“Yup,” Kyra confirms. “But, now that all the details are coming out the women are claiming harassment. And get this…the manager is also claiming she was harassed by the men!
“The crazy thing is that most of the women, including the manager, were married. Can you imagine telling your spouse you’re involved in a sexual harassment case and then have all these details come out? Or tell your wife you claimed discrimination because your sexual proposition was turned down?”
“What is wrong with people?” I mutter.
“If people were sane we’d be out a job,” Summer points out.
“Cheers to that,” Kyra agrees as we clink glasses.
“Alright…one down, one to go,” Summer eagerly states, rubbing her hands together. She’s basically jumping out of her chair.
I waste no time rehashing my story of nude pictures that led to an executive’s termination. They’re both impressed, but based on the smirk Summer’s sporting, I’ve got a feeling she’s going to trump us both. If her flustered entrance has anything to do with the story she’s about to tell, I’m guessing the scenario she’s about to describe just happened.
“Don’t you want to take off your coat?” I ask Summer. It’s hot as hell in this place and she’s still wearing a trench coat.
“In due time,” she responds, linking her fingers and stretching her arms overhead like she’s preparing for an Olympic event. “Alright, ladies. Prepare to be horrified,” she dramatically begins.
Kyra and I exchange a sideways glance. This has got to be good. In a sweeping hand motion, I let Summer know the floor is all hers.
“Today at 3:27PM, I was pulled out of a financial review by a manager. A woman on my team typically supports this manager, however she’d gone home sick and he claimed to have an issue that required immediate attention. I explained I needed a minute, but he insisted that I follow him immediately. It was an emergency, that’s all he offered.”
She sweeps her hair over her shoulder.
“We took the elevator to the first floor where the customer service team sits. As I followed him through the cubes, I noticed most of them were empty, which is unusual for that time of day. I was wondering where everyone had gone when we got to the last row.”
Summer takes a swig of her drink and flags the waiter down for a refill. Kyra and I again exchange a curious glance.
“At first, all that registered was the back of a man wearing headphones, sitting casually at his desk. No big deal, right?”
We shrug. “Sure.”
“Wrong! The closer we got, I noticed he was making weird sounds, almost like an animal being slaughtered. When I was only a couple yards away the manager stopped and actually began backtracking. I asked what was wrong and he just gestured for me to go forward. I did, because I was annoyed at the manager’s inability to communicate, and also the man had begun twitching. I was freaked out that he could be having a seizure.”
“Shit, was he okay?” I ask.
“Okay?” she hisses and slams her hand on the table. “I shit you not, I put my hand on the man’s shoulder at the same time my eye caught his computer screen.” Summer gags. “He was watching porn!”
“Eww,” Kyra and I exclaim.
“And not just any kind of porn; there were animals and people together. Beastiality! I had to Google it so that my notes were accurate,” she exasperates.
We all take a drink.
“That’s not even the worst part,” Summer exclaims while unbuttoning her trench coat. “That fucker was twitching because he was jacking off right under his desk. When I touched his shoulder, he wiped around and…finished.”
She hops down from her stool and rips open her jacket to reveal a beautiful navy blue dress, with a crusty looking white stain above her knee.
“Is that?” Kyra asks, bending forward for a closer examination.
“Yes. Yes, it is. He…jizzed all over my dress!”
Alcohol sprays out my mouth and nose, burning my esophagus and nostrils in the process, as we all laugh to point of doubling over.
“Alright, Lewinsky. Hands down, you win!” I announce as tears stream down my cheeks.
“Agreed,” Kyra surprisingly concedes.
Summer’s completely unfazed by her new nickname, likely because it’s too fitting, and also because random shit happens to her all the time. “That’s what I thought.”
“Are you going to get it dry cleaned, or save it as evidence for when you go before the grand jury?” Kyra teases.
“Ha. Ha. Order me another drink,” Summer demands as she grabs an Anthropologie bag and retreats to the restroom.
Minutes later, Summer returns in a black and white tie-neck blouse, paired with black skinny jeans and red pumps.
“Before I forget, a woman from Recollections left a message for you at the apartment,” Summer tells me.
“Finally!” I exclaim. I’ve been waiting for someone to call me back for two weeks. “What’d they say?”
“Just for you to call them back. Why’d they call our home number?”
I shrug. “Jack’s become more supportive of the program but was adamant we needed more options if he was going to take it to the next board meeting for approval. I only have a few weeks to get everything finalized and I haven’t been able to connect with the manager. Figured if I gave her every number I had we’d eventually connect.”
“On a different note, who’s going to replace the executive you fired?” Kyra asks.
“Now that’s an interesting story. Jack has had his eye on an up and comer who’s spent the last six years in the NYC office. Jack’s mentored him for a few years so he’s familiar with the guy’s performance and style.”
“What’s the issue?” Summer asks, sensing my reservations.
I smile, loving how well my friends know me. “He’s a fairly new Vice President who’s never managed people before and he’s going to be promoted to Senior VP in six months if he’s successful—something Jack has made clear he’s counting on me to ensure.”
