Page 105 of Hidden Ties

Sage nodded. “The owner wants to make sure Mr. Hollingsworth is aware she has fulfilled all the requirements made in the contract she signed.”

“In other words, she wants to cover her ass.”

“Yes, Nikki does. I think that makes perfect business sense when she signed a contract with a group of lawyers, don’t you?” Sage said rhetorically. “She may not have a team of lawyers at her disposal, but she doesn’t play games, either.”

Livvy gave her a dark frown. “Exactly what are you alluding to?”

“Nothing. She just wants to make sure that Mr. Hollingsworth is appraised of the discounts that have been given to make Hollingsworth happy and why her company will no longer be providing any services.”

Livvy’s expression showed her conflicting emotions. If she had any doubts that Bree and Livvy were somehow embezzling the money being paid to the temp workers and pocketing the excess cash, Livvy’s face dispelled any of those misgivings.

Livvy started backtracking. “You don’t even know yet if your finally evaluation is satisfactory or not.”

“Did you forget the email you sent to me? Even if you call Bree, she couldn’t change the evaluation if she wanted to. I sent a copy of the email to my home computer,” she said with finality, glancing down to her wristwatch. “I need to be going. I don’t want to keep Bree waiting.”

Standing, Livvy placed her hands on her desk, outrage pouring out of her in waves. “I’m going to call Bree and tell her exactly what you said. She’ll call your boss and tell her how insolent you are being.”

“Go with that if you want to,” she replied, unperturbed at the threat. “Of course, make sure you give her all the facts, not the ones you manufactured in my performance review or just how you have created a toxic environment in this workplace, compounded by Bree, who does the dirty work for you by getting rid of anyone you can’t manage to make bow down to you. I’ll miss working at Hollingsworth for several reasons, but you won’t be among them.”

TWELVE

Leaving a fuming Livvy in her office was the highlight of her time at working at Hollingsworth. While crushing disappointment had filled her when she read the evaluation, with it came relief at not having to deal with Livvy anymore.

Using the short walk to Bree’s office to get her anger back in control, she came to an abrupt halt seeing Bree’s door open and the woman not there.

She glanced at her watch and frowned. Bree was never late.

Taking a seat in one of the chairs next to her office, she waited, not knowing what else to do. Should she go back to her desk and check her emails?

She was still debating what to do, when she heard the tap of footsteps coming near. She glanced to the side, and her mouth almost dropped open. It wasn’t Bree approaching, however, that had her in shock, but the man following behind her.

Sage saw Bree say something to him as they drew closer. She had never met the president of Hollingsworth before, but he was easily recognizable from the numerous pictures of him placed around the different offices and levels of the building.

“Ms. Riley, I’m Garrett Hollingsworth,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.

“Mr. Hollingsworth.” Rising, she took his hand to shake.

“I hope you haven’t been waiting long. Bree and I were in a meeting that lasted longer than I anticipated.”

Confused as to why he was there, her eyes went to Bree’s face as Mr. Hollingsworth explained. Bree looked as if she had swallowed a bee. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen from crying. Crying was not a good look on the woman. Even under a ton of makeup, her skin appeared mottled and puffy.

Catching a gesture from Mr. Hollingsworth to go inside the office, she followed Bree inside.

“Please, have a seat, Ms. Riley.” Closing the door, Mr. Hollingsworth gave Bree a cutting look as she was about to move behind her desk.

Awkwardly, Sage sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. For a second, she thought Bree would run out of the office crying, but she must have been able to gather herself before sitting down behind her desk, because when she did, the shine of tears in her eyes was gone.

“May I call you Sage?” Mr. Hollingsworth asked, leaning against the side of the desk.

Baffled about what was going on, she could only nod. Why would the president of the law firm come down to give her the boot? Had Livvy called Hollingsworth and told him what she had accused her of?

“Thank you.” Her boss’ face relaxed into a charming façade, which she didn’t believe for a hot second. Not taken in by his approachable behavior, Sage linked her fingers together tightly, not dropping her guard.

“Bree and I discussed your future with the firm, with today being the last day of your contract. I wanted to personally ask you to become a permanent member of our team.”

“You do?” Her eyes cut to Bree’s, who looked as if she didn’t know whom she would rather hit with the stapler—her or Hollingsworth.

“We do. You have been an exemplary employee while you worked here. We would be idiots to let you go. Isn’t that right, Bree?”