Chapter 20 The Company Handbook
It takes everything I have not to let my rage show. I keep quiet as much as possible, only speaking when asked something directly and when the meeting finally comes to an end, I’m the first to leave.
I stride purposefully in the direction of my department but the closer I get the slower my stride becomes. I don’t know what I’m going to say to them. My team are going to be so disappointed.
Turning the corner, the first thing I notice is Eden sitting at her desk. She’s talking to someone and that someone has their back turned towards me. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. They’re expecting me to say something. They’re expecting good news but I haven’t got any.
The only people in the entire department who haven’t noticed me are Eden and her guest.
Approaching them, my temper boils as Holly Sinclair turns to look at me, a wide smile on her face.
“Thanks for that, Eden,” she says. “I really owe you one.”
She nods her head at me before waving goodbye to Eden and walking away.
I’m gobsmacked. Could Eden Winters be any more brazen?
“In my office,” I say, my voice deadly quiet, “NOW.”
Eden’s eyes widen in horror as if she’s completely oblivious to why I’m angry. She can’t possibly think that I wouldn’t be able to piece it together? Someone had to pass the design on to Lewis and there’s no one on my team who would do that.
The only person who can’t be trusted is her. She’s new, hasn’t earned my trust yet and perhaps more importantly… Why the hell was she talking to Holly Sinclair when I expressly forbade her to?
“What were you talking to Miss Sinclair about?” I ask, barely keeping myself in check.
“Er… Coffee… Apparently Mr Artie spilt coffee on his shirt and she wanted to know if I know any ways to get the stain out.”
“What?” I ask disbelievingly.
Is she seriously going to play innocent?
“To be honest, laundry isn’t my specialty. I’m actually sort of dreadful at it,” she tells me, “so I recommended a dry cleaner.”
She must think I’m gullible as hell.
“Pack your stuff,” I say, turning away from her.
“What? Why?”
“You’re fired,” I spit out angrily.”
I face the window. If I look at her, I’m going to shout and then the whole department will hear about what happened.
“For recommending a dry cleaner?” she asks.
“Stop. Just stop. We both know that you weren’t exchanging dry cleaner information.”
“Huh? What do you think I was doing?” she asks. “I know I’m not supposed to speak to Holly but I didn’t want to be rude and she wasn’t asking about the work so…”
“Like that would matter,” I retort, cutting her off. “You don’t seem to mind talking to Holly about our work.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really? Do you think I’m stupid?” I turn on the spot.
“Stupid? No. Why would I think that?”
“You told Holly about our new design, didn’t you?” My voice is rising now and all concern that the team outside will hear is gone.
“What? No. I wouldn’t.” Her eyes go wide and for a second I almost fall for it. She’s got that doey innocent look down to a tee. “You can’t seriously think I’d do that?”
“If it’s not you, then who did?” I demand. “My team wouldn’t do that.”
A look of hurt flashes across her face.
“I thought I was a part of that team,” she says so quietly I almost miss it. “You can’t fire me.”
“Like hell I can’t!” I growl.
“You’ll need to investigate and prove it, if you want to fire me,” she says coolly. “At most, you can suspend me with pay. It’s in the company handbook. Perhaps you should read it, sir.”
Damn it. As if, she’s actually read the handbook! If I wasn’t so furious, I’d be impressed.
“Fine! Then you’re suspended. Get the hell out of here!”
She storms towards the door but with her hand on the doorknob she hesitates.
“You obviously don’t think very highly of me, Mr Grisham. I thought we’d moved past this. I thought I’d at least gone someway towards proving myself.”
She pauses and I feel a smidgen of guilt. Perhaps, in my anger I’d been too hasty. Turning to face me once again, she meets my eye with a determination that I’ve not seen there before.
“I’m disappointed, Mr Grisham,” she says curtly before leaving the office.
She doesn’t slam the door or cause a scene. Instead, the door clicks closed and my office is left silent.
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