“Put out the flags while you’re at it,” muttered Dave sarcastically.
Andrea ignored him but smiled across at Steph. “I believe you’ll be with us for a few months.”
“Yes, I hope so,” she said sincerely.
“Not if you don’t sign your contract.” Dave spoke without looking up from his own computer.
Steph looked across at him and he then elaborated.
“H.R. emailed me last Friday to say that they needed your contract signed and returned by the start of business todayor they’d assume you had decided against working here.” He smirked as he looked up at the clock and saw that it was almost a quarter to ten.
“You want rid of me that much?” asked Steph disbelievingly.
“I don’t know what you mean, but if your time here has come to an end, you remember that you worked for me, not the other way around. So, if you were too busy doing whatever or whoever it is you do and didn’t sign your contract that is your fault, not mine,” he spat at her ferociously.
“Then I will go and see H.R. now,” she shouted back and stormed out while Andrea looked between the exchange as if she was watching a game of tennis.
As Steph’s back disappeared from sight, Andrea turned to Dave, “You really are a prize prat,” and she too left leaving Dave laughing to himself.
Steph furiously stormed into the lift and was glad for the empty space. She checked out her flushed appearance and wondered whether she should just quit and set up her own consultancy or temp somewhere else, but remembering Jon’s words when he’d apologised a few days before about wanting her on his team, she assumed he’d put up a fight to keep her. She smiled at her reflection and was glad that she had opted for the new red, sleeveless shift dress with a peplum that flattered her small waist and round bottom. Her eyes lowered to the plain black, heeled court shoes that she had worn with bare legs and thought that the whole outfit was both appropriate for work when she added the black short jacket she had left upstairs, but also very sexy as she wore it now and that was the look that she had gone for this morning when she had selected it, knowing that tonight was one of her nights to see Jon.
Grant in H.R.was perfectly lovely about her contract and had another copy ready for her to sign, which she did immediately, although still unread, but she trusted that Jon wouldn’t have allowed her to have been offered a contract that was unfair or detrimental to her in any way.
Just as she was ready to leave him Grant asked her, “Is everything okay in accounts, with Mr Madeley?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” asked Steph in response, wondering if Dave had begun to plant the seeds of her downfall.
“Because the rumours are that he is being most unpleasant to and about you and if that is the case, it needs to stop. Mr Brooker has a zero tolerance policy for workplace bullying so if you need any advice just call down.”
“Thank you.”
“And check your induction pack because there should be a copy of our grievance proceedings,” Grant told her as she left and headed back up to the conference room where Jon was now sitting opposite her empty seat, several spaces away from Dave.
Jon and Andrea, who was still there with her own laptop at the far end of the desk both looked up as Steph entered the room.
“Sorry, I had to pop down to H.R.” she explained.
“Is everything okay?” asked Jon.
“Yes, fine, thanks. Grant was most helpful.” She glared up at Dave who only briefly looked at her.
“Good, right then down to work. If we have all looked through the figures maybe we could start by discussing any problems or concerns we have with the figures or possible future concerns,” said Jon.
Steph smiled when she decided he was acting like the boss. Any boss.Herboss, and to the outside world there would be no hint that they were anything more than boss and employee, which she liked, especially with Dave sitting there.
They worked through several of the accounts before lunch, with Dave leading with his concerns and queries and by the time lunchtime arrived Steph was becoming worried that his concerns were trivial and that she and Dave didn’t appear to be on the same page. So either she was way off the mark in her judgements which Dave would love to point out, or he was, and that would become apparent soon and he would hate her even more. She became slightly lost in her thoughts and felt herself jump as she became aware of Jon’s voice.
“Miss Pryor, I said we should break for lunch and meet back here at half past one.”
“Yes, sorry.”
Jon was already leaving the room and as he closed the door behind him Dave began to laugh. “I won’t actually need to do anything to help you on your way if you continue to switch off in meetings with the CEO. Brooker hates incompetence and lack of focus.” Dave laughed at her again as Andrea watched on.
“He can’t hate incompetence too much if he still employs you!” hissed Steph, already on her feet.
“I could sack you here and now for your insubordination,” threatened Dave, sounding smug, but looking slightly flummoxed which Steph found rather satisfying.
“Mr Madeley, I think if you were able to do that I would be at home watching daytime TV right now. So, if you don’t mind you appear to be encroaching on my lunch hour.” Despite sounding it, Steph wasn’t sure of herself.
