That seems to have gotten through, based on the number of shocked eyes staring back at me.
I keep my breathing steady and even, exhibiting the same level of confidence that I always do. Anything less would rattle them more than necessary. I need everyone to see that this isn’t a major issue, nothing to worry about regarding the way I run this business.
“A relationship has developed between the two of us, outside of this company.”Mostly. The image of her bent over my desk with her dress hiked up around her waist flashes in my mind. “I want to make it clear that my relationship with Brielle has absolutely no bearing on my ability to lead CreativEdge in the same fashion I always have. I will continue to drive for results, providing superior quality content, creative and innovative marketing, and top-notch customer satisfaction to every client within our portfolio. This conflict of interest is already mitigated within the organization structure, with Brielle reporting to a marketing lead, Trent Abbott. If the board finds it necessary to put in place additional risk mitigation processes, I will accept that decision uncontested.”
The silence that follows my speech is deafening.
“Well, um, okay,” the board vice-chair, Cameron, starts. “That was unexpected. I think it’s best for the board to convene on this matterseparately. This could have some major blowback on CreativEdge, Damian. I’m not sure you’ve thought through what being involved with an employee could do to this company if things go sideways. We need to protect our assets and, quite frankly, cover our ass, if this woman decides to come after you personally, or worse, the business, when this is done and over.”
“Not ‘when,’” I growl.
“Excuse me?”
“You said ‘when this is done and over.’ I’m clarifying that statement.”
His throat bobs on a rough swallow. “Right. Of course. I misspoke. But that doesn’t change the fact that this carries a substantial risk to CreativEdge.”
“There isn’t any risk,” Rachel pipes up, surprising me. She folds her hands on her lap as everyone turns their eyes to her. Her lips tip up slightly, loving the attention. “Because she’s already quit.”
My brow furrows in confusion.What is she talking about?I think I would know if Brielle suddenly quit her job out of the blue. Besides, I haven’t even given them Brielle’s full name, so how could she possibly think she knows this information?
“Brielle Collins, right?” she asks. The faux innocence in her voice sends ice flooding through my veins.Where did she get that name from?Louisa looks at me, equally as lost as I am.
“Yes, but I can assure you she has not quit her job,” I tell her. My heart is racing, my pulse beating quickly in the side of my neck. An ominous feeling is pushing down on me.
“Well, either fortunately or unfortunately, you’re wrong. Just this morning, she gave her resignation to human resources, effective immediately.”
A level of fury I have never felt pushes at me from the center of my chest, trying to get out and unleash holy hell on this woman. “And why would she do that? What did you say to her?” Barely contained rage simmers just under the surface.
“This isn’t about what I may or may not have said. Ms. Collins’s decision was of her own making. If you must know, I told her not to quit.” She levels a pointed look at me, like one of our best content creators quitting is my fault. Her bracelets tink together as she waves her hand at me. “Do sit down, Damian. We have a slew of topics to get through today. Although, I’d like to make a motion to move the sexual harassment training to the top of the agenda.”
I couldn’t care less about this board meeting. I need to find Brielle, to talk to her, find out what’s really going on. Louisa kicks at my chair lightly, encouraging me to take my seat with pleading eyes. She’s not wrong. After my announcement, the last thing I need is to look like my priorities are somewhere other than the business.
My jaw is tense, my shoulders tight with fury, but I pull my chair out and sit. I just need to get through these two hours, and then I am finding my girl.
Rachel’s motion to move the sexual harassment training to the top of the agenda is seconded. I listen to forty minutes of them discussing how to roll it out to the employees and what applications we can use to keep track of the completions.
I don’t provide any input, and no one asks me to.
We move on, each agenda item more tedious than the last, until finally we get to the end.
“Is there anything else we need to cover today?” our secretary, Stephanie, asks.
Absolutely not. I have been counting down the minutes to the end of this thing, and I’ll be damned if something is going to derail our ending now.
“If there is, it can be added to the next meeting. We’re done for today.” I look at Louisa, who’s been taking the meeting minutes. “Meeting adjourned.”
I all but bolt from the conference room. My cell is on my desk in my office. I wake up the screen, expecting to see a least a few missed calls and text messages.
Nothing. No notifications.
Maybe Rachel really was wrong. She must be. Honestly, how could she even have known enough to confront Brielle about our relationship?
I walk down the hall to the marketing office, finding Trent and Danielle together, along with Devin from the research team. No Brielle.
Danielle sees me first. Her eyes widen, and her mouth parts like she wants to say something. My blood begins to boil as the reality of the situation hits me.
“Where is she?” I don’t care if I’m giving myself away. I need one of them to tell me she ran to the bathroom or is taking a break. Anything that explains why she isn’t in this room other than her being gone.
