CHAPTER161
Senior never says anything lightly, always direct and to the point, not wasting his breath on small talk. I know he’s not embellishing. If he thinks I am a drain on company finances, excess to requirements, then I’d be gone already.
“So, what’s to be done with me?” I respond drily, less confident at the turn of this conversation. Grasping my hands together as they start to tremble, I lay them across my waist to regain my posture, trying to appear business-like, despite the pounding thuds in my chest.
Right now, I wouldn’t care if he sent me to Timbuktu if it meant I didn’t get fired.
“You’re going back to Executive House, floor thirty-two … Public relations, organizing events and the like …” he waves his hand around, uninterested “… Jacob told me you excel at planning and juggling a high workload, so I hope you finally prove it to me.” His harsh penetrative gaze rests on me coldly, assessing me, but I steel myself against his stare.
The thought of going back to that building surges through me like fire, igniting my fear manically, but I remain impassive under his scrutiny while my blood freezes in my veins and my lungs turn to ash.
“I don’t know what happened with my son, Miss. Anderson, but I am pleased with your discretion on this transference. There has been no real gossip as such, but I do want to point this out … You’re still employed under duress of my son, he was very clear on this, and as you know, my relationship with Jacob is somewhat strained; so this …” he waves his hand to me then back to himself dismissively, “… is the compromise I made to keep him happy. If I hadn’t made such promises to Jacob, I would’ve fired you in under a week.” He visually releases his grip on me as an end to our discussion and he goes back to tapping away on his laptop.
I lower my lashes and swallow, involuntarily, face hot with shame and body weakening with cold anxiety. I suppose I should be grateful for this, despite my inner organs trying to shrivel up and hide. I still have a job.
What the hell has happened to me?
My job was my universe. The one thing I excelled at and pushed through. My life consumed with work, got me to where I was because of it. Yet here I am, saved from unemployment because Jake felt guilty enough to ensure I kept my job.
The thought is sobering, and Giovanni’s revelation is a surprise. Jake and he were always so formal, distant, and cold, it makes me wonder at his willingness to please his son.
There may be more to their relationship than either Jake or I realize. Maybe Senior loves his son more than he shows.
“Jake didn’t need me anymore … That’s all there is to say.” I point out blandly, avoiding the eyes that have once again come to rest on my face at the utterance of words. In a way, it’s the truth. He doesn’t need me … not in the way I need him, so, there was no reason to keep me any longer.
“Right …” His voice is drenched in sarcasm. I glance up and for a moment I catch a hint of challenge in his eye, maybe even a slight thawing of his normally cruel tight mouth. He’s almost as unreadable as his son. “Pack up whatever you brought here; you’re going there today. Wilma Munro is expecting you.” He moves his focus back to his screen; a clear move to signal my dismissal. He’s issued his demands and now wants me to remove myself from his presence.
“Yes, sir.” I nod briefly and turn on my heel, needing no more direction. I walk out briskly, glad to escape, my steps seemingly confident despite my insides turning to mush. I can barely breathe with the weight caving in on me.
I’m not sure how to feel right now.
I’m going back! Back to Jake’s building, back to being only floors below him and I don’t know how to navigate it, or how to process it.
Chance sightings … chance meetings. I don’t know if I can handle it. I don’t think my heart can handle it.
Waves of nausea return bitterly, my hands tremble at the thought of possibly seeing him again and a sickening dread almost consumes me. This has to be the worst decision ever made in the history of mankind and somehow, I feel like it’s going to be my complete undoing."
