What does hiring someone new do but set us back?
“Emerson Healy is on line one,” Corrine informs me over the intercom.
“Thank you, Corrine.”
I pick up the phone. “Hi, Emerson. Thanks for taking my call so early.”
“Hello!” she singsongs. “Please forgive me if you hear my son in the background. The nanny will be here anytime, and Dillon is watching him, but there’s no telling how well that will go, and I didn’t want you to wait.”
I grin at the idea of Dillon Healy, Emerson’s six-foot-five husband, bending to the will of a toddler. I have a feeling the toddler will win every time. “I don’t mind the noise. I need some help from your team. It’s looking like Jeremy will be leaving us, so I’m going to need a new financial officer. You guys are in the process of greenlighting my project, so that should give you some guidance on our needs. Of course, we prefer someone with alternative energy experience.”
“I may have some people in mind,” she says. “We just had one of our investments bought by a wind turbine company that may be a good solution. Their CFO is Cheryl Wedgwood. Do you know her?”
“I do, and if she’s on the market and willing, I’d love to talk to her.”
“She might be a good fit for you. Before I commit, I’ll sit down with Dillon and Cynthia.”
“Perfect. You also have Jeremy’s contract. Can you have Sara in your legal group look it over? It looks like he may be in breach, and I’ll be looking for what needs to be done to violate without any golden parachute.”
“Of course. Are messages through Corrine okay?”
“Yes, she has access to my email, and that works, too.”
“I’ll be in touch soon.”
I hang up, and I’m preparing to buzz Corrine when she steps in.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but neither Heather nor Jeremy is in.”
“Does that strike you as odd?” I ask.
“Yes, it does.”
What could they be up to? This doesn’t make any sense. I look through my emails for something from Jeremy, and it’s been several weeks since he’s sent me anything. Another troubling event.
“Have someone come up from IT,” I tell her.
“Right away, Mr. Graham.”
Fifteen minutes later, Dan from IT is in my office.
The door is hardly closed behind him when he starts in. “Mr. Graham, please let me explain.”
I nod. I’m not sure what he needs to explain, but I’m going to let him talk.
“I was furious at Ms. Woods over the box incident on Wednesday.”
What the hell is this guy talking about?
“I had a big project, and it was almost completed, but because she sent herself the box and we were out of the office all Wednesday morning, I had to start over. I was upset and said some inappropriate things. But I apologize, and it won’t happen again.”
What kind of madness is going on at my company? “That’s not why I asked you up here but be assured I will have HR fully investigate your actions and determine if you should remain employed here.”
He shuts his eyes, and I almost laugh. Corrine set him up. She’d never tell on anyone because she knows I’d string them up and fire their asses.
“Please give Ms. Woods access to Mr. Knowles’ and his assistant Heather’s emails immediately.”
“Yes, Mr. Graham. I’ll give her the admin password. It will give her access to any computer in the company, including yours.”
“She already has access to mine. I’m not worried, but please keep this information I’ve asked of you confidential.”
“Yes, Mr. Graham.”
“You can go.” As Dan reaches the door, I add, “Please know that the police have confirmed that the package on Wednesday wasn’t sent by Ms. Woods, so not only were your comments inappropriate, they were also misinformed. You’d do well to correct anyone you hear say otherwise.”
“Yes, Mr. Graham.” He almost runs out of the office.
I push the intercom. “Ms. Woods, can you come in here, please?”
“Right away, Mr. Graham.”
She steps in, and for the first time, I notice her pencil skirt and blouse with kitten-heel boots. Her breasts strain behind the buttons. The flare of her hips and her mouthwatering ass cheeks are enhanced by the way the skirt accents every curve. For a brief moment, I dream about kneeling before her and tasting her, but then I remember why I asked her into my office. My balls ascend into my abdomen because I’m being an ass and ogling my assistant.
“You didn’t tell Dan why I wanted to see him,” I prompt.
“No, Mr. Graham. I thought it best for confidentiality’s sake that he just come up to your office.” She smiles.
“I take it he’s been a little inappropriate?”
She nods. “Yes, he has.”
“I’m opening an HR investigation regarding his behavior. Why didn’t you report this?”
“A lot of people blame me for what happened on Wednesday. I thought reporting it would only make their anger worse. Plus, the only person who needed to know I wasn’t guilty was you. The rest I could care less about.”
“Regardless, we’re opening an investigation. I don’t tolerate that kind of harassment.”
“I never believed you did. I did hope Dan would tell you for me, and it seems that’s exactly what he did. Thank you for addressing this.”
I nod at her. Corrine never ceases to amaze me.
“Mr. Knowles and Heather have arrived,” she adds after a moment.
“Please send Jeremy in. Dan should be getting you both Jeremy and Heather’s passwords. I want a thorough look at their email accounts, along with their sent boxes, and a comparison to the backup files.”
“Yes, Mr. Graham.”
She turns and leaves, and I watch her go. I’d love
