by Natalie Ann
That was what he felt like he was doing right now.
“They do. But then they should get the commission, not you. You’re bringing in the commission on your clients while others do the work and you’re getting part of theirs on their own clients, being in your position.”
“I see where this is coming from,” John said. “It’s Colleen. That slut has always wanted to sleep her way to the top. I called her out on it and then she said you were gay and told me I was nuts. If you want to call someone into this office, it should be her.”
It took everything he had not to lose his shit over this pettiness. He felt the throbbing behind his temples and the acid building in his stomach.
Good lord, here he was not working nearly as much and it was still getting to him.
“This is about you, not Colleen. I’m placing you on a three-month probation until I see a change in things. I’ll be following up with staff and clients to assure you’re doing your work and meeting their needs.”
“That is ludicrous. I’ve been here way too long and have never been written up once let alone placed on probation. I’m not some newbie and you’ve got no right to do that.”
“First off,” Caden said, “I’ve got every right to do it. I’m a partner and I run this branch and you work for me. Second of all, you have been written up, but it was before Richard’s time. Richard seemed to be a little bit lazy in the past few years, but there are plenty of complaints about you that I’ve found. That he chose not to do anything about it is his business, but it explains why you weren’t promoted.”
“He trashed me to Mike and Kyle, didn’t he?” John said, his face turning red.
“I have no idea what he said to them. I haven’t talked to either of them in weeks. This is my decision and I don’t need to go back and get permission.”
And if Mike or Kyle said he did, he’d be gone. He could go out on his own and not deal with this shit. He was wondering why he was now and then told himself to cut it out.
This job wasn’t that hard and he was making more out of it and internalizing it just like Sarah had accused him of before.
“I’m not standing for this,” John said, then got up and walked out the door.
Caden sat back down and just pulled up the document he’d started on John and typed up what happened. When the guy calmed down they’d talk some more.
An hour later, there was a knock at his door and he looked up to see Colleen standing there. He really had no desire to see her after what John had said.
“Yes.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Of course. Is there something you need?”
She walked in and shut his door. He lifted an eyebrow and wanted to ask if she was afraid rumors might start again, or if she was going to be leading the way. Nope, he turned her down and because of that, he wasn’t into women in her eyes.
“John is in his office cursing and swearing. He’s slamming things around and talking shit about you.”
“I’m not surprised.”
Colleen hesitated as if she was waiting for him to continue on and tell her what was going on. Not happening.
“Is he leaving?” she asked.
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“So he found out that we all complained about him?” she asked. “I just wanted to know because he’s going to make our life hell. When he walked by he gave me a stare that could light a fire in an Alaskan snowstorm.”
“I’m sure it’s not the first time a coworker has given you a look like that. Or one from John. If he comes in your office and starts to verbally attack you or is abusing his authority, then let me know. Until then, consider it that he’s having a bad day. People came to me with issues and concerns and I’m dealing with it. If everyone thought he was just going to politely nod his head and accept what was being said, then they don’t know him well.”
“I guess so. It’s just I really didn’t think you’d do anything about it,” she said, grinning at him.
“And why is that?”
“Because no one else ever has before. We’ve all pretty much been left to do our own things.”
“And that is going to stop,” he said. “We are a team and will work as one. If someone can’t handle being in a team, then maybe this isn’t the place for them.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, her cattiness coming out. “We all know how you rose to the top. You weren’t much of a team player.”
“I wasn’t,” he admitted. “But I didn’t step on anyone to get there. I did my own work and I worked my ass off. If I was in a meeting with my coworkers, I did what was asked, but no one rode on my coattails, nor did I do it to anyone else. I’m not a follower, but I don’t push anyone out of the way to get to the front.”
“Which is probably why you ended up here rather than VP of a branch there,” she said smugly.
He let her walk out. There was no use getting into a pissing match with her. He was being the bigger person.
But by the end of the day, he was reaching for the aspirin just as Sarah walked in the back door. He’d forgotten she was coming for dinner.
“Hey,” she said. “Did you just get home?”
“Yeah. I barely got Jet on time. It was just one of those days.”
“I can leave if you want or need some space,” she said as he threw back the aspirin with some water.
“Nope. I’m glad you’re here,” he said, moving forward to give her a hug. He just wanted to hold her and hoped that it eased some of the day away. He kissed her on the lips. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
“Go ahead,” she said. “I’ll start dinner. What did you have planned?”
“Just grilling some steaks with rice and a salad.”
“Then I’ll get the rice going and start putting the salad together.”
“Thanks.”
