Maria remained behind and raised a finely plucked brow. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
“Yes, actually.”
She waited, expectancy written all over her face. Jake wondered if she’d forgotten who he was and if that was why she anticipated him to suddenly spill his guts.
“The reports for next week need to be in to me by this Wednesday, so I have time to go over them. We need demographics on all the new hires—ow.” A rubber band hit him in the center of his chest. “What the hell was that for?”
“Because you’re insufferable. Why don’t you want to tell me about…Shea. That’s his name, right?”
“Yes. His name is Shea. We met on the retreat. And he’s gone back to Texas, where he lives. Case closed.” He clicked on a chart and began to read.
So not case closed, when his body was open and empty.
He could feel Maria staring at him. And because he knew she was too damn smart, he ignored her.
“You know, by saying ‘case closed,’ you make it mean the exact opposite.”
He didn’t respond and chose to click on a chart and enlarge it.
“I spoke to Oliver this morning. He said Shea was great with Stacey. And you. He hasn’t seen you this happy in years.”
His hand tightened over the mouse. “Yes, he was, and I was happy to hang out with my friends.”
And for the first time since he walked through the door that morning, something went right, and his phone buzzed.
“Sterling is here. He’d like to talk to you.”
A knot twisted his insides. “Did he say what about?”
“Surely you jest. You think he’s going to tell me?”
Jake grimaced. “Yeah. Stupid to ask. Send him in, please.”
Dick Sterling didn’t believe in speaking to secretaries and other staff he considered lower than him on the food chain.
He glared at Maria. “Sterling is on his way in. Please stay. The thought of being in an enclosed space with him makes me want to heave.”
“Fine, but we’re not finished.”
Sterling entered the room without knocking, and his thin lips tightened when his gaze settled on Maria.
“Why is she here? I need to speak to you.”
“Shehas a name. It’s Ms. Walker. And I’m here because Jake, my boss, asked me to stay.”
Jake didn’t bother to hide his smile—Maria had balls of steel. “What is it that you needed to speak to me about?”
“I have a problem.”
Besides being a giant pain in the ass?Jake wanted to ask. “I’m listening.”
Sterling’s gaze continued to dart to Maria, who sat with a Cheshire cat smile.
“Very well. I need to fire one of my new hires. She’s been a terrible worker, and no matter what I’ve done, she hasn’t improved, so I’ve decided to terminate her.”
“You’ve terminated people before, Sterling. Why is this special? We have a process. We’ll follow it. As long as you’ve been documenting her poor work performance all along, it should be fine.”
“I have. Make sure you do it as quickly as possible.” Sweat broke out on his brow, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
