by Lexy Timms
I was mortified. Absolutely mortified. But more than that, I was angry. What the hell was Nina trying to pull? Did she think the money I made to pay her simply grew on trees? I cleared my throat and stood up from the table and then reached my hand out to her.
But instead, she snubbed it and walked off with her nose jammed in the air.
“My apologies, Mr. Devotee. I hope that in the future, should you choose to outfit your—”
“I’ll find someone else, thanks. And let this be a lesson for you. Women have no place in a conversation about business, Mr. Sheldon.”
I was beginning to think he was right.
I saw myself out of the restaurant and made my way to the car. Nina was sliding in like she owned the damn thing, and I was ready to toss her out and make her walk home. I waved at the cameras still snapping pictures of us as people gave us weird looks. Shit. I knew I was going to see this debacle in the papers the next morning.
I slipped into the car and slammed the door beside me. I couldn’t stand to look at her. I was fuming, and I knew if I turned to her, I couldn't be held responsible for what happened next.
“What the hell was that?” I asked.
“A lesson,” Nina said. “I don’t have to do anything for you. Big Steps is not my company, and I’m not the one devoted to it. And I resent the comment you made earlier.”
“You will definitely have to specify,” I said as I whipped my head to her.
“I don’t have a job because I can’t get one,” she said. “I don’t have a job because I don’t want one.”
“I never said anything about—”
I drew in a deep breath and calmed myself until my driver could get us out onto the road.
“If you think the money I hand you grows on trees, then you are sorely mistaken. I’ve got one last shot to nail this thing, and rest assured, you won’t be accompanying me to it.”
“Good,” she said.
“And you won’t be getting paid either.”
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“If you think for one second that ruining a client for me is going to get you paid, then you overestimate the nature of this relationship. If you don’t want to come when I call, that’s fine. Your pay goes down because you're willing to work less. But if you think that intentionally screwing up a client for me is going to get you paid at all, then you’re as delusional as I think you are. I’m not paying for you to galivant around the world and giving you a monthly stipend so you can crash the business I worked hard to build. You might not be dedicated to this company, but I am. I did this without you. I got to a certain point without you.”
“But you didn’t get here without me, Jimmy. You didn’t get to be the best luxury company in the world without me. I have kissed so much ass for you in parties I would’ve never been caught dead in. Turned down dates with good men to stay on your arm. Forwent any sort of future I could’ve ever had so I could dig myself out of debt. So, if you think for one second you own me, Jimmy, you take a good hard look in the mirror. You’re the one who sought me out. You remember that.”
The rest of the ride back to her place was silent. She slammed out of the door, rocking the car on its chassis. I told the driver to leave before she got up to her apartment, and I could tell he was worried.
But I didn’t give a shit.
Not anymore.
The drive back home was lonely. She had blown the best chance Big Steps had at getting into the hotel chain business. Ross had told me this guy was a sure thing, that he had done all the work and what I had to do was close the deal. And Nina ruined that.
She ruined that for my company.
This other guy was going to be harder. Ross was talking with him every day, trying to abate his fears and answer his questions. Clients like him were the hardest, the ones who didn’t know what they wanted and always wanted to change their minds. I didn’t want to get into business with someone like that, but I couldn’t turn down this opportunity. I couldn’t snub it after all the hard work Ross had done to get me to these meetings.
But if Nina was going to act like this, then maybe it was time I stopped using her services. If she was going to be this much of a problem and be this self-entitled, then maybe a public breakup would be easier to field than a tanking company. It would set my image back. I’d probably have to throw a great deal of money at her to get her to sign a nondisclosure agreement. I would need something to take to court in case she ever disclosed the nature of our relationship to the media.
Though she wielded all the power. She didn’t have anything to lose, and I had it all.
I raked my hands through my hair as the driver pulled into the parking garage. I released him for the night to go home to his family, and then I made my way to the elevator. My head hurt. It felt like it was getting harder to breathe. Guilt was pooling in my chest as I pressed the button to summon the elevators because only one thought was going through my head.
The one thought I couldn't afford to have.
Ashley wouldn’t have done that. She would’ve been perfect.
Chapter 16
Ashley
I knocked on Mr. Fowler’s door and heard his voice echo through his office.
“Come in.”
He looked up from his desk and smiled before he got up from his chair. He buttoned his suit coat and came to offer his hand to me, and I shook it lightly. He was always such a fun person to be around. My first week at my new position had been full of smiles because of him. He ushered me to the couch he kept in the corner of the room, and then he sat beside me and made himself comfortable.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Ross asked.
“Mr. Fowler, I—”
“What have I told you about calling me that?” he asked. “Ross is fine.”
“Eventually, I’ll get used to it,” I said. “I wanted to thank you again for this job. It’s been an interesting first week.”
“Do you like your office?” he asked.
“I didn’t realize I’d be getting one.”