He went to his room, undressed and turned the water on. He grabbed the blood pressure cuff and took it quick, but it was good. Within normal range, just slightly higher than most days. Nothing to be worried about, but enough for him to push this out of his head and not let it build. He wasn’t going down that path again.
He climbed under the hot spray, most of it wiping the day away. Colleen had hit a nerve with her statement about him being sent here because he didn’t step on people on his way up. It shouldn’t have bothered him except he was starting to doubt if he was cut out for this. If he was better off being on his own.
It was easier to work that way, have his goals and ideas, and get them done without worrying about other people.
Even if he was actually happier now than he’d ever been before.
When he came into the kitchen, Sarah had a glass of wine poured for both of them. “Here, you look like you could use it. Tell me about your day.”
He took the wine when he normally didn’t drink. No reason to turn it down and it might relax him. “I’m home and with you. I’d rather spend the time talking about us.”
She frowned at him. “You know, it’s not good to keep it all in.”
“And it’s not good to hash it all out. I like separating it. It works for me.”
At least he thought it did. That had been one of his plans. Work stayed in the office, home was for anything else unless he had no choice.
Sure, he’d spent time researching things and taking calls from some of his clients, but he wasn’t putting in eighty-hour weeks. He put in ten-hour days or more in the office, but once he was home he just wanted to try to disconnect, more so if she was staying for the night.
She looked like she didn’t want to buy what he was selling. “I get it. You’re cutting back on work.”
“That’s right. I don’t see nearly enough of you so let’s talk about maybe taking some time together this summer. How about a trip? Do you have some time for a vacation?”
The minute the words were out of his mouth he realized he hadn’t been on a vacation in so long he couldn’t even remember and wondered if now was a good
time or not.
Then told himself that it wasn’t healthy to not be able to go away. They were all adults in the office and would survive without him. Hell, it survived with Richard and John not doing much. And though some weren’t happy with him right now, plenty were and told him so recently.
Even Liam, the new kid out of college stopped in and asked if he could get some pointers and that he appreciated being heard. That he’d gone to John a few times and was pretty much left on his own.
It was fine if someone knew what they were doing, but when they were new at their job, they needed guidance. He was actually looking forward to doing some mentoring.
“I’d love to go away with you. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, why are you asking that?”
“Because it’s the way you asked me. Like the minute it was out of your mouth you wondered if it was a good idea. Do you think we are rushing? That maybe the next thing I’d ask would be to move in with you?” she asked, grinning. “I won’t. I promise.”
“I don’t think that at all,” he said giving her a kiss. “Now let’s get going on dinner. I’m starving.”
25
Progressing Along Nicely
If Sarah was upset that Caden didn’t offer to have her move in, she wasn’t admitting it and then wanted to even slap her hand over her face for thinking it.
She had no reason to expect it either. They’d been dating a few months. They’d met each other’s families. She was leaving a few items at his house. They were progressing along nicely.
She’d never been one to rush into any relationship with another man before and wondered why she was with Caden.
Or why she was more annoyed he just wouldn’t open up and talk to her. Maybe that was the bigger issue.
After dinner, she decided to try again. “So at work today, I slipped and said your name when someone asked what I did last weekend for the holiday.”
“Why did it have to be a slip?” he asked.
“I told you I didn’t really talk about my personal life at work, but I think a few have suspected I was dating someone. I just thought I’d let you know they knew now.”
“Okay,” he said. “Did anyone say anything negative about it?”
She started to laugh. “Just the opposite. Nancy remembered you. I mean you are pretty memorable. Anyway, they were all congratulating me on my catch.”
“I am a pretty good catch.”
She snuggled under his arm on the couch, loving when they did this at night. Jet was spread out across both of their laps. “So anyway, it was a fun day for me at work. Everyone was busting on me. We all get along well. There are days it can be annoying or patients can get on your nerves, but for the most part it’s a great place to work.”
“That’s good,” he said. She sighed and he laughed. “I’m not going to talk about my day if that is what you are trying to do. Why do you care so much?”
“I just don’t think it’s good to have a bad day and not talk about it. A few times you’ve told me about things, but not much. It’s like pulling teeth with you to say much about yourself at all and it seems you are having a lot of bad days lately.”
“I think you know quite a bit about me,” he said. “More than any other woman.”
She figured as much and wondered why she did care so much. “Can I ask you something?”
“Do I have to answer?” he asked, humor in his voice.
“Not if you don’t want to,” she said, her voice short.
He ignored her and just poked her arm. “So go on and ask me.”
“I noticed you had a blood pressure cuff in your bathroom when I was putting things away before. Did you check it when you got home?”
