The Best Is Yet to Come: Novella Bonus for Her Best Match (The Best Girls Book 0)

by Tamie Dearen

  “And yet she believed it to be true. So now, the question is, what are you going to do about it?”

  “Perhaps it would be better if you were to go,” Henri suggested. “I would not want to fuel such dreams.”

  “Oh, no. You started this, and you’ll finish it. And you’d better not mess up this deal in the process. I think your father would agree with me on this.”

  Henri looked irritated. “You do not need to involve my father in this. I will take care of it.” He started toward the door, but turned back to face Gherring. “Soon my father will pass the company to my control, and you will not be able to use him as a threat against me.”

  Gherring glared at him. “Your father is an astute businessman, and Gherring Inc. has enjoyed a profitable association with his company, La Porte. But you’re forty-eight years old, and he hasn’t turned over the reigns to you yet. I think he’s still waiting for you to grow up, and I wonder if it will ever happen! Have you ever considered it might not be a good idea to sleep with every woman you meet?”

  He had the audacity to laugh. “Non! No! I am only giving them what they ask for. It would be rude to say no. But you cannot criticize me for this. You are just like me.”

  “No Henri, I’m not like you.” Steven sincerely hoped his words were true. But he knew he’d been less than discriminating in his younger days. Still, he reasoned, he’d never mixed sex with business. On the other hand, he knew he couldn’t claim innocence in such matters. The realization made him even angrier.

  “Ms. Carson!” he spoke into the intercom. “Monsieur DuBois will be making a detour on his way back to Paris. Please make a reservation for him on the next flight to Frankfurt.”

  “Yes, Mr. Gherring.”

  Shortly after Henri departed, Katie knocked tentatively on Gherring’s door.

  “Yes, Ms. Carson?” His head was pounding as he attempted to tamp down his still-revving temper.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Gherring. But Mr. Murphy is here about that matter we discussed earlier.”

  Steven felt his blood pressure rising as he massaged his temples. “Send him in.”

  Jeff Murphy entered the room, his expression arrogant and challenging. He strode casually to Gherring’s desk and stood looking down at him from his six-foot height, his arms crossed casually across his chest. Why did every meeting today have to be a confrontation?

  “Have a seat, Mr. Murphy.”

  “I prefer to stand.”

  Gherring rose to his full height of six-foot-three and leaned over his desk. “I asked you to sit, Mr. Murphy. It seems you’re making a habit of flaunting my rules.”

  Cowed, Jeff sat down, although his entire demeanor remained in full scowl. “I’ve been falsely accused,” he said. “I told Human Resources, already. I’m the victim here.”

  “Mr. Murphy,” said Gherring, carefully controlling his voice. “Are you aware of the No-Tolerance Policy for sexual harassment at Gherring Inc.?”

  “I’m telling you, I didn’t do anything! That b—” He caught himself before the word left his lips. “That woman was lying.”

  As expected, the pig showed no sign of remorse for his actions. Growing up with Gram, Gherring had learned to have no respect for a man who took advantage of a woman sexually. Why hadn’t he recognized these Neanderthal tendencies before he hired him?

  “Mr. Murphy,” Gherring repeated. “Are you aware of the No-Tolerance Policy for sexual harassment at Gherring Inc.?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t do anything! She’s trying to ruin my reputation. She’s just mad because we went out a few times, and now I’ve broken up with her.”

  “Her story is much different, Mr. Murphy.”

  “But there were no witnesses. It’s her word against mine.”

  “That, Mr. Murphy, is the only reason you’re still sitting in my office at Gherring Inc. rather than being escorted from the building. Consider yourself on probation. If you so much as blink in Ms. Latham’s direction, you’ll be terminated.”

  “But I’ll see her every day in the break room.” Gherring could see his anger in the flexing muscles of his jaw. He had no sympathy for the man after hearing Ms. Latham’s testimony. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough evidence to fire him, but he would be watching him closely.

  “Then you will need to take your break in your office. And further, you are not to be alone with any female employee at this office, at any time, for any reason.”