Summer scoffs. “No pressure, or anything.”
“I know,” I agree. “The guy has an impressive background and I’m looking forward to partnering with him, but he’s only twenty-nine.”
“Hey,” Summer warns. “Age shouldn’t be a deal breaker.”
She should know. At twenty-six she’s already the Vice President of Human Resources for a mid-sized company with an impressive growth trajectory.
“Easy, this isn’t about his age…it’s about his lack of experience.”
“Well did you explain all of this to Jack?” Kyra asks.
“It was too late. He’d already set the transfer in motion before the termination was complete. Somehow he got the general council to let him bypass our job posting guidelines. The guy starts Monday.”
“Why didn’t you just say no?” Summer asks. “Take advantage of your newfound authority.”
It’s an interesting question. A lot of companies run promotions past Human Resources for input, but leave the decision making up to the business. Not so in my company and Summer knows it.
“I’ve taken a look at his past reviews. They’re actually pretty impressive. And his former managers gave him a glowing recommendation. Besides my manager sent me her approval from the delivery room. I didn’t actually get to make the call,” I admit. “It’s better this way though. Jack’s getting his guy. I’ll support him and help him navigate any issues, and with Jack on my good side, I figure he’s more likely to push the board in my favor when it comes to the Elder Care Program.”
My friends nod. “So besides the few tidbits you found in this file do you know anything else about him?”
“Not really. His name is Lucas and he’s originally from Ireland. That’s pretty much it.”
“Sounds like a winner to me…I love a good accent. Maybe he’ll turn out to be your lucky charm,” Kyra winks.
Finger’s crossed!
Chapter 1
Gabby
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Come the fuck on.
Three hundred and eighty-seven emails? Day one and I’m already behind. Christ, it’s not even noon.
I minimize my inbox and stare at the boxes scattered around my office that I haven’t even begun to unpack. If only Gloria, my admin in New York, had come this week, it’d already be put away. I could use a familiar face right about now, and some damn structure too.
I’m not a huge fan of change. People claim it makes you stronger, makes you appreciate the perspective of others or their circumstances. To me that’s the kind of bullshit someone who hasn’t experienced a major change would say. That’s what life is though, right? One constant change.
I push back from my desk and look out the window. Thank God for the view. Boston Commons don’t compare to Central Park, not by a long shot, but even as a Vice President I never had a view like this in the Big Apple. Chances are I’ll have plenty of time to enjoy it, being as my temporary roommate’s a twat. That, and if I want to get to SVP in the next six months, I’ll be spending most of my time here.
My computer chimes with a meeting reminder and apparently it’s not the first one. “Shit,” I mutter upon realizing I’m already late.
I hate being late.
I click on the notification and review what little information the invitation holds.
“Meet and greet,” I read the meeting subject aloud.
Who the hell is Gabriella?
Happy to do anything other than respond to emails and replay my shit evening of listening to my roommate bang some girl he’d just met, I grab a notebook and pen and leave the clutter behind. After wandering the hallway for a few minutes, I end up outside the office directly across the hall from mine. I raise my fist to knock on the door while checking a text that’s just come through from an unknown number.
Unknown: Are we still on?
“Come in,” calls a voice sweeter than honey, and for the life of me I can’t remember actually knocking.
My eyes dart upward seconds after my cock has already begun twitching. This shit day might turn out alright after all, I think as I take in a view that far surpasses the one from my office.
Long, wavy brown hair, sensual curves and sculpted legs…God, those legs. I almost don’t want her to turn around because there’s no way her face could do the backside justice.
She straightens and looks over her shoulder, covering the phone I didn’t realize she was on. “Just give me a minute,” she whispers and I silently nod, watching as she dumps two creamers and six sugar packets into a steaming cup of coffee.
Fuck me. I’m not sure what side of her is better. She’s breathtaking.
She bends over the desk, ending the call, and I’m dumbstruck. Scratch that, I can barely breathe. I’ve never been a womanizer and I’d like to think I’m not a prick, but the thoughts racing through my mind are telling me otherwise. Not even a week has passed since I broke it off with Dara, and I’m having inappropriate thoughts about another woman—a coworker I have yet to formally meet.
Not that my situation with Dara qualified as relationship per se; more of a sexual convenience that lasted two years too long. When I took this job I admit it wasn’t solely for the position. Dara had grown clingy to the point of suffocation. And though I’m finding it hard to breathe at the moment, this is entirely different.
Turning to me, she holds out her hand. “You must be Lucas.”
The simple action of our skin touching sends my already heightened awareness of her into overdrive. I clear my throat and lower my notebook, positioning it directly over my lap to conceal my building erection.
Haven’t had to do that in the last fifteen years.
“Good to meet you…”
Fuck. What was her name?
