"The only way we're able to keep our family afloat is finances. This company would be bleeding to death in a ditch if it wasn't for me." Garrett tapped his pen on the desk, punctuating each word. "Do you know I have headhunters regularly calling me, wanting me to save the Fortune 500 Company du jour that's been run into the ground? Do you even appreciate the sacrifices I have made?"
"I do, but I'm just tired of being the only person taking care of the kids. If you could help out—"
"I'm already helping Archer with his stupid little conference center idea. He's thinking about buying that defunct zoo and bringing in penguins. Penguins! I am obviously trying to steer him in a more profitable direction, but I can't have you having a nervous breakdown," he warned me.
"I'm not having a—"
"You've wasted enough of my time. Go put together another one of those seizure-inducing PowerPoints for the quarterly address to the company. You're going first. Presenting after you always makes my slides look better," he ordered.
I slunk out of my brother's office. I usually tried to avoid him. Garrett was odd, even when we were kids. He had all the star charts memorized, and he could count prime numbers to the hundredth digit. He and Remington spent too much time together, I decided. The two craziest brothers shouldn't be that close. It was dangerous. Who knew what they were plotting?
Not wanting to be that close to Josie, I went to an empty conference room. Normally I liked all the glass walls since it was usually so cold and dark this far north in New York. But now I wanted some privacy. Hoping no one would bother me, I quickly searched on my phone for information on how to convince someone to quit.
One article had a whole list. The first recommendation was to play favorites. I could do that. I could tell she and Tara didn't get along.
The next suggestion was to assign an overwhelming number of tasks. I sent out an office-wide email replying to the one Tara had sent out a few days ago reiterating that anyone needing help with anything should contact Josie.
The article also suggested making the undesirable employee stay late. I could definitely do that, especially if I insisted on unreasonably short deadlines for all my assignments.
The biggest recommendation was to demand success in areas the person wasn't trained or hired for. What project could I put her on? I didn't want Josie to work on something that was actually important. The company quarterly presentation was coming up. That would be a perfect opportunity to send her over the edge.
"See, Garrett?" I muttered as I put away my phone. "You're not the only one who can plot."
Tara was walking down the corridor to one of the conference rooms as I headed back to my office.
"Is Josie still upstairs?" I asked her.
Tara made a face. "She's making microwave pasta."
"She what?"
"Don't ask. You know, Mace," Tara said. "You work too hard. Maybe you should get out more. The cider brewery just opened a restaurant. Maybe we should go?"
I nodded noncommittally. Tara constantly wanted me to do stuff with her. I had gone to get a drink with her once, just for business, and now she was constantly around me or doing things for me.
"Iamstressed," I told her, trying to divert her attention. "But Josie is the main source of my stress."
"She does seem to have trouble fitting in," Tara said. She looked up at me from under her lashes. "Maybe you could fire her?"
"I can't," I said, "at least not anytime soon. But if she quits, it won't be a problem."
Tara winked at me. "I think things might just work out in your favor."
I felt a little guilty for trying to make Josie quit. But then I remembered how she had mocked my family situation. That particular sore point was more tender than I liked to admit. No, it would be best if she quit. Especially since she somehow always seemed to ruin my carefully managed day.
As I rounded the corner, there, like a ghost that just wouldn't quit, was Josie, sitting in the middle of the hallway. Irritation bubbled to the surface.
11
Josie
Islumped down at my desk. I had had no idea about Mace's mother—I bet that was a real sore point for him. There was no way he would keep me around after I made a mean joke about her. I really needed to learn to keep my mouth shut.
Promising the employment gods that I would absolutely do better if only I wasn't fired, I opened my email inbox.
Someone needed a hotel reservation. Someone else wanted some samples sent to the Palo Alto branch. Closing the email program, I rested my head on the desk, feeling overwhelmed. I needed some breakfast before I could deal with all the demands.
I took out the mac 'n' cheese packet and the bowl I had thrown into my purse. After heading to the breakroom, I mixed up the water, noodles, and cheese packet, then I checked the snack selection while it cooked.
