Page 14 of Scandalous Whispers (Alpha Billionaire #28)

PARKER

J ack Williams refused to sit across from me and talk to me like a man.

Instead, he paced my office angrily, the door left ajar so the entire newsroom could hear what he shouted at me.

I tried to remain calm, but I never was one for negotiating conflict in a rational manner, not when I had the authority to quash the cockroaches that had the balls to creep out while the lights were still on.

“Either sit down or get out of my office.” Frustrated enough that I could no longer sit, I leaned over the desk and rested my palms on the cool wood. I could see eyes turn my direction through the window. I could also see Haley, Tom, and David standing outside my office waiting to be invited in.

“I don’t buy it, Danvers. You have people for things like that.

You weren’t at the restaurant because you had a car accident.

You were there on a date. Admit it.” Williams stopped pacing directly across from where I stood.

He glowered down his nose at me and crossed his arms over his chest, puffing it out like he was intimidating to me or something.

I stood straighter and adjusted my tie. “You are allowed to think what you want, but the truth of the matter is that we were there to discuss the car accident. Ms. Spencer’s car was totaled by the accident instigated by my driver.

You’ll also be happy to know the paper is buying her a new car as a bonus to thank her for the hard work she’s put into making this company a success.

If you spent half as much time doing your job as you did complaining, you’d be getting promoted and receiving bonuses. ”

Jack’s glower briefly shifted to shock, then hardened into a glare. “You’re going to regret telling me that.” He shook his head. “What you’ve done is created a double standard. You can date someone who works for you, but people who work together beneath you can’t date?”

“Did you stop to think that if you hadn’t crossed professional lines by having sex within the office, on company property, that no one would have cared about your dating Gretchen?” I scoffed. “Get out.”

“Well, her wrongful termination suit is moving forward. You’ll rue the day you ever took action against her. I’ll see to that.”

Jack stormed out, slamming the door behind him, and he glared at Haley as he walked past her in the hallway.

I knew both Tom and David heard his comments, and I didn’t even care.

There was no time to sit and debate about the appropriateness of my dating Haley.

We hadn’t made anything official, other than stating to each other privately that feelings were happening on both sides.

And I held fast to my conviction—I owned the paper, and everyone could mind their own business.

I nodded at Tom, who stood with his hand on the outer doorknob, waiting.

At my gesture he opened and entered, followed by David and Haley.

She had a grimace on her face, and David and Tom avoided eye contact.

I knew the elephant was taking up too much space in the room, so I addressed it immediately so as not to waste any time discussing things that were no one’s business.

“Shut the door and have a seat. I’ll just make it known that Jack Williams has an issue with my treatment of Haley as a staff member.

You clearly heard his accusations. Let’s just put that to bed—we’re not talking about it.

Now, if you have updates for me regarding this toxic spill in Ohio, I’m all ears.

We need to break this story open before Global does.

” I sat down, making sure my tie was tucked beneath my jacket neatly.

David cleared his throat and squirmed. His facial expression said he wasn’t happy about dismissing Jack’s accusations and threats, but he knew better than to speak to me about them after I banned the topic.

Tom, however, had the balls to do so, but he was the one who dived right into the updates and forged a path away from the drama which was fading by the second.

I looked to Haley, who now had her eyes fixed on her tablet in her lap.

“Well, Haley’s done a fantastic job with this one.

It appears the Feds refused aid in Ohio stating that Ohio was not eligible.

That’s not the breaking news. What we intend to break is the fact that the initial response was done incorrectly and actually made things worse.

” Tom looked up at me. “This is literally a national disaster, and no one even knows the government could have stopped it. It’s worse than the oil spill in the Gulf from the Deep Water Horizon in 2010. ”

I shook my head and huffed out a sigh. “Haley, your source is feeding actual science here?”

She popped her head up and looked at me.

“He has a thumb drive with all the scientific data on it. I’m meeting him in Gary this afternoon.

I just have to see if the rental agency allows the mileage.