  “You can’t control whom I see on my time off!” Gherring knew from his defiant attitude it would only be a matter of time before Jeff stepped across the line again.

  “You’re right, I can’t control it. But if I find out you’re alone with another female employee, even if you’re sharing a cup of coffee, you’ll be terminated.”

  “This isn’t fair! I didn’t do anything.”

  “What you didn’t do is your job. You’ve made zero progress on the Bern merger, and I want that wrapped up before the holidays. Get your work done, Mr. Murphy.”

  “But I’m still saying you can’t keep me from dating employees on my own time. There’s no company policy for that.”

  “You’re incorrect, Mr. Murphy. Our No-Tolerance Policy clearly states that in the case of any accusation, founded or unfounded, a no-dating policy will be enforced for the duration of employment.”

  Jeff sagged in his seat. “Fine. I’m not interested in anyone here anyway.”

  “Additionally, I want a report on my desk Friday morning concerning your progress on the Bern merger.”

  “Friday morning? I can’t make any progress by then. Our business hours don’t even coincide.”

  “I suppose that means you’ll have some very early morning phone conferences. Perhaps you’ll need to go to sleep early as well. The change of schedule could be good for you.” He held his stare with the intensity born of a head-splitting migraine, until Jeff finally averted his eyes.

  “Jared is supposed to be working on that deal, too,” he contended.

  “But Jared is new. You have the lead on the Bern merger, and you’re responsible for the report. So don’t try to push this off on him. This is your assignment.” He turned his attention to his computer. “That will be all, Mr. Murphy,” he said, without looking up.

  Jeff made a comment under his breath, and left the room. A moment later, Katie entered with a glass of water and four ibuprofens.

  He shook his head as he accepted her offering with gratitude. “Ms. Carson, how am I ever going to replace you? How did you know I had a headache?”

  She chuckled. “Perhaps the fact you were holding your head with both hands when I glanced in the room a minute ago clued me in.”

  “Still… No one else would notice. And Gary doesn’t need you like I need you.” He tried to bat his eyes and look like a sad puppy.

  Her eyes rolled around in her head. “Mr. Gherring, it won’t work. I’ve enjoyed working for you… well, most of the time… but I’m leaving in January when Gary and I get married. But don’t worry—I promise to train your new executive assistant to watch for signs of a headache.”

  When she left him alone, he laid his head on his arms and closed his eyes. He refused to think about losing her. He hated breaking in a new assistant. Why had he introduced her to Gary? He was losing his best buddy and his secretary at the same time.

  Gherring heard Katie’s voice on the intercom. “Mr. Gherring? Alexander Klein on line one.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Carson.” He let out a sigh. Back to work. And he needed to be on his toes for this client. Klein was an important business prospect. Steven was extremely interested in forming a cooperative agreement with Klein’s company in Germany. Although he could speak German, he knew Klein’s English was flawless, so there was no need to speak Klein’s language.

  “Mr. Klein, it’s good to hear from you.”

  “Please, call me Alexander.”

  “Great, and you can call me Steven, as well. So, you’ve read the material I sent you? Are you interested in
further discussion about doing business together?”

  “Yes. Actually, I was calling to tell you that we are planning to come to New York for your International Business Conference. My wife, Johanna, will be accompanying me.”

  “Yes, I remember Johanna. Your wife is a lovely woman. Please give her my regards. And you’ll stay and attend the gala?”

  “That is the current plan. So, we can find a time to talk privately during that week? I realize you will be very busy...”

  “I will absolutely make time for a private conference. I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to connect you to Ms. Carson to schedule a time right away. My calendar is pretty crowded.”

  Satisfied prospects were good with Alexander, Gherring attacked his unanswered emails, determined to eliminate the task from his to-do list. He worked through lunch and was still engrossed when Katie came into the office with a determined expression.

  “Mr. Gherring. It’s almost time to begin the interviews. Have you looked at any of the resumes?”

  “No,” he replied, without glancing up from his computer. “I’ve been busy with more important things.”

