The door clicks at twelve on the dot, silencing my thoughts.
I stand immediately and am greeted by an older gentleman in a sophisticated navy suit holding a briefcase. Somehow, I don’t think he’s here to fire me, but his presence still stirs an uneasiness inside of me because I don’t knowwhyhe’s here.
He chuckles, clearly smelling my discomfort. “You can relax, Miss Callahan. I’m Finn Copeland. I’m a lawyer here on behalf of a client.”
A client?
“I’m not with HR. And, no, you’re not getting fired. Take a breath.”
I don’t get a chance to form a single question as Angela walks in dressed in Jimmy Choos and soaked in expensive perfume. Two HR reps trail in behind her. They take the seats on the opposite side of the table.
My stomach twists, but Finn is as cool as a cucumber as he takes the chair next to mine. I lower myself back into my seat and reach for the sealed water bottle in front of me, gripping it so hard the plastic crackles.
“Erin,” Angela says in greeting, eyes narrowing. I wonder if her cold stare has anything to do with the mountain of paperwork coming her way now that Wess has been fired. I twist off the cap of my water bottle and take a long gulp.
“Okay, now that we’re all here, we can get started,” Finn begins. “My client, a private backer, is interested in making a significant investment in your company,” Finn says, adjusting his suit jacket. “They’ve heard rumors about possible budget cuts and wish to help by donating.”
Angela raises an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “How generous. What kind of an investment are we talking about?”
“One hundred thousand dollars,” Finn offers in a smooth tone.
The pressure from my fingertips punctures the water bottle in my hand. Water shoots through the hole and gushes all over the table.
“Subject to renewal,” Finn adds smoothly, unbothered by my water fiasco.
Who the hell is his client?
Angela sits up straighter, her expression shifting across her face. This is… unexpected,” she says, her professional demeanor kicking in. “I can arrange for our teams to look at which departments could benefit from the donation. I’ll have my PA and accountant review?—”
“My apologies,” Finn’s voice is polite but unwavering as he cuts her off. “I should’ve been clearer. This investment isn’t for W&B as a whole. My client is specifically focused on one department.”
Angela all but turns to stone when Finn slides the file he pulls out of his briefcase across the table to her.
What does it say?
“The money is for Erin’s marketing department. She’s to be the face and lead of a new project my client wants to run here. And her department will operate under the terms set,” Finn says.
They want me?
“I have a personal team that will oversee the funds. Expenses will be reported in a monthly meeting. Some people,” Finn glances at Angela, “have been known to pocket department money to fund their own personal activities. Botox, shopping trips, front row tickets toNew York Fashion Week…”
I nearly choke.
Oh. My. God.
“Not that I’m saying that’s what happens here, of course. Just that I’ve had experiences with that sort of thing in other offices. It’s nothing personal,” he says, but the way his gaze flickers to Angela tells me it’s exactly that—personal. “Now, if you couldtake a moment to read through the document before signing on the dotted line, we can conclude this meeting.”
Forty minutes later, when the document has been read by Angela and HR, Finn pulls out a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pen from the inside of his jacket pocket, and my heartbeat trips over itself.
Signatures mark the crisp white paper, and then Angela and the two HR reps leave without saying another word or sparing me a single glance.
“Mr. Copeland, what is… What’s happening?” I ask, standing from my seat. I press my hand into the back of the chair to keep me upright as my knees shake.
“Did Angela really take the department money and use it for what you said?” I ask.
“Someone in the elevator confirmed the Botox and Fashion Week stories. I just used what I heard to call her bluff.” He grins and hands me a file.
My eyes land on a sticky note that sits on top.
