But I know who will.
I glance down at my phone, waiting, hoping that just like always, thinking about him will make something happen. But like usual, I'm left waiting for what I need.
There's no time to follow Denali, so I make a mental note to look for her after and make my way to the meeting room, where I'm sure a lecture awaits me. I've fired quite a few people recently, or had them quit on me, and I've got the sneaking suspicion that Jun's girl isn't happy with that. I mean, if it were my job, I wouldn't be, either, but she has to understand, there arereasonswhy things panned out like they did.
It's not just because I don't like them, or that they're too problematic for me, or that I'm insufferable. It's?—
It's got a lot to do with communication, and capability, too. And that's not even counting the stylist I fired Friday via text for her shitty attitude.
Denali was only trying to help. And yet, Sasha felt the need to snap at her, as if she were trying to take her job, or outdo her. I have no patience for selfish, possessive people on my team. You can work together peacefully, cooperate like adults, and get the job done, or you can go work for someone else.
Arista will have to learn to deal with that aspect of me as a client. It's written into my contract that I can hire and fire whoever I want, whenever I want, for whatever reason I want. If she doesn't like that, she has only herself to blame for how negotiations turned out.
The door's cracked open when I arrive, but for some reason, I hesitate outside, hearing voices on the other side. A curious side of me takes hold, and I lean in, hoping to glean just what kind of atmosphere I'm about to walk into.
The voices on the other side of that door arenothappy.
"I don't care how popular he is, or what he's capable of. None of our other talents have been this much trouble."Whoever that is, she's pissed. I don't know that voice, though, so it must not be someone I've met before.
"Listen, I understand your concerns, ma'am, but I need you to trust me when I say I've got everything under control?—"
That's Arista. She sounds . . . tired. I wonder if Jun's knocked her up yet. Maybe she's just overworked. That's one woman who's always been a hard worker. She's like Denali like that. The two are kindred souls, in a way.
"Ma'am, may I suggest mentioning his contract? He's got a section in there that stipulates he maintains a positive public persona, and there's no doubt that the whispers have already begun in the ranks. There's always a threat to our connectionswhen one of our talents becomes . . . shall we say, undesirable to work with?"
That's the lug they gave me as a touchpoint in the legal department. I think his name is Jack. He's a decent guy, but I despise most lawyers. Their only goal is to look out for their client, and right now, their client is the company, not me.
Undesireable to work with.As if I'm some kind of monster or something. I'm difficult, sure, but I'm not as bad as they make me out to be.
"Whatever you do, make sure that he's not firing another twenty people before the end of the week. I'm running out of contractable employees who are willing to work with him. And if we have nobody willing to work with him . . . well, I don't need to tell you how useless an idol is without a team behind him to maintain his status and image."
I step up to the doors and put my hands on their smooth surface. Like the woman making all the demands, the metal is cool, almost icy under my palms. The nervous energy burning through me right now is enough to choke me, but I have to work past it, in order to get what needs done, done.
Arista's eyes find mine the second I step into the room. She looks almost ashamed, but she quickly schools that expression and clears her throat, gesturing to a nearby empty chair.
"Please, Kai, have a seat. We've been expecting you."
I'll just bet you have.I know it's not her fault, but the urge to be a snarky asshole about it is almost overwhelming. "Ah, sorry to keep you waiting. Traffic was hell this morning."
By the time the meeting is over, I've been thoroughly chastised. They've elicited a promise from me to maintain my workingrelationship with all current employees, and I've promised to try and be less demanding and more friendly toward them, too.
It'll be hard, but I can manage.
Now that I'm free, it's time to return to the business at hand—finding Denali. Preferably sooner rather than later. There's a blank spot on my schedule she's blocked out for something, and she didn't bother to tell me why. Until I find her, I have no idea where I'm supposed to go or what we're doing. And I don't like that.
I try texting her, but I get no answer, so I call her instead. When she refuses to answer, I start to worry. Denalialwaysanswers me. No matter what day, the time, or what she's doing, she's never once ignored my calls.
Something is wrong.
Just as I'm about to call her again, I get an email notification—DS Intel.It's from Choi's burner email, so I open it quickly as I make my way to the security office in the hopes that someone there can find Denali on the cameras and point me in the right direction.
What I find in that email makes my blood run cold.
Blacklisted in the entertainment industry. Former social media manager for high-profile clientele. Extensive list of references, which seem to make no dent in the black cloud of unhireability hanging over her head.
Ex-boss has fingers in a lot of pies, made it impossible for her to find work anywhere. No intel on why, though. No open criminal or civil cases against him, or her. No company-filed cease and desist. No NDA's to mention.
Family-deceased. Mother died when she was 12, father went when she was fresh out of high school. No siblings, but a cousin she doesn't have contact with across the ocean in France.
