“Ms. Freeman basically kicked us out of her office and we weren’t sure of what you wanted us to do so thought it smarter to talk to you than cause a scene,” Greg said.
“I see, well you did the right thing. Ms. Freeman and I will be talking but for now go have some lunch and we will get things worked out this afternoon,” Derek said. He needed a break. It was always difficult when you had to fire people, especially when the takeover was a complete surprise to all those involved. He never enjoyed this part of his job. This company was his exception though and the ones who got fired were having it done because they deserved it.
The two men left before he could change his mind. Amy lingered for a moment and then followed them out the door. He called his head office and spoke to personnel there. He had them arrange a severance package for Amy and would have her employment ended before the day was out. Once she got back from lunch he’d send her over there. He hated when things got messy. He had a feeling she wasn’t going to go quietly, which was too bad.
He ordered some food to be delivered and then walked over to Jasmine’s office. He stood at her door and watched her for a while. She was engrossed in what she was doing and didn’t notice him standing there for several minutes. When she finally looked up and their eyes collided it was like he was being punched in the gut again. He really hoped that went away soon.
“Have you gathered together the files?” he asked her, proud his voice carried the cold note to it that had made so many people tremble in their boots.
“Yes, everything is together but it would be easier to do it here. There’s a lot and it will take several trips to get it to your office,” she said.
“I prefer my office. We have a large table we can lay everything out on, plus that’s where we will be calling people in,” he said, expecting her to cave to his wishes. She blew her breath out in frustration before standing up.
“Fine, we can do it your way but I’m not breaking my back to lug all these boxes over there,” she told him and then walked out the door with the stature of a queen, expecting her servants to follow behind her.
Before Derek could stop himself, he felt a smile tug across his features. She was definitely hot when she was angry and she’d been angry since she had walked into his office. He was now looking forward to the incredibly drawn out afternoon.
Derek grabbed several of the security guards to transport the boxes to his office. By the time they got everything over, his lunch arrived. He ordered plenty of food and offered some to Jasmine, which she refused. He smiled at her stubbornness.
“Can we please get started, I can’t stay late tonight,” she said to him.
He was instantly irritated she was trying to assert her authority. He decided it was time to put her in her place. She was no longer the daughter of the boss. She needed to understand that quickly.
“You need to realize during a restructuring of a company this size there will be many nights of overtime. I expect you to put in the hours needed to make this place a success, if you expect to keep your job,” he told her, with no room for mercy.
Her shoulders slumped and he was surprised to not feel joy at her defeat. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He wanted to destroy her, so why was his little victory not pounding through his veins?
She pulled out the first file and they went through it. He had two different piles on the table. There was a stack with records of the employees he was letting go, with no chance at keeping their jobs. The other was a stack of files where the employees would at least get the chance to interview with him. If he liked what they had to say, they’d keep their positions. If the interview didn’t go well they’d be let go.
Amy and his men got back and he sent her to the main offices. She huffed as she went out the doors. He didn’t miss the look she shot at Jasmine. It just reinforced his decision to let her go.
He sent his men into the conference room next door, with a handful so they could start calling in employees to be let go. He could hear the yelling through his walls as some of those employees, very vocally, expressed their outrage.
It was six in the evening when Jasmine looked up wearily. “I really need to get home. I have something I have to do tonight,” she said to him. His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as he wondered what it was she had to get to. Was she late for a date? He knew it was none of his business but he’d decided he wanted her again and he didn’t want another man interfering.
“We can work on this more tomorrow. I can already see it will take us all week,” he said to her. He was going to find an excuse to go to her place within the next couple of days to find out why she was in such a hurry to leave the office.
“Thank you,” she muttered, like it was choking her to say the kind words. She quickly left, needing to get far away as quickly as possible. Derek was exhausted himself and decided to call it a night.
He walked out of the building, which was pretty much empty, except for the security staff. He drove home, wanting the night to get over with so he could be with her again. He tried to convince himself it was for his revenge but the more time he spent with her the more the line faded.
Chapter Four
Jasmine rushed in the door of the school gym. She hadn’t even had time to run home and change. Her son was in the fourth grade and very proud to be on the wrestling team. He had a match that started twenty minutes ago and she was praying she hadn’t missed it. She hated missing any events in his life.
She ran through the doors and found where the kids were sitting. She walked over to him and wanted to give him a kiss but knew that would embarrass him in front of all his friends.
“I didn’t miss you wresting, did I?” she asked with concern.
“No Mom, I’m up next,” he said with a shrug. He was trying to act like it didn’t matter but she could see the relief in his eyes she was there.
“Good. I’m sorry I got here so late but there was some extra work to be done at the office,” she explained.
“It’s okay, Mom,” he told her in his far too understanding voice. He was such a good boy. She couldn’t imagine her life without him in it. She walked over to the bleachers and sat down. When it was her son’s turn to wrestle, she cheered him on and clapped the loudest in the crowd when he won.
He ran up to her and gave her a rare public hug afterwards, forgetting for a minute he was too old to give his mother public affection.