“We weren’t going to give the Account Representative to our investors a cubby hole, Ashley. You need a proper office with a proper view.”
“It’s beautiful on the twenty-seventh floor. And quiet. I love the quiet.”
“Good. I’m glad it suits you,” he said.
“I just got the paperwork regarding the new client. I take it the dinner Jimmy had last night went well?”
“Yes, it did. Though I was sweating bullets through it.”
“You were there?” I asked.
“I was. He wanted me to go instead of Nina this time. And I don’t blame him. The meeting took three solid hours. One of those wishy-washy clients who can never make up their mind.”
“Well, I have the confirmation order form, so I was going to get started on the allocation of the investor’s budgets. Do they prefer a packet of information sent to them or an email with a PDF document?”
“Packets of information are only for meetings. There should be a group of emails on your computer entitled ‘Investors.’ An emailed PDF will be fine for things like this.”
“Perfect. I’ll make a note of that. Also, one of the investors’ checks hasn’t cleared yet. What’s protocol for that?”
“Is it Mr. Blankenshire? Our overseas investor?” he asked.
“No. Is it proper of me to tell you who it is?”
“Me and Jimmy, yes. No one else.”
“It’s Mr. Matthews. He wrote the check Tuesday, and I deposited it with everyone else’s, but for some reason, the bank has it tied up. Do you want me to wait for it to clear before I start the graphs? Or do you want me to proceed and alter when it does clear?”
“I’ll give him a call. There’s a good chance the bank is holding it up on his end, so he needs to know what’s going on. In the future, you handle this kind of stuff. Anything to do with the investors is under your umbrella. But while you’re still learning, it’s fine for you to filter this stuff by us. If y
ou want, you can stay for the call to get a feel of how a conversation like that should work.”
“I’d enjoy that. I would assume talking to an investor about a check that won’t clear is a little different than talking with a client who can’t make their monthly payment.”
“A little bit, yes,” he said with a grin. “Ashley, thank you for taking this job. With this branch off into the hotel business, it’s going to drop a lot of work into your lap.”
“I’m ready for it. I’m just sorry I’ve bothered you so much this week.”
“You’re not a bother. You’re learning, and I’d rather you ask us questions than continuously mess things up.”
“Which I’m a pro at,” I said with a smile.
“Nonsense. Not when it comes to numbers. And even though you don’t think it, you’re good at interacting with people.”
“Thanks. That means a lot, Ross, and thank you for putting in a good word for me. With Jimmy. I hear I have you to thank for the tax thing that led me here.”
“You earned it. You have an incredible skill set. We’re glad to have you up here with us.”
I felt a surge of pride swell in my chest. I stood and shook Ross’s hand and then made my way back to my office. My office. It was such a different concept. I never saw myself having my own office. But I did. With a view that looked out over the ocean and a massive wooden desk. I had all of this office space and absolutely nothing to put in it. I went from barely scraping by with sixty thousand dollars a year to making one hundred and sixty thousand dollars a year plus every single benefit possible. Five weeks of paid vacation. A company credit card. Access to company vehicles if I needed them.
I stood in my office as tears of happiness welled in my eyes.
I locked up my office for the day and went down to my car. I wanted to go see my mother after my first hectic week of my new job. I’d only been to see her one other time this week, and I felt terrible for it. Even though I knew she wouldn’t remember me not being there and even though I knew she wouldn’t remember me telling her about my new job, I still wanted to see her.
I still wanted to celebrate with my mother.
“Knock, knock,” I said.
“Is that my daughter I hear?”
I beamed with pride as I slipped into my mother’s room.
“Been such a stormy week. I’ve been sleeping way too much,” my mother said.
“Sometimes the power of a storm can be cleansing,” I said as I sat down. “How are you feeling, Mom?”
“Good today. How are you?”
“I’m wonderful. I finished my first week of my new job,” I said.
“Your new job? And you didn’t tell me about it? Shame on you. What’s your new job?”
My heart sank a little at the fact that she really didn’t remember.
“I’m the new Account Representative for Big Steps’ investors board,” I said.
“English?”
“I manage and balance the accounts for the men who contribute big sums of money to the company I work for,” I said.
“Sounds right up your alley. You’ve always been so anal about numbers,” she said.
“I was born with a talent and turned it into a passion. What can I say?”
“What all did you do this week?”
“Well, Monday was reserved for moving me into my new office. You’d love it, Mom. I’m just below the top floor, and I have this wonderful view of the ocean in the distance.”
“Oh, wow. They gave you one of those fancy offices then,” she said.
“They did. It’s really nice. But it’s a lot of room. I hope they don’t expect me to fill it with anything.”
“They gave you a raise, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then buy some things! Get some new clothes! I’m tired of seeing you in the same old skirts and cardigans.”
“So, you remember what I wear?” I asked.
I watched my mother’s face falter as I chastised myself.
“I don’t know what you mean by that question,” she said.
“Me neither. Sorry, Mom. I-I don’t know where that came from.”
