Page 43 of Big Book Boss

She nods.

"You are not late. You were with me." I release her hand and gesture to her toward the penthouse elevator. "We'll meet in my office first."

She nods and says, "After you, Big Book Boss."

On the ride up, she asks, "What shall I tell Janet about why I wasn't up in her face this morning at nine-fifteen?"

I answer, "Nothing."

She sighs, "Do you think the HR department has a clue she mistreats her staff?"

"I doubt it. I didn't."

She reaches out to push the fifth-floor button. "I would like to stop in here first if that's alright with you?"

I frown, "It will keep."

"Okay." She says. But a second later, she adds, more to herself than to me, "Youmay not be able to fire Janet, but if enough of her staff files a complaint, the HR department could."

The air in the confined space becomes a vacuum, and my body goes rigid. "What did you say?"

She smiles, "You do know what an HR department does, don't you? They monitor the health and well-being of the company's employees."

"Of course, I know that."

"Well, they can fire people for all sorts of reasons, and the employee doesn't have any recourse when it happens."

I turn to look at her. "What are you saying?"

"Your Human Resources Department needs to investigate the scene we witnessed yesterday. And they need to be given the authority from "management" to fire someone abusing your workforce."

"My God!" I look at her, stunned. "It's as easy as that, isn't it?"

She nods, "Yeppers."

Laughing, we enter the penthouse.

24

Samaera

I walkto my desk to retrieve the company laptop, then follow Bastian into his office. I sit down in one of the chairs in front of his desk while he spins around in his chair.

We discuss a few hanging issues left over from Chad's last meeting concerning the supply chain. He gives me his approval to move forward with the decision recommended. I ask, "If that's it, I'd like to head down now and begin schmoozing. When I return, we can discuss your social calendar."

The phone rings, and I step up to his desk to answer it. When I reach for the receiver, he slides the whole phone away from me. Insuring, I have to lean over his desk to answer it.

I stick my tongue out at him as I lift the headset and say, "Sebastian King's office."

He grins wickedly at me, then he stands.

Cilla says, "Good morning, Sam. So, I wasn't dreaming. You really are Bastian's new P.A."

"Oh, hi, Cilla!" My eyes shoot daggers at Bastian as he circles around behind me. "Yes, ma'am. I really am his personal assistant."

His fingers unzip my skirt and push it down to my ankles. The cool air in the room creates contact goosebumps on my heated flesh.

"Well, that's wonderful. I am thrilled with this development. I hope this means he'll be socializing more. He's been such a recluse since he took over for his father."

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