“Not just that, but I won’t have talent bullied or wasted because of competition. You may have hired Ms. Monroe, Ms. Breitbart, but she’s my employee, and she’ll be working with me on the upcoming season’s social media campaign, as you and I have already discussed.” He shifted his attention to me. “Therefore, I want it to be clear that you, Ms. Monroe, will report directly to me. I’ll follow up with Gladys, the head of HR, whom I think you met during the interview process.” Gunnar’s icy gaze swung to Lydia and then back to me. “If you have any issues with a team member, Gladys will assist.”
Great. Just freaking great. Not only was I irrationally attracted to the man who was now my actual boss, I’d gotten my previous boss in trouble with HR.
“You didn’t do a single thing wrong today, Ms. Monroe,” Gunnar continued, seeming to read my mind. “And HR issues are confidential, but I can tell you that the reason we had this opening was because our last social media expert no longer felt she could offer us her best work.” Gunnar’s cold eyes returned to Lydia’s stiff form. “I plan to call Chantal to see if there’s anything she’d like to add to her exit interview now that she’s no longer working here?—”
“I quit,” Lydia snapped. Her chin wobbled, and she appeared close to tears. She fled the room, skirting Gunnar as she moved down the hall.
I stared after her, eyes wide, mouth gaping. Looking at Gunnar, I waited for the punchline. I was starring in a workplace rom-com, a drama, and a horror film all rolled into one. I should probably option my life story now. “Holy sh—cow. I did not expect that type of drama on my first day.”
His lips quirked. “That about sums it up.” He rocked back on his heels, hands in the pockets of those well-tailored slacks. “Seems I need to go see Gladys about this unexpected turn of events.” His glacial gaze held mine. “I’ll say it again, you did well today. Much better than some of my executives have in…similar situations. And I appreciate the opportunity to root out the problem before it became an even bigger one.” He paused, seeming to argue with himself, perhaps wanting to say more. “Good evening, Ms. Monroe.”
I inclined my head. “Mr. Evaldson.”
He spun away, and the doorway was empty for half a second before Jay Welks—probably three years older than me and more sports-oriented than an ESPN anchor—popped his head around the corner. He had black curls that begged for fingers to muss, and I’d bet he had women falling over themselves for the chance.
“Damn, Z. You did what the rest of us have only wished to achieve. And on Day One. You overachiever, you.”
“Oh?” My entire body shook, and while I told myself it was adrenaline, it wasn’t. Standing up to Lydia had taken a lot out of me, and I was close to falling apart.
“Lydia’s been a menace since she started here,” he said. “But she delivers her threats so sweetly, everyone got a toothache—and a kick to the…er…” His face reddened.
“Pants?” I offered.
He smiled. “Yeah. Let’s go with that. The worst part, though, was how she took all the glory and left us with the blame when things didn’t go well.”
“She was definitely not a leader,” I mused. “Why didn’t anyone say anything?”
“Because she gave us the impression that she and Gunnar had a special relationship.” He waggled his eyebrows and dropped his voice.
I had to laugh at that, charmed out of the worst of my emotional hangover. “Well, I guess we know that wasn’t true.”
Gunnar had laid it all out, and while it had been a hit to my vanity and even my self-esteem, I understood his reasoning. Moving up the ladder on merit was essential. I didn’t need anything to overshadow this opportunity to showcase my intelligence, ideas, and work ethic.
“We do now.” Jay’s smirk broadened into a full-blown and very relieved smile. “I’d say I owe you a drink or three for your maneuver. Whatcha say?”
I kept a smile on my face. “Thank you, but not tonight. I’m going to visit my mother.” You don’t need to say more, I reminded myself. No one had a right to my information.
Yet he was still looking at me, now quizzically, as if I was blowing him off.
“She’s not doing well,” I added, wanting to kick myself. I didn’t want to be the girl with the elderly parents, but it was true. My mom wasn’t well. She’d been heartbroken since my father passed away, and I wasn’t giving up time with her—even to make friends with a coworker. No matter how cute his hair or how mesmerizing his smile.
He’s no Gunnar Evaldson.
I nearly rolled my eyes at myself. There wasn’t any point in making that comparison.
“But thanks for the invite,” I added into the growing silence, slightly unnerved by the way Jay was studying me.
“You got a partner?” he asked.
I nodded before I had even decided to lie. But this would save his ego and let me maintain our work relationship.
“Ah, well.” He shrugged. “You’re smart, a badass, and pretty. Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
I laughed again, this time with more ease. “Thanks for trying to make me feel better about the Lydia thing,” I said as I collected my belongings.
He shook his head. “Are you kidding? I still owe you drinks for that. You don’t know how difficult she made everyone’s lives.”
Gunnar
