“I’m fine here.” I push myself to stand. “Unless you’d prefer I don’t use the conference room.”
He runs his fingers through his hair and sighs, but it’s more of a growl. “No. This works. It’s fine.” Stepping up to the table, he places both hands on the tabletop, making him lean in. “Now tell me who the fuck blew you off yesterday.”
Shit. The last thing I want is Graham coming down hard on anyone specific. “Can you just make a general announcement that they need to meet with me? That it’s required of them? Something like that.”
“Jesus,” the man growls again. “I can’t believe I’ve got to say this shit again.” He says a couple other things that I can’t quite make out, then “Fine.”
Jerking up to full height, he marches to the door, yanks it open, and shouts, “Meeting. This conference room.” He points to the ground. “Now!”
Wow. He’s pissed.
Through the glass, I see people scrambling to their feet and practically running to this room. A giggle starts in my chest and rises up, but I place my hand over my mouth so nobody sees. One thing is certain: Graham Morgan is in charge andveryangry. Laughing wouldn’t go over very well.
In less than five minutes, the room is filled with the same people from the first meeting I attended. Same as then, the room is silent until Graham starts to speak. “I’m only going to say this one more time.” He walks left like a prowling cat. “When Ms. Kirby asks to meet with you, you drop whatever the fuck you’re doing and meet with her.” He stomps right and pauses at the end of the table. “You got me?”
There are nods all over the place.
“If I get another fucking email telling me you blew her off, you get to meet withmeinstead. You get me?”
More nods, frantic ones.
“Good. Now, for those of you who weresupposedto meet with Alison yesterday, please stay. Everyone else leave.”
Oh shit.
I can almost see the five dumb-dumbs who didn’t show up for their meetings shivering in their seats. I hope nobody wets themselves.
When the room is clear of everyone but four women and one man, Graham leans over the table again. “I had to cancel a meeting this morning to deal with this bullshit.”
Wow. He doesn’t mince words.
He takes his time looking at each person in the room. “That irritates me.”
“Graham—” I start, but he holds up his hand. I shut up.
“Someone tell me why you didn’t talk to Alison yesterday.”
Silence. Except for the crickets.
“Tommy. Why?” he calls out one assistant.
“B-Because I was told not to.”
“Told?” Graham pauses. “Told not to? By whom?”
Interesting. I’ve got to say, I’m curious too.
Tommy’s face changes from pink to pure white. “Mr. Morgan… please.”
“Please what?” he snaps. “Who told you not to attend your talk with the consultant thatIhired?”
“Graham…,” I try again. Still nothing.
Graham tries a different tack. “Sharon? Who told you not to attend? Assuming the same thing happened to you.”
“It was an IM.”
“An instant message?” Graham asks, sounding exasperated. “From whom?”
