Page 26 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
By nine, the whole office was abuzz. Or, more accurately, a-grumble.
‘I’ve been with Double K right from the start,’ said Nigel. ‘And those bastardssworeto me they’d never sell out to a big corporate.’
‘We don’t know the full story yet,’ said Leo.
‘That’s right,’ said Ange. ‘Might have been one of those hostile takeovers.’
‘Hostile takeovers are only hostile until the buyer makes an offer so huge that the seller can’t refuse,’ said Nigel. ‘Keith and Kev will have come out of thisquitenicely, the bastards.’
‘Doesn’t worry me, of course,’ said Hayley from sales, inspecting her rhinestone manicure. ‘My last day’s next week.’
‘Don’t expect a cake,’ said Nigel. ‘We won’t be allowed any non-essentials in the new budgets, bet your life.’
‘I’ll bake you one, Hayley,’ said Ange.
‘You’d be better off spending the time polishing up your CV,’ Nigel told her. ‘We’ll all be on the streets soon, mark my words. And me with five kids to support.’
‘You can always get a job as a motivational coach, Nigel,’ said Leo. ‘You’ve certainly got the knack for it.’
‘He’s from up North,’ said Ange. ‘They’re born that way.’
Into hearing range came the gristly squeak of Janice’s tea trolley. Evie watched, amused, as the thought she’d had earlier suddenly occurred to everyone else.
‘They’ll have to carryherout in a box,’ said Nigel. ‘A lead-lined one wrapped in chains.’
‘Do you think she knows?’ Ange asked, quietly.
‘If not, I vote Hayley tells her,’ said Nigel. ‘Not fair she escapes that easily.’
All talk was put on hold as Janice and her trolley entered the room. Normally, she’d greet everyone with a gruff, ‘Mornin’.’ Today, tea and scones were doled out in grim silence, and the trolley wheeled off without a backward glance. As the last squeak faded away, everyone let out the breath they’d been holding.
‘Shetotallyknows,’ said Evie.
‘Then this might be our final scone.’
Leo held his up. Evie noted averygenerous topping of jam and cream.
‘Cheers, Janice,’ said Leo. ‘Thanks for the calories.’
‘Cheers,’ everyone chorused.
‘Bastards,’ said Nigel, through crumbs. ‘I’llneverforgive them.’
To be fair, Evie thought, both Keith and Kev did look a bit sheepish at the staff meeting. Although Kev might be preoccupied with what manner of punishment his old mum was about to inflict upon him. Bets on this subject had already been placed by the staff, and the current odds-on favourite was Janice leaving her beloved council flat and moving in with Kev. Some considered this to betoocruel and unusual and had bet instead on Kev being forced to take up line-dancing down at the community hall.
Keith opened by telling them that Plumbing Ultra, after several approaches, had finally made an offer that he and Kev felt they could accept.
‘Toldyou,’ hissed Nigel. ‘Bastards.’
‘But everyone can rest assured,’ said Keith, ‘that, for now, the new owners willnotbe making any major changes without me and Kev’s approval.’
‘Ha!’ Nigel again.
‘I know you’ll all have questions,’ said Keith. ‘But instead of a free-for-all right now, send them to me via email, so we can give them proper consideration.’
‘Cowards.’ Nigel whispered this, as Kev was now giving him a hard stare.
‘All right, that’s it,’ said Keith. ‘You can all take the rest of the day off.’
