Mastered by the CEO(8)

“You’ll be fine. I’ll go get you a coffee and you’ll perk right up.”

Jay left her office. The mail room guy arrived a minute later and dropped her mail in her inbox. She sorted through it and found an envelope marked confidential. She opened the flap and pulled out the contents.

“Good Lord, you’ve gone white as a ghost.” Jay put her coffee cup on her desk.

She glanced up from the papers in front of her, her eyes growing bleary. “They’re termination papers. I’ve been let go.”

* * *

Rachel clinked her glass against Jay’s. Her second since they left for an early lunch. Not that they were really eating, other than a plate of nachos. Jay hadn’t been fired… yet. But they both assumed it was coming. Jay had overheard that whatever executive they fired, they let the assistant go, too.

“I’m sorry you’re out of a job, Jay.”

He shook his head as he chewed the cherry from his drink. “Don’t be. You’ll get a new job and hire me back.”

She poked her straw in the slushy, colorful drink. “That’s not so easy. It took me two years to find this one.”

Jay rested his hand on her sleeve. “Don’t talk that way. You’ll find something great. By this time next month, you’ll be on top of the world.”

“Rachel. What the hell are you doing here?”

She glanced up to see King scowling down at her.

“I’m having a celebratory drink.”

Jay removed his hand from her arm and stared up at the large, intimidating man standing beside their table.

“Oh, Jay, this is James Taylor. But he goes by King. Or Mr. Taylor to those of us who work for him.” Then she smiled. “But then, we don’t anymore. Or at least, I don’t. So I’ll call him King and you call him Mr. Taylor. Okay?”

King’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you don’t work for me anymore?”

She tugged the envelope from her purse and waved it in the air. “It’s okay, King. You don’t have to pussyfoot around anymore. I got my termination papers. I’m officially fired.”

She sipped her drink again.

Jay sat silently watching the two of them.

“I want you to come with me, Ms. Clark.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, Ms. Clark.” She gazed at Jay. “I’d think I was in trouble, but…” She waved the envelope again. “Already fired.”

“Rachel,” King’s voice was a deep rumble, brooking no defiance. “Come with me.”

She found herself rising to her feet. “But Jay…”

“It’s okay,” Jay said. “It’s time for me to go back to the office anyway.”

Because he still had a job. For now. And maybe if she appeased King, she could talk him into finding a position for Jay.

She nodded and followed King from the restaurant to his car, which was waiting by the curb.

“I told you to stay in the suite,” he said as soon as they were both settled in the back seat.

The driver pulled away from the curb into the city traffic.

“I wasn’t going to sit in your suite like an invalid. Waiting around all day. I had a job to go to.”

“No job is more important than your health.”

“Easy to say from someone who doesn’t have to worry about a job.”

They arrived at the hotel and he escorted her to the suite.

“Why did you bring me here? I don’t work for you anymore and you’re not responsible for watching over me.”

He gestured for her to sit down. She sat on one of the armchairs and he sat across from her.

“Those termination papers… they’re not what you think.”

Her eyebrow arched. “I haven’t been let go?”

“Your employment with Brenier Electronics has been terminated.”

She already knew it, but something in her had held out hope when King had walked into the restaurant to find her that it had just been a mistake.

“But if you’d waited here for me to return, I would have told you that everyone is being terminated. The executives were sent their termination papers today and the employees will get theirs a little later, once things settle down and they can be informed about the details. After that, we’ll be offering new contracts for Collier Industries. It’s a paperwork thing. It’s easier this way because of benefits and to ensure everyone is working under the same pay scale, and so on. And for the record, Collier’s rate of pay is higher than Brenier’s, so most people will be getting a raise.”

“So all of us are being hired back?”

His lips compressed. “No, not everyone. Not all of the executives will be offered positions. They will be given a fair compensation for their years with Brenier, however.”

“And me? Am I one of those going or staying?”

As soon as the words were out, she felt every muscle in her body stiffen as she waited for his reply.

But the distress in his somber eyes sent a clear message even before he opened his mouth.

“Rachel…”

She shot to her feet. “Okay, well, there you have it. I understand. Thanks for breaking it to me gently. Now that’s done, I’ll be on my way.”

“Rachel, sit down.”

She shook her head. “Why? What’s the point?”

“Do you see what you’re doing right now? You never do as you’re told. You always make everything so difficult.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry if my getting fired makes things difficult for you.”

She hated the sour tone of her words. Almost petulant. But her feelings were a little too raw right now.

“Rachel, sit.”

At his authoritative tone, she sank back into the chair without a thought.

“That’s better.” He leaned forward. “Look, I would love to keep you on, but you know the two of us don’t mesh well in the office. I need someone who is going to follow my instructions. Who’s not going to argue or push back all the time. I’m sorry this leaves you without a job, but I’ve arranged a very generous severance package. It’ll give you a good six months of income and benefits, allowing you lots of time to find another job.”

“Are you kidding? Have you seen the job market? With no recommendations…the black mark of being laid off… I was out of work for two years last time.”

Oh, God, she couldn’t believe she’d said those things out loud. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her and, damn it, he’d already indicated that he’d given her preferential treatment.

“I’ll up it to a year, then if you still don’t have a job, let me know and we’ll figure something out.”

She glared at him, angry despite the fact he was being so generous. Or maybe because of it.

“I don’t want your charity. I want a job.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

She blinked. Staring at his sympathetic, but uncompromising expression.

Her heart compressed. Oh, God, it was just starting to really sink in. She’d been guessing all along that she’d be fired. Had read it in the fact King hadn’t just reassured her. But even when she’d gotten the termination papers, it hadn’t quite hit home. She’d still held out hope that maybe… that the fact that King still seemed to care about her…

But it hadn’t been caring, had it? Maybe on a superficial level. He was a good man and cared about people. He wouldn’t just let her wander away on her own with a concussion.

And the sex… Well, that’s all it had been between them. Sex.

But now. She knew her job was gone.

Tears welled and she blinked them back, determined not to let them fall.

“I thought I was good at my job.”

“You are. You’re a wonderful asset. You just don’t fit my management style.”

“I don’t do exactly what you tell me.” She frowned. “But… what if I did?”

“If you did what?”

“If I promised I would do exactly what you tell me. Without question.” She locked gazes with him. “Every time.”

“No matter what? Even if you disagree?”

She nodded.

He shook his head. “You wouldn’t be able to do it.”

“Try me. At least give me a chance.”

“I’m not going to offer you a contract with Collier Industries on the off chance this might work. Especially when I don’t believe it.”

“Okay, then give me a different trial. Let me work as your assistant for a week. No pay. Just to give me a chance to prove that I can do it.”

* * *

King watched Rachel’s expression. She’d gone from near tears to total determination.

Her proposal that she would follow his commands to the letter was a non-starter. She couldn’t do it, no matter how much she tried. It wasn’t in her nature.

“I’m not going to let you work for no pay,” he said. “And how would it look, you an executive being demoted to my assistant? If I did re-hire you after that, no one would take you seriously.”

Distress filled her pretty green eyes. “You’re right, that was a bad idea. But please, King. Give me some way to prove to you that I can do it.”

All his protective instincts came out full force.

He didn’t want to hurt her. And firing her would hurt her beyond measure. He could see that. Her confidence in herself would be shattered.