I quickly phone HR and ask for an investigation regarding Dan in IT and his comments to Corrine since Wednesday. Boy, do I feel like a hypocrite.
As I hang up, Jeremy walks in.
“Where were you this morning?” I ask.
“Heather and I had the solar gala breakfast kick-off, remember?”
“I asked you to be here at seven to meet with Dawn from HR and me. I was surprised to learn you’d asked them to start a search to replace Corrine.”
“I did. After all the mistakes she’s been making and the box incident, I thought it was most prudent.”
“First, I’m not aware of any mistakes—”
“Heather has been catching them before they get to your desk.”
I don’t believe that even for a moment. “And second, Corrine’s my admin, so I make that decision. You took valuable resources away from a big recruiting effort for production of our new solar film, just to waste two days of work.”
“I was doing my job.”
Jeremy’s up to something, and he’s full of shit. “Apologize to Corrine on your way out.”
“Sure.”
He turns to go, and I pop the speaker on to listen for his apology. He doesn’t stop to talk to Corrine. Yes, he’s definitely up to something.
Chapter 6
Corrine
At the end of the day on Friday, I grab the phone log and walk into Mr. Graham’s office. It’s been a long week, and it’s after seven. I’m ready to go home.
“You had a few phone calls today.”
He glances at the clock. “Where did my day go?”
I tick off his meetings and conference calls.
He smiles. “I’m sorry you’re stuck working so late these days. Any calls that can’t wait until Monday?”
“No, you’ve managed all the emergencies. Jeremy and Heather both left about an hour ago, but I didn’t get a chance to go through their computers. It was too easy to get caught with them here.”
Mr. Graham tends to work from home on Saturday and come in on Sundays, so before he can offer to go through the computers himself, I share my plan with him. “I’ll come in tomorrow and go through them and let you know on Monday if anything shows up.”
“I appreciate all the work you’re putting in on this.”
I’m embarrassed by the accolades. “I just want them gone if they’re doing something that could hurt the company.”
“Agreed. Brian’s going to take you home this evening. Any weekend plans besides work?”
“I have plans for drinks with my best friend, Gabby, tonight.”
“And Brian’s going with you?”
“No man will talk to me if he’s hanging around,” I tell him.
“I don’t find a problem with that. You keep forgetting that this week someone sent you a box that cleared an entire city block for half a day. You shouldn’t be wandering alone right now.”
“That’s over,” I retort.
He huffs. “Let’s let more than three days go by before we declare it’s over. I’m more interested in your personal safety.”
Going down this rabbit hole isn’t working, so I need to try something else. “Brian has a family. They want to spend time with him on the weekend.”
“He’s well compensated. I also expect you to contact him when you move around this weekend.”
Jackson is my boss; he’s not the king of my life. I feel like I’m a teenager dealing with my father. I roll my eyes.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me?”
Shit. “I did, but only because you’re overreacting.”
Jackson takes a deep breath. “Do you know what it cost to have two divisions of the San Francisco Police Department, the bomb squad, and two fire stations roll out for the box you were sent?”
I shake my head not sure I want to know the answer.
“At least one hundred thousand dollars, if not more. This woman is not just a little crazy, she’s a lot crazy.”
“I haven’t reached out to Bobby, and I know the police have talked to his egirlfriend,” I say.
Jackson sits up straight and alert. “How do you know?”
Crap. “Because Bobby called and was pissed I’d told them about our breakup.” I watch his face contort in anger.
“He told you that?”
“Well…he left me a voice mail.” Please don’t want to listen to it.
“I want to hear it. Do you still have it?”
I do, but I’m not going to let my boss know my ex thinks I’m fat and bad at sex. I shake my head.
“Did he call the office or your cell?”
I really don’t want the embarrassment of him listening to the message. I cross my arms and look down at the ground. “My cell.”
“Hand it to me. I might be able to recover the message.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll use Brian this weekend, and Gabby and I will just have drinks at my apartment.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He holds his hand out. “Phone, please.”
“You can’t make me give you my cell phone,” I say like a petulant child.
He cocks his head to the side. “Now, Corrine.”
I slowly reach into my pocket. I wish I could erase the message without it being obvious. I place it in Jackson’s hand.
I shut my eyes, hoping this is a dream. “He says some things I’d rather you not hear,” I quietly explain.
Jackson pushes some buttons, and Bobby’s voice mail plays on the phone’s speaker.
As soon as it starts, I can feel his eyes boring into me. “Why didn’t you send this to the police?”
“They wouldn’t have done anything. Everyone reveres Bobby in this town.” The idea that Bobby thinks I’m fat and suck at sex is not a humiliation I could handle if it got out.
Jackson listens to the message several
