“West! There you are!” A flash of annoyance shows on his face at the interruption. With a sigh he steps back, putting a little space between us. A group of employees are lingering at the end of the course.
“Mr. Hayes,” a man says. He’s in a polo shirt I recognize from the corporate office. “We’ve been looking for you. There’s an issue with the Q3 projections that needs immediate attention.”
West’s jaw tightens, but he keeps his calm. “It can wait.”
“Sir, it’s urgent. The board is asking for you.”
I watch his expression change as he goes back to being serious. “Of course. Give me a moment, Grant.” He turns back to me. “Ms. Fontaine,” he says, his voice neutral. “Thank you for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed the activity as much as I did.”
The formality of what he’s saying hits me all wrong. What the heck just happened? How did I turn right back into being just another employee?
“Yes, sir,” I manage, my voice steady, not that I feel it. “Go,” I say, forcing a smile. “It’s okay. Really.”
West squeezes my hand once, where no one can really see it, then he releases it.
I stand there for a moment, watching him walk away with Grant, slipping back into that CEO role. The two personalities are so different. It’s like the man who kissed me breathless on a platform suspended in midair never existed.
