Immediately, Chantelle realized that this would mean losing one of the best assistants she’d ever had, but to her own surprise, she was happier for Sienna than she was worried for herself. “That’s wonderful,” she said sincerely. Then added with a whimsical smile, “You do realize you could have come directly to me, don’t you? You’d have had a check in hand by the end of the day, instead of going the formal route.”
Sienna shrugged. “I wanted to start off my career as an entrepreneur on the right foot,” she explained.
Chantelle took no offence. All she could feel was optimism. “Fair enough.”
In unison, the two women turned towards the screens again, but for some reason, it was hard to focus. It was Sienna who brought up the massive pink elephant lurking in the corner. “How are things going with Dustin and you?”
“There is no Dustin and me,” she answered hastily.
“Uh-huh. I’m just gonna repeat that question again and see if you want to answer it truthfully.”
Chantelle pouted, then admitted reluctantly. “I don’t know. When I got into this, it seemed so straightforward. Cut and dried. I get a service, he gets the money. But now, it feels like more than that. I guess I kind of like him.”
“You mean,like him,like him,” Sienna clarified.
Chantelle felt she didn’t need to answer. Sienna was too swift on the uptake not to get it.
Sienna enthused, “Well, that’s great!”
“Why is that great?” she answered immediately, with maybe too much force. “You know we don’t have a future.”
“Why not?” Sienna’s perfectly arched brows rose into her bangs.
“Because,” Chantelle blustered.
“Go on.” Sienna sounded almost amused.
Chantelle let her breath out in a gust, reached forward and shut down the computer, ending the session for the day. Only then did she answer. “Because we don’t fit,” she said shortly.
“Our species is adaptable,” Sienna pointed out. “When we need to fit, we find ways to—”
A presence filled the doorway, and both women looked up. It was Dennis, and it was immediately apparent that he was upset: His face was mottled, and he wore a circle of red around his chin and neck like a collar. “I need to talk to you,” he snapped.
Chantelle rested both her elbows on the table and folded her hands. From under the table, there was a low warning growl, as Minerva woke to find her space invaded by her least favorite person. Chantelle asked, “What would you like to talk to—”
“You know damn well what I want to talk about!” he said irritably.
Chantelle noticed that Sienna was looking as outraged and territorial as Minerva felt. She wasn’t surprised. This woman was loyal to a fault.
Dennis noticed too, and glared at her. “Ask your girl to leave,” he said, speaking to Chantelle, but not taking his eyes off Sienna.
“Girl?”Sienna choked. “Who’re you calling—”
“I’ll deal with this alone,” Chantelle said gently, causing Sienna to gape at her in shock.
Dennis looked triumphant.
Chantelle reassured her. “I’ll be fine.” She hefted Minerva, whose tail was puffy and eyes bugging, and handed her over into Sienna’s grasp.
Mutely, but none too pleased, Sienna stomped past Dennis, but not before slinging the cat over to the arm closest to him, probably hoping that Minerva would at least try to relieve him of a strip of skin as they passed. But no such luck.
Then she was alone with Dennis, and Chantelle got to her feet so that this man wouldn’t have even the slightest advantage of height. “Dennis, we’ve been through this—”
“You’re running this company into the ground!”
A short, sharp bark of shock burst from her lips. “Are you telling me that a tiny project like this one, representing a fraction of our holdings, is going to sink the parent company?”
“Have you seen the figures? We’re hemorrhaging money!”