Page 58 of Wildflower
I nod and wave him out. They’ve asked for it now. It was only three days ago that I told them both to stick to the rules.
There’s not much time until my next meeting, so I’ll have to keep it short and to the point. I get up, stride out of my office and straight to the corner where the team is huddled around a screen. There’s some kind of dog flopping around on it. How much shit have they been making that’s outside the rules?
“Horace, Rosemary, my office, now.”
I walk back and assume they’re following.
Inside the office, I turn and face them. Paler than normal, the two insolent twats exchange a quick glance.
“This is my final warning,” I point at them. “Stop whatever you’re up to. Stick to the sodding rules, or I’ll be forced to get rid of you both.”
Rey gapes. “You can’t?—”
“I can, and I will.”
“But—”
Horace puts up a hand to stop her from talking. “This was all my idea, Mark. I wanted Rey to make mock-ups I couldshare with you. Rey is very talented, and with the current environment, I believe that Damian’s style is not?—”
“Damian’s ideas made this company. And until we can weather the storm of his arse-backwards way of handling the popularity and power that his games brought him, we are sticking to what we know works.”
“If you could only—” Rey pipes up, and I’ve had it.
“Enough!” I shout and regret it instantly. I breathe in deeply. “I’m s?—”
“Don’t you get it?” she interrupts me, her voice shaking. “People want something new, but because it’s a sure sell, we’re all stuck with Damian’s legacy. No wonder all the good creatives left! Shouldn’t we at least try to shake it up?” Rey looks at me with so much defiance—her fists balled up, holding onto the sides of her blue dress—I’m left momentarily speechless, my intended apology stuck in my throat.
I find my voice again and keep it calm, not showing the storm in me at her attitude. “You’ve worked here for five fucking minutes and you think you know what you’re talking about? Better than me? I built this company, and you treat it like it’s disposable. Just a job, right?”
She opens her mouth to answer, but I’ve heard enough.
“Get the hell out of my office now, and if I see you lot creating anything that isn’t following our style guideto the tee, I will not hesitate to get rid of you on the spot.”
Horace takes Rey’s arm, but I call out, “Horace, hang back.”
“Mark?”
I wait until Rey is gone before I face Horace. “I’ll say this once. The company culture is fragile. I can’t have insubordination like this. Stable and coherent leadership is what’ll bring this ship home, and I need you onboard.”
“You need passionate designers with space for imagination.”
“Stay in line, Horace.” I hold his gaze. He knows he has the power here and it pisses me off. He can go anywhere with his CV. But I need stability. If he resigns now…
He nods and leaves the office, and once the glass door clicks into place, I let out the breath I was holding.
I walk around my desk and sink into my chair, putting my head in my hands.
Fuck.
I don’t even think I’m right about the design. I just don’t know, and that’s what puts me on edge. Damian had a knack for it. What would work and what wouldn’t. Could Horace be as good? It’s what I need. Someone with a vision. But is now the right time to ‘shake things up’? When would it be?
I let my head fall onto my desk and let out a long groan.
There’s another knock on the door, and I ignore it.
The door opens, and I lift my head.
“Mark.” It’s Patrice. “There’s a call from your mother, but she says you’re unreachable on your phone.”
