A short time later, Janet rang. “Boss, Ron from HR is here. He’d like to speak to you.”
“Hold on a minute.” She put her palm over the receiver and turned to Spence. “Ron wants to talk to me.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “That’s fine. But I’m not leaving the room. Especially after…” He clamped his mouth shut.
“Especially after what?” she asked.
“I’ll tell you later. But I’m not leaving you alone with Ron.”
She watched him for a long moment, then nodded. Took her hand off the receiver and said, “Go ahead and send him in, Janet.”
The door buzzed and Ron stepped into the room. Dressed in a blue shirt and jeans, he stared at her as he strode across the room. It wasn’t until he was almost at her desk that he realized Spence was in the room.
He turned and stared at Spence, who stared back. Finally Ron turned to Zoe. “I need to speak to you privately,” he said.
“Not happening,” she said immediately. She knew if Spence answered, it would be like two roosters crowing at each other. Feathers would fly. “Spence isn’t going anywhere.”
“What’s he doing here, anyway, Zoe?”
She tilted her head. Why did Ron think he had the right to question her? “He’s doing some work for me,” she said coolly. “Now what do you need, Ron?”
“Never mind,” he said. “I’ll talk to you another time.”
“If you have something to say, Ron, spit it out.”
Ron glanced at Spence again. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I was going to ask you out,” he mumbled. Trying to keep Spence from overhearing?
“Like on a date?” Zoe asked.
“Yes. Like on a date.” It sounded as if Ron had his teeth clenched.
Zoe stared at him for a long moment, both uncomfortable and disturbed. “You know the company policy on fraternization,” she said, her voice level. Unemotional. “No dating between unequal positions. So I can’t date you, Ron.”
“But I’m…” His voice trailed off and color washed his face.
“But you’re what?” Zoe asked.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
“Were you going to say you’re different?” Zoe asked. When he glanced away, she knew she’d nailed it. “How are you different, Ron?”
“I’ve been at Melbourne Solutions almost as long as you have, Zoe. I have some seniority here.”
“You do,” she said. “But I own the company and you work for me. So I’m not dating you. Or anyone else in the company. Is that clear?”
“As glass,” he said. “Thanks for clarifying my position here.”
“Your position is HR Director,” she shot back. “Do you think it’s something else?”
“Nope,” Ron said, a muscle in his jaw twitching. “I’m good with being HR director.”
“Glad to hear it, Ron.”
She stared at him until he turned and walked out of the room. To his credit, he didn’t slam the door.
After a long moment, she turned to Spence. “That was awkward.”
Spence leaned back in his chair. “In his defense, it had to be uncomfortable as hell for him to ask you out in front of me, especially after last night.”