“Is there anything else I should know?” I tucked the packet into my folder.
Rebecca consulted her notes with exaggerated thoroughness. “Oh, yes. One more thing. We’ll need weekly team assessments as well.” She pulled out yet another form. “This includes peer evaluations and performance metrics for each team member.”
“Weekly?” Disbelief colored my voice. “That’s excessive, even for enhanced accountability.”
Rebecca straightened in her chair. “The board disagrees. They are quite eager to see these reports implemented.”
“I see. Who, specifically, authorized or requested this work?”
Rebecca’s only reply was a raised eyebrow, letting me know that she found my question presumptuous.
I doubted Jack Sullivan would consider drowning managers in paperwork an efficiency improvement, but then I couldn’t think of anyone else in upper management that would bother to initiate something like this. So what did that leave me with? Rebecca was going rogue?
My mind was whirling, but I knew that arguing with her would only make things worse. Fuck.
“I understand.” I stood and squared my shoulders, my gaze flat. “I’ll make sure everything is completed on time.”
Rebecca nodded, her satisfaction practically radiating from her. “Excellent. Oh, and Mia?” The use of my first name felt like a trap. “Be sure to note any... special relationships within your team. We’re particularly interested in workplace dynamics.”
The implication was clear. She was fishing for something, watching me with those cold, calculating eyes.
“My team maintains thoroughly professional relationships,” I replied, meeting her gaze steadily. “As reflected in our quarterly numbers.”
“Of course.” Her knowing smile made my skin crawl. “That will be all.”
I walked out clutching the packet, my jaw clenched so tight it hurt. This wasn’t just busywork. This was targeted. But why?
Whatever game Rebecca was playing, I’d have to figure it out later. Right now, I had forms to fill out, a team to manage, and my mother waiting to critique my life choices over dinner. And somewhere in the midst of all that, I needed to find time to breathe.
This day just kept getting better.
JACK
Ichecked my watch as I stepped into the elevator on the fifth floor and pressed the button. Seven fifteen. Another long day of meetings with nothing substantial accomplished. The board continued to talk in circles about Catalyst’s financial situation while avoiding the hard decisions that needed to be made.
When the doors opened on the second floor, I looked up to find Mia Harris waiting, a heavy box of files balanced against her hip. Her usually neat hair was coming loose, and she looked harried. Hot, of course, but also harried.
“Ms. Harris.”
“Mr. Sullivan.” She stepped inside, keeping her eyes forward as the doors closed. The box looked unwieldy in her arms, and I noticed the strain in her shoulders as she tried to maintain her grip.
I nodded toward the box. “Can I take that for you?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.” Her tone was clipped but polite. She shifted the box higher against her chest. It was obviously way too heavy for her to carry on her own and it took every ounce of self control I had not to just grab it off her.
The elevator resumed its descent, and we stood in professional silence. I found myself acutely aware of her. Of everything about her. The subtle vanilla scent of her perfume, that made me want to drag in air. The way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. How soft her skin looked, making my fingers itch to touch it. It was unnerving how quickly my attention fixated on these details whenever she was nearby.
Suddenly desperate to fill the silence, I fished around for something to say. “Working late?”
“Just taking some files home to review.” She shifted the box awkwardly again so she could glance at her watch with a slight frown.
“Somewhere to be?”
“Family dinner.” She didn’t elaborate, but her expression suggested it wasn’t something she was looking forward to. I could relate.
We lapsed into silence, then. There was no way I was winning any small talk awards.
The elevator came to a stop, but as the doors opened, Mia stepped forward too quickly. It all happened so fast.