  “Mr. Gherring.” He glanced up to find Katie conjuring a stern expression. “There’s nothing more important right now than these interviews.”

  He scowled back until she dropped her gaze. “Please, Mr. Gherring. Just give them a chance.”

  He pressed on his temples. Was his headache coming back? He gave in to the inevitable. “Bring the first one in.”

  Katie pushed open the heavy doors and called out a name. Gherring heard her heels tapping out a confident rhythm as the candidate approached the doorway, but he ignored her as he flipped through her resume and attached letters of recommendation. He didn’t bother to look up, even after he’d finished perusing her papers. Instead, he went back to his emails, ignoring her presence altogether.

  Katie said, “Uhmm, you can have a seat, Ms. Whitley. Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

  This was a part of Gherring’s routine. He liked to see how potential employees responded to uncomfortable situations, to test their poise and composure.

  “No, thank you.” Her voice was confident. Unruffled. Well, he’d see how long that lasted.

  “Ms. Hartley, why do you want this job?” He deliberately called her by a different name to test her reaction. His eyes rose from his desk to fix her with a stare. She was a thin, beautiful blond, with flawlessly applied makeup. Her suit-dress was the perfect choice for an interview at a prestigious company. She looked... too perfect, he decided. This one was too perfect. She wasn’t real. His gut told him if he hired her, she would surprise him with some nasty personality trait at a later time. He dismissed her without another thought, but he had to get through the interview.

  She paused, flummoxed by his use of the wrong name. He saw her mind racing, trying to decide on the correct move. She decided to ignore the blunder, and answer his question.

  “Mr. Gherring. I’ve studied Gherring Inc.’s prospectus thoroughly. I admire you and everything you’ve accomplished through this company. I would love to be a part of your work. I feel I’ll be up to any challenge you present. Essentially, it would be a chance to study at the feet of greatness.”

  “I see.”

  He stared for a full thirty seconds of silence before turning back to his computer to answer a few more emails. After more uncomfortable silence, he looked up again, as if surprised to see her still sitting there.

  “And why do you want to leave the job you have already. You’re currently working for Barnes and Graves? Is there something wrong with your current job?”

  “No sir, Mr. Gherring. I just feel this is an awesome opportunity. The kind of opportunity I can’t afford to miss.”

  “And are you prepared to leave Barnes and Graves with a two week notice?”

  “Yes sir. Absolutely sir.”

  “But what if they haven’t found a replacement in two weeks? Will you leave them high and dry?”

  “No sir. I mean, yes sir. I mean... I’m sure they can find someone to replace me.”

  “So you think you’re easily replaced? Non-essential? Not very valuable?”

  “Uhmm... No, I just think... I’m...”

  “How much would you expect to be paid?”

  “Well, the job description said the pay was commensurate with experience. And I’ve been an executive assistant for six years.”

  “So, what do you think you’re worth, Ms. Hartley?”

  “It’s not...”

  “Yes, Ms. Hartley?”

  “I think I’m worth at least eighty thousand per year, but I would take the job for sixty.”

  “Very well.” He spoke in a bored tone, carefully avoiding Katie’s eyes. “That will be all. Ms. Carson. Will you see Ms. Hartley out?”

  When Katie shut the door behind the interviewee, she marched to Gherring’s desk with her hands on her hips.

  “You’ll never find someone if you keep this up. You didn’t give her a chance. You were rude, and you called her by the wrong name, and you goaded her.”

  “Yes, I know. I’m not a very nice man, Ms. Carson. I need to know if my new personal executive assistant can cope with the fact.” His smug response drew her ire.

  “That’s not what you’re doing. You’re just trying to sabotage these interviews. But, it’s not going to work. At the end of this day, you need to choose someone. Either from this set of candidates or from the other two sets you’ve already interviewed.” She fumed at him until he imagined steam pouring from her ears.

  He regarded her with amusement. He seldom managed to ruffle her calm demeanor. He certainly would miss her if she left to work with Gary.