Otherwise, I need to borrow a car.” She bit her lip, and I saw her cheeks tint pink.

After Jack’s verbal assault and my announcement about buying her a car as a bonus, she probably felt embarrassed to bring up the need.

“You haven’t had time to select a new car, then, I assume.” It wasn’t a problem for me, though I would have thought she’d be more excited.

“Uh, no, sir. My father wants to take me because he says car salesmen are sleazy. We are going this coming weekend.”

David stared at Haley with contempt, and I turned to him. “Is there a problem, Mr. Wright?” He looked at me in surprise.

“No problem, sir.” His shaking head reminded me of a bobble head dog on the dashboard of my father’s Volkswagen van we had when I was a child. Always the sycophant. I ignored him and scowled.

“Good. Then, what we’ll do is you will take my car.

Gordon will drive you and make sure you’re safe.

Gary is a rough town, I've heard.” I turned to Tom.

“You just write up the paperwork for that, and we’ll be set.

And I need Ken to release a blank cashier’s check for Haley for this weekend.

” Ken, our CFO, reported to me, but Tom was my main contact for everything.

He would make sure things were lined up squarely.

“Sir,” Tom said, clearing his throat and sitting forward, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I mean, you’ve already had Jack in here with his attitude and threats. Imagine if everyone in this office sees Ms. Spencer leaving in your car. You’ll have a shitstorm on your hands.”

I kept the anger bubbling inside my chest to a minimum as I turned to him slowly with a stern look.

“May I remind you that this business is owned and run by me? I make decisions as I see fit. If you think I’m going to cower to the threats of an angry little man, you’re wrong.

I do as I please, and my power and influence back me up.

Now, if you’re worried about sinking with the ship, you may take the first life preserver you find.

I’ll write you an exemplary review. Until then, I’m still the boss, and you’re still my employee. ”

“But, Parker, we’re friends. I’m not just watching out for your business.

” Tom’s gaze flicked toward Haley, who looked down again.

“I’m trying to protect your professional relationship.

You’re twenty years older than her. There is talk in this office, and I’m not sure that you want to hear what they’re saying. ”

“Whether or not I’m romantically involved with Ms. Spencer is none of anyone’s concern but mine and hers.

And how I handle interoffice politics is my prerogative.

I can’t see how allowing her to use my car for a business meeting could be construed as unethical or unprofessional.

” I didn’t need clarification of the subject, but David chimed in.

“Sir, you’re using personal property to aid a subordinate at her job.

If it were a company car, that would be different.

It’s hard enough to convince people that buying her a car due to a personal accident that was completely unrelated to her duties as a writer for The Vine is ethical.

You start letting her take your car, you may as well invite her to sleep in your bed. The implications are?—”

“Enough, David.” I stood, buttoning my suit coat. “Haley, what time is your meeting?”

She peered up at me, nervously glancing at her superiors as if they could stop her from responding to my question. “Two p.m., sir.”

“I’ll have Gordon ready to pick you up at one.

” I turned to my irritating managers. “You two make sure the arrangements for Ms. Spencer’s new car are made this weekend.

It is an unspecified bonus for her work with The Vine and will be treated as taxable income on her W-2 at the end of the year. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” David mumbled, standing.

Tom didn’t look at me. He just sighed and stood.

“You’re going to regret this, Parker.” He shook his head and turned toward the door.

“I know I’m probably just a stodgy old man to you, but I’m really just looking out for your future.

” He turned his head over his shoulder and said, “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows he is but a fool.”

Haley stood hastily, scurrying behind them as if she were afraid to be seen alone with me.

I didn’t blame her. Jack’s tantrum had been bad enough.

If the staff saw her linger in my office after a meeting, it would make the gossip worse than it already was.

I felt eyes watching me from every corner of the office and I knew Haley felt them too.

At least I had a buffer of glass walls surrounding me.

She was out there in the heat of it, probably hearing the whispers as she passed their desks.

I had to make this up to her. Maybe a trip away would help her relax.