“Motherfucker,” he grunts. “This is bullshit.”
It is. It really is.
Chapter Five
Alison
I spottedhim the minute he stepped into the room. Sure, the black eye and the slight limp helped, but I’d recognize the lech anywhere. The fact that he works in the department that, according to Graham, has “become fucking dysfunctional” doesn’t bother me. I’m a professional. I can handle this. I’ll just avoid that asshole for as long as I possibly can while also gathering intel on the jerk. It’d be unprofessional of me to label him until I know more about him. And I’m nothing if not professional.
* * *
I’ve donethe rounds and met every single person in Morgan Financial Holdings’ marketing department. All except one. But I’ve put this off until almost quitting time, and now I need to face the music. I’ve gone alone to each impromptu introduction, but I’m tempted to ask that Clive guy to come along with me to meet Ben Schilling. I’m not going to do that, though. I’m going to merely stand in his doorway to introduce myself, give him my usual spiel, and then be on my way back to my new office, which, sadly, is next to Ben’s, in a shared space with Clive Burgess.
And then there’s Clive.
I haven’t quite figured that guy out. According to Graham, Clive gave him the folder, but it’s unclear whether or not he’s the author. Call me Sherlock, but my guess is Mr. Burgess is the one who compiled the dossier-like information on each and every member on this marketing team. Most of which is not flattering. Especially about Ben Schilling. He received the most scathing remarks. Sure, I know there’s a backstory there. One of the support staff mentioned that Clive was Ben’s assistant up until the day before I arrived, and he’d been in that job for almost eighteen months. So there’s bad blood there, obviously. The question is, why?
I’ve checked out the background on those mentioned in the report. Clive’s is impressive. He got his business degree from Yale, which makes him overqualified for whatever the hellthisjob is. Special projects liaison. I give myself an inner eye roll because I don’t like this liaison stuff. In the past, I’ve always reported directly to the company head. It’s easier that way, and it prevents things from getting lost in translation. But if Graham Morgan wants a liaison, he can have one.
Choosing to go it alone rather than including Clive for this one, I step up to Ben’s door and knock. When there’s no response, I knock again.
“Come in.”
Turning the knob, I push the door open but remain just outside the threshold. He’s not at his desk, so I lean in and look left, just around the door, but he’s not there either. Scanning right, I can’t help wondering where he is. He can’t be far—his office is small, the smallest I’ve seen so far—so I say, “Ben Schilling?”
When his head pops up from behind his desk, it startles me. I’m guessing I surprised him too, because his face looks rather flushed and… is that sweat?
“Yeah?” He quickly jumps to his feet, and I can see he’s winded.
“What were you doing?”
“Push-ups.”
Push-ups? “In your office?” I try not to but can’t help myself. I look at his arms through his dress shirt.
“It helps me think.”
Wow, he must think a lot because his arms are bulging. I shrug. “We all have our things.”
“Oh yeah? What’s yours? Punching guys in the face?” And then he smirks.
“I only punch people who deserve it.”
His smirk falls. “I was merely trying to help you get your foot out of that grate. I was—”
I hold up my hand to stop this conversation. “I just stopped by to introduce myself and to tell you that I don’t feel comfortable talking to you one-on-one, so in the future, Clive will need to be with us.” The hard eye roll he gives me makes me a little irritated. “What?” I snap.
“That’s fine. But not Clive.”
“He’s the li—”
“Liaison. I know.” Eye roll number two. “I’d prefer if you chose one of the other assistants. Please.”
“So, you have no problem with that?”
“I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Good. Nodding, I step away from his door. “Great.” Without another word, I turn, take three steps, and enter what is supposed to be my own office. I blink in confusion when I see Clive sitting at the one and only desk in the room. When I checked out the office earlier to drop off my computer bag, Clive wasn’t around, and since I haven’t been back to this office all day, I’m surprised to see him. “Oh, uh….”What do I tell this guy?“You’re in my seat?”No. I’m not going to say that. “I think I’m supposed to work in here.”
