Victor is quiet as I make my green tea.I toss the tea bag into the trash—I don’t like it strong—and turn, leaning my ass against the counter.
“That’s not good,” he agrees.
“It may have nothing to do with us, or it might.”I sip the hot liquid.
We are both silent for a long moment, thinking, clearly going back over the evening.
“You didn’t fuck one of his wives, did you?”
I give him a dark look, push off the counter, and make my way back to my office.
“Seb, I was joking.”
As I walk through the doorway, I don’t bother turning as I say, “Sebastian.”
I hate Seb.I hate my name shortened.I don’t know what made me tell Emily that my name was Bastian.It just fell out when I was hoping she’d ignore me during the flight.I certainly didn’t want to tell her who I was if she recognized the well-known name.
Who knew it was her mouth that I’d end up enjoying the most.
I digress...back to Victor.
We’re not friends, so it’s highly inappropriate for him to use a nickname, and yet he does it too often.Victor was a fellow Harvard graduate who came highly recommended when I was recruiting.
He’s done a great job, which is why he’s still got a job.But when it comes to boundaries?Victor has none.He crosses them like a fucking three-year-old with a pack of crayons and a coloring book.
Recently my instincts have been flaring.Just the odd comment here or there.Speaking up in partner meetings when it’s inappropriate.
I have a feeling he wants my job.
Victor was one of the shareholders who sold early—really early.A few years ago, he tried to negotiate a new share package.I said no, and he’s asked me twice since.
No.
“Buy them,” I replied.“You have the second largest salary in the organization.Buy them just like everyone else.”
“It’s about valuing your employees, Sebastian.I add an enormous amount of value to Remington Obsidian.Fucking negotiate.”
Wow.
“Curse at me again,” I warned him, with a dark look.“And you’ll be writing yourself a fucking exit check.”
“That wasn’t a no.”Victor pushed his chair back, smiled, and walked out.
It’s been playing in the back of my mind over the past six months, but he is right.He does add value.But nothing unique.Another person could do his job.
Aside from the fact I always wanted to be self-employed and had some capital to take a few risks, I knew I didn’t want to be an employee.Even I would have been replaceable.
Everyone is.
Even now, someone else could take over our market-leading position.
Being humble is as much of a strategy as any business move.Victor could learn a thing or two about that.
I have kept him on board, hoping it was just a phase he’d work through or go start his own company if he was inclined.I’d support him doing that—not financially—and then replace him.But replacing a CFO is an enormous job and if I don’t have to do it, I’d rather not so I can focus on our growth plans.
And the Crown Plaza development.
I drop my tea on my desk and sit down.“No, I didn’t fuck any of his wives.But...”
