Page 43 of On the Fly
The elevator opened on the executive floor and she hightailed it to their suite, ready for privacy. He could be steps behind her to another suite on this very floor. She’d never let him see her meltdown.
It took three tries to get the key card to work in the door, her shaking hands hindering her progress. As the door shut behind her and she engaged the security latch, she let out the breath she’d been holding since… Well, it felt like since he’d woken her up at the office.
This is where we part ways.
Who says that? What a dirtbag. She hadn’t thought of him as a jerk in a while. She tossed her bag on the bed and flumped down onto the mattress. Picking up the pieces of her heart could wait. It was time to go home, though hell would see its first snowstorm before she got on another plane. If making her a reservation and shoving her on a plane was his idea of taking control…well, he could kiss her almighty behind.
He’d helped her with her family, and they’d had fun, but she didn’t take that kind of attitude from anyone. She leaned over and snatched the hotel phone off the receiver and dialed the concierge desk, decision made.
“Hello, this is Emma Chadwick. Can you help with ordering a rental car?” She could work from anywhere that had wi-fi, and that was just what she’d do over the next week while she headed back home. Hopefully, a week on the road would be enough time to mend her bruised heart…and maybe a bit of her ego if she were being honest. She could decide later whether to let Ander go or fight to fix the mess he’d created.
“Of course, ma’am. I’d be happy to help. I just have a few questions.”
Once she had that ordered, she’d pack and be on her way.
~~~
Thursday morning
Ander stared at his reflection in the full-length mirror, taking in his professional look. His crisp, new black Armani suit tailored to his exact measurements and a red silk tie both signified his intentions. He would no longer play with this company or his family’s emotional wishes.
He drew in a deep breath, feelingnormalfor the first time in a while. He was more comfortable in this mindset than any other he’d developed since coming back to Napa. He lifted his lip into a sneer. California—why had he ever voluntarily returned home? Maybe he wasn’t as devoid of emotion as his old man had labeled him. But his pop could bet his ass that once Ander was free of this stranglehold of an obligation, he would never return.
He didn’t even need his morning meditation ritual to help steel his spine for the upcoming day. He hadn’t slept a wink last night. In the mirror, he glanced at the clock on the nightstand which read six fifteen. The perfect time to get to the office and do just as his father had predetermined. He wouldn’t spend another minute trying to save this company. Instead, he’d initiate phase two: building a plan to tear apart Rora Airlines and sell each component to the highest bidder—after all, tearing things apart was his only true success in life.
If his family disagreed… Well, it held no bearing on the outcome. None of them were qualified to run this airline. With the whole board retiring and Ander acting as the de facto CEO, he had final say. Besides, selling the company and paying the outrageous debt had its benefits. If he sold high enough and could cover the airline’s debts, his siblings and his mother could keep all the money inside those overseas accounts. Ander wanted no part of his father’s secret stash. He wondered what his father thought of his emotionless, money-grubbing son having no interest in any inheritance, especially if it came from his demeaning old man.
The fire building inside Ander licked at his soul, stoking the anger inside him. Feeling on more solid ground than he had in a while, Ander turned away from the mirror and went for his wallet and cell phone. His new hotel room was smaller, much more efficient, a place he certainly felt more comfortable within. Excess poisoned everything. He’d seen it happen too many times over the years when he’d dismantled businessmen’s pride and joy after their extravagant spending. Nothing good ever came from overindulgence.
His tired eyes drifted closed as he put his wallet in his slacks pockets. A vision of Emma came to mind behind his closed lids, which revealed the reason he hadn’t slept a wink. This time he saw her bright smile beaming at him. One morning, she’d taken great pleasure in straddling Ander, riding him awake. He’d loved her boldness too. Another error in his father’s judgment of him—Ander liked all his time with Emma far more than he should have, until his father painted Ander into a corner and had ruined it all.
He opened his eyes to feel the scowl intensifying on his face. He forced the barriers he’d erected as a child to rebuild around his heart. From this point forward, he’d never allow himself to think with his heart again. He’d been on his own a long time, and it turned out better that way. Business was never personal. It was past time for everyone at Rora Airlines to learn that lesson. And there was no room for personal feelings for a woman.
Ander left the room and headed for the lobby then straight out to his waiting car. The short drive to Rora did nothing to change his outlook. As he entered the Rora corporate offices, he evaluated the price tag of such prime property. When the time came, he’d put this baby up for sale. Hell, he should probably begin the process of getting it listed right now. A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. Yeah, he liked that idea. He entered the elevator car and rose toward the executive suites.
Two hours later, he heard Mandy, his father’s assistant, arrive. On the long list of tasks he’d outlined for the day, she came in at number one. If Mandy wanted to keep her job, she needed to find a sense of urgency and some respect, which she’d sorely lacked during their previous encounters.
“Mandy, I need you.”
“Just a minute.”
Ander envisioned her on her cell phone as she continued a one-sided conversation outside of his eyesight instead of coming to his office as he’d requested. The flames of annoyance burned brighter inside him. He counted in his head. When he got to thirty, hearing drawers opening and closing and her personal coffee machine turning on, he made his decision.
“Call HR. I need an immediate meeting with the director,” Ander called out, not bothering to rise as he reassigned her. “Then pack your desk. You’ll be relocated within the hour.”
Her voice silenced, and all the little noises came to an end. He heard nothing more. Good. It needed to start from the top. Shouldn’t take too long for the gossip mill to churn, and they would know he no longer played their games. When he heard her notify HR of his request, he checked the time on his desk clock. It only took minutes to walk the hall from the Human Resources Department to his executive suite. He’d give Director Bates ten minutes before he looked for his replacement too. While he waited, Ander lifted the landline and called Lyla.
“Yes, sir,” she answered. Ander almost breathed a sigh of relief to have a competent employee so close at hand.
“I need you on the next flight. I’ve got too much going on for your list of reasons why you can’t come,” he said in his no-nonsense tone.
“Okay. You sound stressed.”
Ander said nothing, he just picked up his pen and marked though the first line on his list.
“I’ll need to pack. Am I flying Rora?”
“Whatever gets you here the fastest.” He replaced the phone in the cradle, not wanting to hear any more excuses.
