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“Turnover is expensive, Alessandra. We’ve invested a great deal into equipping you to do your job effectively and consistently, and frankly, I find your company far less grueling than most during mandatory travel days. Replacing you is a rather cumbersome task, so if I can simply assign a pawn to lighten your load?—”
I laughed—I couldn’t help it. It was strangled and somewhere in the ballpark of a Chihuahua sneezing, but it was a laugh.
Greyson leaned further back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Something entertaining, Ms. Rhodes?”
“I just…I think that was the closest you’ve ever come to complimenting me, Mr. Hart.”
A flicker of insult crashed through his eyes before vanishing just as quickly. “Surely that’s an exaggeration. You’ve been my right hand for the last?—”
“Twenty-one months.”
“Right.”
“I think the last time you affirmed my efforts was after I found the plagiarized content in Molly’s blogs, and you told me I made ’a decent cup of coffee’.”
“You make a more than adequate espresso.”
“Going for two in as many minutes?”
Where a laugh should be, a frustrated furrow took root instead. “Well, what do you think?”
“About the coffee or the assistant?”
“The latter.” Hands braced together below his chin, he stared me down.Right. Back to business faster than we detoured.There was a human male inside that robot somewhere. I just no longer cared to find him.
“As I said before, thank you so much for the opportunity and the experience here atHart Investments.This is mytwo weeks’ notice,” I rephrased the statement. Because it was a statement. I wasn’t pleading with the man. “Unless you’d prefer I leave immediately? I would understand?—”
“That won’t be necessary,” he gritted out. “Your assistance in finding and training your replacement would be very appreciated if you’re willing to lend us a hand.”
“Of course. This should expedite the process,” I replied, nodding to the folder between us. His throat bobbed.
“Well. Thank you for compiling candidates. As per usual, that was above and beyond.”
Confused, I stared across the desk at what appeared to be a sincere face of neutrality. I had to get the hell out of here before I lost my gumption. “I, unfortunately, have somewhere to be. If you’ll excuse me.” Standing, I headed for the door, only to have his voice freeze me on the threshold.
“Purely of curiosity, what are your aspirations from here?”
I turned back to face him, but before I could answer, he continued.
“Your name has become synonymous withmine, Ms. Rhodes. Which means unless you intend to share that hand for espresso for a living, I don’t see anyone in our circle risking a slight against our name by bringing you on. As it is, our confidentiality agreement renders you virtually useless to our competitors beyond?—”
“Bringing them coffee?” I chirped, still refusing to grind my teeth. His shrug reminded me why I had to get as far away from Hartless as humanly possible. Perhaps I’d join my siblings, Elora, Finn, and Paxton, on the East Coast.
But I loved it here. Loved the year-round sun and the yoga studio within walking distance from my condo. Unease stirred in my belly. The Harts held ‘investments’ in nearly every sectorof the business world—financials, media, public relations, sports teams, bars, restaurants, hotels, and high rises. You name it—they dabbled in it. Much like his father, Greyson had a habit of forcing out or buying up shares in the companies that crossed them in ruthless takeovers that left his enemies unemployed and fleeing the city with their tails between their legs. He’d rehab the business, then sell it for profit in a matter of years. I might call him Hartless, but the industry knew him as The Titan.
Surely, he wouldn’t be so petty for someone as low on the totem pole as me.
Clearing my throat, I clarified, “I don’t intend to compete with you, Mr. Hart. I’m certainly not going to violate the confidentiality agreement, even if I were placed with a competitor. As for being known in your circle, I think that I have proven to be an invaluable asset, not a hindrance. Should someone be concerned with crossing you, I’m sure you could put in a call on my behalf to clear up any confusion.”
“Could I?”
Don’t squirm, don’t squirm, don’t squirm.That intense gaze, beguiled by an arched brow, would not make me cave. “Well, it’s you they’d be worried about offending, correct?”
“I don’t have time to hash out your future employment with my rivals or associates, Ms. Rhodes. I’m afraid leavingHart Investmentsis leaving the industry you just clawed your way into.”
Refusing to let him see me clench my jaw, I lifted my chin, slapped on a smile, and said, “I have plenty of connections back home and could use a little quiet.”
“What a waste of talent, retreating to that island when you’ve laid roots down here.”