“I agree.”
I loved that she took initiative. Damn, this wasn’t helping curb that attraction; quite the contrary.
“I’ve put Post-its on pages seven and twelve. I think we need to change a few details. I think we should move the Meet Santa session to Saturday rather than Sunday. Parents get too anxious if the line is too long, because they have to go to work the next day.”
“That’s a great idea. Go ahead and change it.”
“Perfect.”
The woman wasn’t only smart, she also had more empathy than anyone I’d ever worked with. She easily put herself in others’ shoes. It was perhaps because she wasn’t always thinking about profit maximization but customer satisfaction that her suggestions were so spot-on.
“Ms. Hensley, I also called you in here because I have a new project in mind.”
“I’m listening.”
“This store... it needs a rebranding. We’ve kept the original structure and branding for far too long. There’s a fine line between respecting the history of this place and losing revenue. The new merchandising systems we’ve implemented in the other stores are more productive, but given that this is our flagship store, we need to go about it differently. Deeper. On a structural level.”
“I’ve got you. Okay. I definitely think there’s room for improvement. We could focus on that in the New Year.”
“I want us to have a concept ready in eight weeks.”
“Christmas is in seven weeks.”
“I’m well versed in the art of counting, Ms. Hensley,” I said dryly.
Her eyes became fiery. “Then you’ll probably also know that I’ve booked two weeks of vacation starting the twenty-second.”
“I don’t remember approving that.”
“It’s still with HR.” Her voice was less certain. “I promised my brother I’d visit him in London. I don’t want to disappoint him.”
We had that in common. I didn’t like to let the people I love down either.
“The concept needs to be ready before the thirty-first of the year, Ms. Hensley. I’m sure we can come to an agreement. We can incorporate it in our current workload.”
On top of our current workload was what I actually meant, and she knew it. Finishing the concept would mean late evenings at the office, possibly even working weekends... all before Christmas. I practically saw that fire in her eyes intensify.
She opened her mouth, then pressed her lips together as if deciding she shouldn’t voice her thoughts. That was a first, but perhaps I’d finally pushed her too far.
“Yes, I’m sure we’ll find a solution.” Her tone was colder than before. Judging by my reaction to her, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing. One of us needed to keep a cool head. And that someone wouldn’t be me.
Chapter Three
Sienna
At six o’clock I left the Statham building, hurrying to meet Pippa. I’d just rounded the corner to where I’d parked when a guy I hoped I wouldn’t see again unhitched himself from the building wall, watching me. My ex, Trevor.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“You’ve been ignoring my calls and messages.”
“That didn’t clue you in that I never want to speak to you again?”
“Don’t be difficult,” Trevor said at the same time I heard Winston’s voice to my right.
“Is everything okay?” He was holding a takeout bag, looking between me and Trevor.
I nodded, pulling myself to my full height. Just what I needed. To be humiliated in front of my boss.