“The Running Wind.Maybe you’ve heard of it?”
“I think most people in Texas have,” she agreed.If it wasn’t the largest ranch in the state, it was certainly close.In fact, it was one of the biggest in the country.She knew the Donovans had owned it for more than a century and that only small, select parts were open to the public.
“The timing on this takeover wasn’t ideal.We’d hoped to put it off until the first of the year.”He shrugged.“As my assistant, I’d like you to be there.”
She blinked.“Me?”
“I’ll want your input, and I’ll want you to be part of the strategy for the logistics business.I have financials to prepare for all the companies as well as a general overview.”
“Are you still CFO of Donovan Worldwide?”
“In my spare time.”He gave a tired half-smile.
Absently she wondered if his exhaustion had been there the whole time and why she hadn’t noticed it.
“Think about it,” he went on, bringing her back to the present.“It’s more than a month from now, and you don’t have to give me an immediate answer.Theoretically, we’d leave work around lunchtime on Thursday so that we’d be in time for an evening overview.We’d stay through early Sunday afternoon.”
She’d had no idea that he expected his assistant to travel with him.“I typically ran the offices when Mr.Newman was gone.”
“I’m sure we have VPs who are capable of stepping in.Or, preferably, Martha could sit at your desk.”
“She only works part-time,” Kelsey replied.
“See if she can cover.It’s only a day and a half.If not her, find someone else.We’ll be available in an emergency.”
She nodded slowly.
“What can I do for you?”He clasped his hands on the desktop.
“About Seward…” She placed the manila folder in front of him.
He flipped it open, scanned the contents faster than should have been humanly possible then looked up.As if it had never existed, the momentary weariness etched beside his eyes had vanished, replaced by steely intensity.“Three months’ severance?Do you think that’s appropriate?”
“It’s not atypical for someone who’s been with us for so many years.”
“And will potentially cost the company tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars?”
“I’m thinking more about his family.”
“As Seward should have done.Donovan Worldwide pays severance when it’s warranted but never in cases of severe misconduct.”
“Potentialmisconduct.”
“Ms.Lane.”He pinched the bridge of his nose.“Please.”
She exhaled.While she knew Seward might eventually be cleared of responsibility, the truth was, he had violated the company’s abuse policy.
“Have this amended to cover only his to-date pay and accrued vacation.”He closed the folder and pushed it back to her.His action and tone left no room for argument.“We’ll set you up as a signer on the bank account in the next couple of weeks.”
“Yes, Mr.Donovan,” she said, voice tight.She snatched back the folder and left his office.
Instead of returning to her desk, she headed to HR to request a new check.Rather than riding the elevator, she took the stairs, needing the exercise to clear her mind.
After meeting with Lawrence, she decided to grab a latte from the coffee-cart vendor in the building’s lobby.She took it outside and crossed the road to the urban park with concrete seats, a large swatch of grass, oleanders that had lost most of their blooms and several small fountains.
Since she only had on a lightweight suit jacket and the sun was obscured by clouds, the breeze chilled her.
After a couple of sips, she called her friend Andi.
