“Because of her smart-ass mouth, right?” I asked. “I can foresee that being a huge problem.”
“No, Harrison,” he said. “It’s because you’re obviously attracted to her, and she’s going to be a huge distraction.”
“I don’t think my legal team will let me get away with firing someone based off their looks.”
“Try it.” He looked dead-ass serious. “The only other thing I’ve ever seen you this captivated by is your reflection.”
“Funny.” I flipped over my hourglass. “Anything else you need to say before my meeting?”
“I’ll draft her one hell of a severance package.” He didn’t let me change the subject. “Just promise me you’ll fire her.”
“No,” I said. “And it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m attracted to her.”
“Thank you for at least admitting it.”
“If Mr. Lewis considered her to be his ‘secret weapon,’” I said, “do you believe it’s a good idea to just let her go? She clearly has immense value to this company, and every other employee I’ve interviewed has mentioned her name in one way or another.”
“If she’s so important, why did he keep her as a basic-level assistant? He didn’t even make her a junior-level executive…”
That’s a really good question…
I tapped my chin. “Get Ciara to look into that for me.”
“Sure.” He nodded. “I’ll have her do that while she’s helping Miss Stone clean out her cubicle and you can pick someone else for this position.”
“Andrea only has a cubicle?” I asked, genuinely confused. “Why doesn’t she have her own office?”
“Harrison…”
“I’m just asking questions.”
He stared at me in a way that made it clear he knew I was full of shit—that he could nearly read my mind without asking another question.
Give me at least ninety days with Miss Stone…
“Sixty,” he said aloud.
But we’ll find out everything she knows and why she’s so valuable?
“Yes.” He read my mind again. “I’ll sit her down for several sessions and get everything she knows.”
“I can join you for those,” I spoke aloud again. “Just in case you forget to ask her something.”
“That’s okay.” He stepped forward and pointed to a notepad. “Write down whatever you want to ask on that, and I’ll pass it along when it’s time.”
I didn’t move.
None of my questions were appropriate.
“Exactly.” He rolled his eyes. “Sixty days until you fire her, Harrison. Sixty fucking days.”
NINE
ANDREA
Kelly
If this is the first week under HIM, I don’t think I’m going to make it through another one, y’all…