“So you’re bringing your work home with you. Yes, I did. It was perfectly normal. Would you like me to go get it and show you?” he asked, laughing this time.
She didn’t want to feel foolish asking the question and just figured he was such a health freak at times he just had to make sure everything was under control in all aspects of his life.
It was almost like he was afraid to let anything go. The checklist she’d pointed out to him enough in life. She wondered if he did that with everything.
If he even did it with their relationship?
Didn’t she just think they were progressing along smoothly? Was he thinking that too?
“You’re thinking of something. Are you going to clue me in?” he asked.
“No. You’ll just change the subject on me anyway. So let’s talk about something else.”
Caden didn’t know what to say to Sarah just now.
When she asked about his blood pressure he wasn’t going to lie. That would be stupid to do that when there was no reason to. His pressure was fine.
His stomach was fine. He even had an appointment with a new doctor in a few weeks and planned on getting a clean bill of health.
He might not even mention to them what was in the past. But that would be wrong because his records would have been sent there by now.
He was anal about being the best and he’d fallen down but picked himself back up and was happy with the results of his hard work.
The last thing he really wanted was Sarah to know that what she’d commented on enough about being a flaw of his had actually been the driving force for him to move here.
His trigger.
What caused him to change his life completely.
He wasn’t regretting anything. Not when it brought her into his life.
“Don’t get snippy,” he said, rubbing his hand down her back. “I don’t talk about my work because I don’t want to bore you.” He figured he should probably give her something. “I had words with John today about the complaints against him. He wasn’t happy and ended up slamming things around in his office causing Colleen to come in next and try to figure out what happened.”
“She’s pretty nosy, isn’t she?”
“She is.” Which was why he limited his communication with her to strictly facts. “John accused her of being the one to start the gay rumors. Not that I really care other than what I do outside of work is no one’s business. Period.”
“You’re new to them. Don’t let it get to you.”
“It’s not getting to me. Not like you think. I’m just used to doing things on my own and not dealing with this. For the two that are having issues, there are five others that love the changes. You can’t win everyone over.”
She tilted her head up to look at him. “Was that so hard to say that to me?”
“No. Just that it’s nothing important. I told you and now you are probably wondering why you made that big of a deal out of it.”
“It is important and I’m not stupid enough to think that you are telling me all of it. Nor do I need to know. I just want you to feel like you can talk to me. That I’m here for you. That you don’t have to go it alone like you were so used to doing forever.”
What she said made sense. It was just so hard to think that way. “I’m trying,” he said, “Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“It does,” she said. “I’m sorry if I’m being a pain. I shouldn’t.”
“I think it has more to do with you think I can’t tell you things when it’s not that I can’t or won’t, but that in my eyes, it’s not a big deal.”
He thought that sounded good to him and when she said, “I love you, you know that, right?”
“I do,” he said back and knew she finally believed what he said. “I love you too. I don’t know how many times I need to tell you. I came here for a change. I like where I’m at.”
“Do you miss where you were?”
“Some things I do, but it all went together. I couldn’t have one without the other. And the biggest problem of all is you weren’t there.”
“Now you’re being all smooth again.”
“You like it when I am,” he said, kissing her forehead.
“I do,” she said.
26
Playing That Game
They didn’t do things nightly and his office wasn’t that far out of the way.
She knew he was busy this week with a lot of clients and had a late dinner meeting and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get his puppy on time. Might as well take that stress off him and bring Jet home, feed him and put him in his crate for Caden.
“Sarah, right?”
She turned when she heard her name. She knew right away it was Colleen. The woman was almost seeking her out even if she’d never talked to her. “Yes. Colleen, correct?” she asked, playing that game.
“Yes. I didn’t realize you were a nurse. No one said.”
She didn’t know why that was anyone’s business, but she was positive they all knew who her brother was. “Does it matter?”
“No. Just that it’s probably good for Caden that you can keep an eye on him.”
She frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Well, after everything that happened to him a few months ago, I just figured you were making sure that he kept everything in check.”
She didn’t want to act stupid because she knew darn well Colleen was brewing up trouble. “Caden doesn’t need anyone to keep him in check,” she said, smiling. “He does a good job of managing his own life.”
“Yeah. We can see that by how he eats and his calm demeanor. Probably doesn’t want another episode like he had before he moved here. It all makes sense now why he came to the slow life from what he had.”
“Caden is a big boy,” she said. “He can make all his own decisions in life and doesn’t need anyone to watch over him. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to catch him before he leaves for his meeting.”
The last thing she wanted to do was ask him what the hell was going on, but something told her it was pretty important. And how did Colleen know something that she didn’t?