” I sighed and dropped my hands to the desk. “If I become a better boss, do you think she’ll still leave me?”
He laughed, throwing his arm across the back of the sofa. “Man, you really don’t want to lose her, do you? Is this just about her being your secretary or is there more to it?”