It was late and Lexie’s brain was sluggish, yet she knew all about being the odd one out.She could give a Master’s course in it.“And just how is it that you’re treating me differently?”
His gaze flicked to hers, dark and unreadable.
“It’s time for more layoffs.I’ve been running the numbers all night, but it’s time to make some moves.Moves you’re not going to like.”
Her tired eyes popped open as he caught her off-guard once again.“More?But we’ve already been through two rounds.”
Oh God.Her employees.
She looked around her office.Her conference table was full of draft brochures, display mockups and radio ad copy.She had a topnotch team.Even with their reduced budget they’d found creative ways to keep Underhill’s name in the public’s awareness.In these tough economic times, they were doing everything they could to keep the company afloat.Twitter, Facebook, viral marketing, old-fashioned word of mouth… They’d tried everything.
Yet the table sat in darkness.No gems glittered there.The sky outside had turned inky black, casting a shadow on anything too far from artificial light.She nearly shivered.Had all their work been in vain?
“You can’t.”She refused to give in without a fight.It wasn’t right.
“I can.It’s why your father hired me.”
True, and the fact still stung.Julian had put his faith in an outsider to save his company rather than his own staff or family.Rather than her.
When she was such an outsider herself.
“Take people from HR or Product Development.”She felt terrible offering up others for pink slips.They had families and mortgages like anyone else, but her siblings ran looser ships.Their employees tended to follow their lead, showing up late and goofing around when there was work to do.She’d just never been one to point fingers.
Until now.
Rowe’s fingers stopped drumming.“We’ve cut enough from the front lines.It’s time to look at management.”
Management?Her project managers were in the thick of the mix.They—
The aluminum can crinkled under her grip when her muddled brain processed what he was telling her.He wasn’t talking about project managers or account managers.
He was going after her family members.
“We both know the source of this company’s problems,” he said softly, mercilessly.“And it’s time they were addressed.”
Her heart sank even as it began to pound a little faster.The hum of her computer suddenly seemed too loud and the city lights outside her dark window blinked too brightly.
Were her siblings finally going to be held accountable?
The moment the traitorous thought hit her, her stomach clenched.No, she couldn’t think like that.Shouldn’t.Besides, Julian would never have brought Rowe onboard if he’d thought he’d do something like that.“My father won’t allow it.”
“He’ll have to, or he’ll lose his company.”
Were things that bad?
Of course, they were.She knew they were.
She began worrying the pop tab with her thumb.She should defend her siblings, but she couldn’t muster up the words.Besides, she’d learned long ago that in her father’s eyes, her brothers and sisters could do no wrong.Julian Underhill loved his children to a fault.They didn’t need her to defend them.He’d put up a nasty fight to save them.Still…
“Which one?”
A muscle in Rowe’s jaw twitched.“Like I said, you make my job difficult.”
This time, her stomach dropped out completely.Dear God.Was he coming after her?
Because she’d done a good job?Because she’d worked her fingers to the bone?
Because she wasn’t like the others?
