Page 55 of Rush
“Ah, Jade. Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the empty chair. “How are you feeling?”
Perching gingerly on the plush leather, I raised my eyebrows. “I’m sorry?”
“I thought a break might’ve done you good, so that’s why I bent so easily when you demanded a week to sort out your affairs.” He glanced at me the same way a school principle glanced at a delinquent child. “I’m terribly sorry about your engagement, Jade, but it’s not an excuse.”
“An excuse for what?” I asked, dread beginning to settle in my bones. I practically shook with it, my teeth rattling in my head.
“Things have changed drastically since you came back to work,” he explained. “Quite frankly, I’m disappointed.”
“Disappointed?” I asked, racking my brains to figure out the point where I’d let him down. My work was still impeccable as ever, and last week’s focus group had the best ratings in years. I wasn’t following. “About what?”
“You’re always late, your numbers are down, your attitude leaves a lot to be desired… You’ve changed, Jade, and it’s not for the better.”
His words slammed into me like a freight train, and I felt like throwing up in his wastepaper basket. Always late? I think he meant, always on time.Jackass. Seriously, he was giving me a dressing down for not overworking myself into an early grave? I did more work than anyone here, and my numbers weren’t that dire. Since the whole mess with Ryan, I’d thrown myself into things even more in an attempt to better myself. To become more balanced. I might’ve scaled back to the hours I was paid for, but I hadn’t slowed down.
Slattery Press had been taking advantage of my obsessive work ethic all these years, and now Charles was telling me I wasn’t doing enough?Seriously?
Snorting, I knew if I were a man, I wouldn’t be sitting in this office being told off like I was about to be handed detention.Some way to treat your staff.
“Publishing is cutthroat,” Charles went on, not even noticing how distraught I was becoming. “Any slip could cost us thousands or even millions in the long run. In the current climate, we just cannot afford to lose any momentum.” He picked up the report in front of him and ran his gaze over the numbers.
Fuck his momentum.
“Is this because I refuse to work overtime anymore?” I asked straight up. “If you want me to, you’ll just have to startpaying me for it.”
He glanced at me, his eyebrow raising. “This is a prime example in regards to the issue of your attitude, Jade.”
“I do good work here. Some might even say brilliant,” I said, snarling. “And now you’re telling me I need an attitude readjustment? My numbers are down? Don’t you care about your employees’ health and safety?”
“I care a great deal about all those things,” Charles said, giving me a look that said he thought I was just another woman suffering PMS. “Which is why I’m terminating your employment. Effective immediately.”
“You can’t do that,” I exclaimed. “It’s unfair dismissal!”
“I can,” he replied, stone-faced. “It’s in your contract.”
My mouth flapped uselessly. As a wide-eyed University graduate, I would’ve signed just about anything if it meant landing my dream job, and I had.
“Clear out your desk, and hand your security pass to Annabel on the way out.” He pursed his lips and looked down his nose at me. “I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
20
Ryan
My feet poundedon the treadmill, sweat poured down my back, and my breath came in ragged gasps.
“Dude, you need to slow down,” Cole said beside me.
“You’re running just as fast,” I replied, my words coming out stilted.
“Yeah, because I’m tryin’ to keep up with you.” He wheezed, then slapped his hand on the controls, easing up on the speed. “You’re going to run yourself into early retirement.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not, and you know it.” He jumped off the end of the treadmill and grabbed his towel. “Fuck, I’m dying.”
“Maybe, maybe not, but training is the only thing that keeps my mind focused,” I said, slowing down to a jog, then to a walk before finally stepping off the end.
“There’s training, and there’s breaking point,” Cole said, slapping me on the shoulder. “I should’ve been able to keep up with you, but you were going at it too hard. Ease up, mate.”