Searching for a clue, my eyes dart around her office, hoping for a nameplate, framed degree or company award. The only thing I’m met with is an abundance of pink picture frames, a coordinating stapler, her pink blouse… and a security badge hanging on a lanyard around her neck, resting nicely between her breasts. Not quite a handful from the looks of it, but perky as hell.
Apparently, I am a prick.
“Gabriella,” I say, finally finishing my thought.
Blushing, her gaze follows mine and she removes her nametag and tosses it on her desk. “Please, call me Gabby.”
She spoke, I’m sure of it. But I was too busy admiring her lips and made no attempt to read them. I have no idea what she said, or what my problem is.
“How’s your first day going?” she asks and gestures for me to take a seat. I obediently do.
“Once I get caught up on emails I’ll be better,” I admit, casually sitting back in the chair.
“I bet. I had Jack’s assistant add you to a few distribution lists so you’d start getting the business updates.”
“So you’re to blame,” I state wryly.
Gabriella giggles, and fuck if it doesn’t make the top-ten list I’m mentally compiling of things that turn me on about her. “You’ll thank me in the long run,” she promises.
Our eyes lock. Neither one of us looks away until I’m left with no choice because her tongue darts out and wets her plump lips. Grabbing the knot of my tie, I loosen it so it no longer feels like a noose.
She clears her throat. “Are you liking Boston so far?”
“Haven’t seen much of it yet.”
Jack called me on a Sunday, barely a week ago, to gauge my interest in taking over the Strategy organization. I basically had twenty-four hours to process what he was offering, which was the opportunity to lead a large, global team and create something important. If all went well, he committed to promoting me to SVP in six months time. I called him the next day and asked when I could start. I didn’t expect him to say the following week, but he’d cleared the short transition with my manager, so here I am.
“I was surprised you turned down corporate housing. Are you staying with family?”
“Not exactly,” I say shifting in my seat. “A friend of a friend’s cousin was looking for a roommate, not sure I’ll stay that long. After I get to know the city better I’ll find a place of my own.”
It occurs to me that I have no idea who she is or why she has information about my living situation. Why the hell am I answering her questions? Oh right, I’m distracted. Which I need like a kick to the balls.
“It’s not too late if you’d rather—”
“I don’t take charity,” I cut her off. My clipped tone is unintentional, taking us both by surprise.
Way to overcompensate by biting her head off, jackass.
She eyes me quizzically, pausing for a moment before tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. I follow the movement of her fingers until they’re back on the table, once again admiring her beauty.
“Right.” She fidgets with something on her desk, rifling through a thick stack of papers. “Well, let’s get started then. This is a list we put together for employees who have relocated to Boston that has information on local restaurants, post offices, banks…you name it. I thought you might find it helpful.”
I accept the list and review it. Typical twenty-something hangouts, not the type of establishments I’d go to enjoy a meal or someone’s company. Somehow I doubt making her aware of that tidbit would go over very well at this point.
Gabriella picks up a binder and a few folders and sets them in front of me.
“What’s all this?”
“These are to help you get acclimated. It’s org charts, two years’ worth of performance reviews for your direct reports, copies of the last few employee satisfaction surveys and the results of the recent organizational climate analysis,” she rattles off. “I recommend that you look at the org charts and then save the other stuff until you’ve had
an introductory meeting with each member of your staff. You should also set up time with everyone on Jack’s team this week.”
She opens the binder and leans forward. I have to force my gaze to remain on what she’s intending to show me, and not the gap that’s been created between the buttons on her shirt that’s perfectly centered over her cleavage.
Pull your self together, mate.
I accept the binder and bypass the org chart for Jack’s team in order to look at mine, finding no one named Gabriella listed.
“Why isn’t your name on here?” I ask, more curious now than I was before.
Gabriella smiles like I just gave her a gift. “As your Human Resources business partner, I report directly to the head of HR, though it often feels like I directly work for the business.”
“My Human Resources business partner,” I repeat slowly, feeling sick.
I hate HR.
Never have I encountered someone in the so-called profession that added any level of value. If anything, the function’s a waste of overhead and they can’t be trusted.
“Yes, you and I will work closely to align business needs, both current and future, with your people strategy.”
“People strategy,” I say dryly though I want to laugh. Does she realize how ridiculous she sounds?
“Think of me as an extension of your staff. My job is to make yours easier, by understanding the business objectives and consulting with you on…”
I tune her out. If that was English, I didn’t follow.
“Doesn’t HR process benefits and recruit?”
I’m not an idiot. I know what her role is, not that I’ve ever seen it done successfully. Over the years I’ve come to learn that HR practitioners like to be mistaken for other overhead functions just about as much as they actually contribute.
Not at all.
“As this is your first leadership role managing others, it may seem foreign to you to utilize me this way, but before long I’m sure we’ll fall into a routine and rely on each other for support. The good news for you is that I have great relationships with your staff. Once you get acclimated we can start putting together your communication framework and evaluate the structure currently in place. And in the near future I’ll be facilitating your new leader assimilation.”
Conflict of Interest (Employee Relations Book 1) Page 2