  “Yes, Ms. Carson. Please don’t yell at me.” He winked and grinned.

  The wind went out of her sails immediately. “You make me crazy! I can’t wait to get out of here and work at Climbing High.”

  He pretended to be hurt. “But won’t you miss me? Even a little?”

  “Yes, Mr. Gherring,” she answered, her cool control back in place. “But I’m going to leave you, anyway. No matter what. So you’d better take these interviews seriously.”

  “Of course, Ms. Carson. I always take my job seriously. You can send in the next candidate.”

  Katie called another interviewee into the room. Once again, Gherring refused to acknowledge the girl’s presence until he had studied her cover letter, resume, and letters of recommendation. When he raised his eyes to the candidate, he found she was still standing before him, having refused to take the chair Katie indicated.

  “Would you like to be seated?” he asked.

  “Thank you, sir,” she answered, her voice so soft he had to strain to hear her. Her eyes were wide and staring. She sat down slowly, feeling her way into the chair, never taking her eyes off him. What was that emotion he saw? Was it fear? Awe? He expected his employees to respect him, but he couldn’t imagine having a personal assistant who became catatonic in his presence.

  “Tell me about yourself, Ms. Everett.” He opted to use her real name since she already appeared to be rattled.

  “Uhmm... It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Gherring,” she spoke, her voice almost a whisper.

  “I’ll need you to speak up just a bit, Ms. Everett. Can you tell me why you want to work at Gherring Inc.?”

  “I just can’t believe I’m really standing here,” she said. “It’s so surreal.”

  Steven decided he liked her better when he couldn’t hear what she was saying. He returned his attention to his computer to answer another email. Then he turned back to the girl who still wore the same shocked expression.

  “When would you be available to begin working if you were hired?”

  “I could start right now!” She smiled with excitement. “Do I have the job?”

  “No, Ms. Everett,” he corrected, quickly. “I have to conduct the other interviews before I make a decision. Thank you, Ms. Everett.” He nodded to Katie, who ushered
the stiff gaited girl out the door.

  “Okay,” Katie said, ruefully. “I admit, that one was a dud. But the next one looks better.”

  He glanced at the top of his stack. “Enoch Grant? You really think I want to spend all day every day looking at a male secretary?”

  “Don’t try to pretend you’re the kind of boss who choses a secretary for her looks. I know better.”

  “Perhaps not, but it does make my day more pleasant.”

  “I’m sorry Mr. Gherring, but I happen to know from my investigation you’ve had male executive assistants in the past.”

  He smiled. “Okay, I admit it’s true. But I still maintain it’s not my preference.”

  “Well you have two men to interview today. So, remember to keep an open mind.”

  Katie went to the door and called in the applicant. Once again, Gherring ignored him completely while he studied the components of the resume. This one had impressive credentials—too impressive. Even a Masters Degree in Economics. He wouldn’t stay in the job for more than a year.

  “Mr. Grant,” he said, glancing up to find the man studying the diplomas on his office wall. “Are you quite through with your tour?”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Gherring,” he said, with a beaming smile. He moved to the desk with long, confident strides. “I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t know you had a degree from Harvard Law School. That’s awesome.” He held out his hand. “Enoch Grant. Nice to meet you. I know, Enoch is a strange name, but I’m kind of a strange guy so it fits. What would you like to know about me? I’ve got a Bachelor’s degree in Business, and a Masters in Economics. I just got out of school, so I don’t have much experience, but I can learn quickly. Oh, and I’m a whiz with computers. I really can do most anything you need around here. And I’m willing to work long hours, because I don’t have a family or a girlfriend, even. Really, is there anything else you need to know?”

  Gherring chuckled to himself and shook his head. “Mr. Grant, I’m going to refer you to personnel. If you just graduated, I think we have an internship available in our CMA department. If you succeed there, you’ll have a chance at a long-term position.”

  “Are you kidding me? Just like that? Are you serious about this? Because I was willing to be a slave secretary for years just to get a foot in the door.”