‘Yes, Isobel, I know that. How did it happen?’
‘It … I … Geoff asked me—’
‘Don’t lie to me. I’ve just been on the phone to him. He said you’ve been pestering him for months. “I assumed she had your blessing,” he said.’
‘I don’t—’ She bit her lip. ‘I don’t see what the problem is. Isn’t it … isn’t it good for the brand?’
Malcolm picked up the magazine and started reading. ‘Isobel Ashworth stands at the window, looking down at Sydney like Cersei Lannister gazing over King’s Landing. Unlike the infamousGame of Thronesqueen, she’s not planning to blow anything up. Instead, she’s counting how many Ashworth hotels and property developments she can see from the palatial head office. “Four hotels and six apartment complexes,”she says, with the carefree laugh of someone who’s never given a moment’s thought to their next mortgage repayment. Jesus Christ!’ He threw the magazine across the table. ‘This is not good for the brand, Isobel!’
The magazine skidded off the edge of the table and fell at her feet. She didn’t move.
‘Sorry, I thought Geoff would—’ She stopped, realising how stupid she would sound if she said what she was expecting.
‘Thought he would what? I’m a little unclear what you were expecting by talking like this to a veteran journalist. You thought you could play Geoff Patterson?’ He scoffed. ‘The man has won Walkley Awards, for Christ’s sake!’
‘I just want to be taken seriously. I thought maybe it would get your attention.’
Malcolm scoffed again. ‘You definitely have my attention!’
She took a deep breath. ‘I want you to consider me for Elliot’s role. I’ve tried to tell you that already, but you’ve just brushed me off.’
‘You think you can do Elliot’s job?’
‘I think so.’
He shook his head. ‘Based on what?’
‘I’ve been working in the business for six years.’
‘Yes. And you’ve moved from one role to another the moment you’ve got bored or things have become difficult. If you see yourself as a serious player in this business, you need to earn it. It won’t just fall in your lap.’
‘I know that.’
‘Do you?’ He held her gaze.
‘I do. I promise I do.’
He leaned forward. ‘Okay, then I’ve got a job for you.’
Her stomach fluttered again. She knew it! Hewasgoing to offer her the Ops role. He was just toying with her, making sure she really wanted it.
He cleared his throat. ‘The Hartwell Entertainment Precinct is due to open in just over a month, but the contractors are running behind schedule. The project manager just quit. Sounds like chaos, frankly. I need you to go down there until completion, to keep an eye on things. An Ashworth presence usually gets things back on track.’
‘You want me to oversee a project? In Hartwell?’
‘It’ll be a chance for you to prove your commitment to the business.’
‘But—’
‘Let me guess.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘You don’t want the job.’
‘It’s not that I don’t want it! I do! It’s just relocating to Hartwell isn’t—’
Malcolm raised a hand to stop her. ‘And you wonder why I don’t take you seriously.’
Issy’s favourite instructor, Abby Joy, beamed from the Peloton screen, her tight curls in a perky bunch on top of her head, rippling abdominals gleaming with just the right amount of sweat.
‘Okay, squad! Let’s conquer this mountain together!’