“What else did you do with your week?” she asked.
“I went to my first board of investors meeting Tuesday morning, a massive two-hour meeting where I needed to take notes. Then I made sure all the investors’ contributions made it into their respective bank accounts for the company. And now that Jimmy has landed a major client in the hotel industry, there’s going to be a lot of work in the coming weeks to fill the order and get the investors onboard.”
“Jimmy? Who’s Jimmy?” she asked.
“My boss. Jimmy and Ross.”
“You call your bosses by their first names?”
“They’re insistent on it, yes.”
“As long as they’re insistent on it. You’re a woman in a man’s world. You need to tread lightly, Ashley.”
“I will, Mom. Don’t worry.”
“Now, when are you going to bring your husband here to meet me?” she asked. “Are you ashamed of your mother?”
“Husband?” I asked. “Mom, I-I don’t ... I’m not married.”
I felt my heart clench in my chest as confusion wafted behind her eyes.
“Then take it as a hint,” she said. “You’re a good woman, and you deserve a good man at your side. Don’t let this new job of yours get in the way of you finding someone to settle down with.”
“I won’t, Mom. I promise.”
“You’re a beautiful woman. Don’t let any man ever tell you differently,” she said.
I watched my mother curl her fingers around my hand, and I smiled. I squeezed her tightly, trying not to let my emotions take over. It always upset my mother when she saw me cry, and it had a tendency to throw her into a frenzy that required nurses.
I blinked to keep my tears at bay as I drew in a shaking breath.
“I’m proud of you,” my mother said.
“You are?” I asked.
“Yes, I am. You’ve always been a hard worker, a rock when you should’ve been nothing but a child. But one day, we’ll get out of this house, and we can live our lives any way we choose.”
“This house?” I asked.
“Yes. I feel so trapped here. Your father was right. The apartment suited us much more than here.”
“Mother, we never had a house.”
“Of course, we do. Look around you. This is our house.”
I gripped her hand tighter, silently willing her not to slip from me.
“What are you doing? You’re hurting me. Let go, girl. Who are you?”
A tear breached my cheek as I reached for the red button. I pressed down on it as my mother devolved, finding herself entombed in a fit of confusion and anger. She was thrashing around in bed, demanding to know who I was and why I had brought her here. She called out for my father to come help her, to come save her from the people who were trying to get her to calm down.
I sank against the wall by the door and watched as the nurses struggled with her.
My mother settled down, and I went back to her side. Her eyes were beginning to close, and I reached for her hand one last time. I bent over and pressed a kiss to her forehead, allowing my lips to linger on the softness of her skin.
“I love you, Mom,” I said in a whisper. “I’ll be back soon.”
Chapter 17
Jimmy
It was my first Saturday off in quite some time, and I was ready to throw back some drinks with Ross. After asking him to accompany me to the rest of the client meetings, I knew he would have questions for me. I also wanted to pick his brain about how we were going to go about delivering on the promises we made to this hotel chain.
“Hey there, Ross.”
“Hey, Jimmy. Already put in for your whiskey neat.”
“Thanks,” I said. “So, I have a question.”
“If this is work-related, it can wait until my office hours,” Ross said.
�
��Come on. It’s a small question about the hotel bigwig we just landed.”
“I have a question about that, but it isn’t business-related.”
“Don’t ask it, Ross.”
“Why didn’t you take Nina to that meeting?” he asked.
“You’re really gonna start off that strong, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Yes, I am. It’s been on my mind ever since that damn dinner, and I want to know what happened. She blew the first meeting, didn’t she?”
“What makes you think that?” I asked.
“A hunch. And the email the man sent me after the dinner. He said to tell you to keep your playthings out of his business next time.”
“Wait, there’s a next time?” I asked.
“I’m working on it. What did Nina do?”
“Showed her fucking ass is what she did.”
“Literally or metaphorically?”
“Might as well have been literally.”
I grabbed the drink set in front of me, and I threw it back. It burned going down, and I groaned with its taste. I handed the drink back to the waitress and told her to bring me another one before turning my attention back to Ross.
“That bad, huh?”
“She went in and intentionally sabotaged the meeting, Ross.”
“Did she tell you why?” he asked.
“Because she didn’t want to go, and I made her.”
“Isn’t that the extent of your relationship?”
“Yes, and I reminded her of that. Then she reminded me of the fact that I wouldn't be where I am right now if it wasn’t for her.”
“What?” he asked. “The hell you wouldn’t be.”
“She’s right, though. I brought her on in the form she took because I needed her at my side to sell the product to the clientele I was targeting.”
“Nina didn’t nail you those clients. You did, Jimmy.”
“But having her on my arm to wine and dine made it look good. It painted a picture of commitment, and that’s important in this game.”
“This isn’t a game. It’s business. And whether or not you’ve got a wife or a side piece doesn’t matter,” he said.
“It does if you want to be the best.”