I could tell she was trying to sound happy but wasn’t. It was a façade, and I fucking hated it. Dennis tapped on my office window, his grimy smile peeking through, and I squeezed the pen in my hand until it snapped.
“I gotta go, baby, but I love you. Can I call when I’m done?”
“How about I call when I get back?”
“Perfect. Have fun.”
“Bye.” She hung up, and that instant disconnection from her made me feel sick. We weren’t calibrated at all. In person, we were okay. Distance? Not so much.
“Connor Reynolds. Haven’t seen you here in a while.” Dennis marched in with his very large beer belly leading the way. He pushed his hair—filled with product—back, and it looked terrible.
“Things came up. Please, have a seat. There’s something I’d like to run by you.”
I told him the plan about Petra, how it would work financially, and how it fit into the bigger picture of expansion. It would help bring in more revenue and make things more efficient.
I expected a no, yet it still took all my power to not punch him. “What do you mean no?”
“You don’t have my support on this. Petra is an executive assistant. She isn’t capable of taking on this role, and it’s worrying that you’re not thinking straight. If you think she’d actually be the one for this—man, it makes me question your position as CEO.”
My temple ached. “You’re saying that, because she’s been an executive assistant, she cannot possibly take on the role.”
“Pretty much. She doesn’t have the education or experience to handle that responsibility. You need the smartest and most experienced working for you.” Dennis shrugged and tapped the top of my desk. “My nephew, for example, graduated from MIT and is wicked smart. Now, I can get behind the position with the caveat that Mick be in the running. You need a man who can handle the tech world.”
There it was. The slimy fuckery of this job. I leaned back in my chair, my pulse racing as I contemplated my next steps. Dennis never liked me from the start. It could be because my dad had poisoned him against me. Or the fact he applied for this role ten years ago and he hadn’t been chosen.
You’d think there’d be a policy against him running for the board, but nope. He could legally do it and sabotage the company. All with my dad not caring or seeing it.
I steepled my fingers and stared him down.
“You’ll approve the position but only if I hire your nephew. That sounds a little… illegal.”
“I never said that, Connor. Don’t put words in my mouth.” His face reddened. “I’m explicitly saying I will never approve Petra getting that role. She is where she belongs, serving you.”
My eye twitched, and I tapped my toe in a pattern to prevent myself from exploding.
My wife was out at dinner with her high school boyfriend, one who she had fond memories of and spoke highly of. She had wanted to leave me a week ago. Dennis is sexist, so he’s against Petra and wants me to do him a favor. What the fuck was my life anymore? How was this my day-to-day? When was the last time I enjoyed this place?
Speaking of places where we belong… I belonged with my wife.
“Our meeting is over. Thanks for stopping in.” I stood and grabbed my jacket off the hook. I put it on, then turned to find Dennis staring at me. I remained quiet. I found that when awful people are left in silence, they fill it with more bullshit that can be used against them later.
“You’re leaving me after I busted my ass to have this meeting with you?”
“Yes.” I buttoned the coat, eyeing my watch. I’d get caught in traffic, but I could be back in Cherrywood in ninety minutes. I pocketed my phone and signed out of my computer, all while ignoring Dennis’s sighs.
“I’m not done talking.”
I arched a brow, waiting. He’d fold. He loved hearing himself talk. It took one minute before he stood and sputtered.
“I can’t believe you wasted my time like this. Your father will hear about this, and honestly, he’s gonna agree that maybe you shouldn’t be in this role. You’re not cutthroat enough anymore.”
“Hmm.” I marched toward the door and opened it. “By all means, have the board vote. Now leave my office.”
He blinked, his face in utter shock at my audacity. I’d put up with his bullshit for years, catering to him, worried about how he’d mess up my career, but look where that got me.Iwasn’t happy. My wife wasn’t happy. What was the point then?
“You have no right to speak—”
“Before you finish that sentence, Dennis, let me remind you that you had me wait three hours for you today. You could’ve been here at two, and we could’ve talked about next year’s plans or my ideas, but instead, you wanted me to be a pawn in some game of power. I might report to the board, but you are one voice out of five. My work speaks for itself, so please, take a vote. Remove me as CEO if you see fit. Now, I have to get back to my wife. Excuse me.”
