“Exactly what I said. She came to my office earlier and resigned.”
He was livid. “And you just let her walk out of here? You didn’t think you should call me first so I could talk her out of it?”
“Seth, there was nothing you could’ve said that would have made her like working here. Lawson Steel wasn’t for her. She knew it. I hope she finds something that she can be happy with. She’s a bright woman with an even brighter future.”
Seth was too pissed off right now to even sit there discussing this with Charles. Even though Charles might be right, that didn’t explain why Charlene up and left without even talking to him. Why didn’t she tell me when I saw her earlier?
He still wasn’t sure her quitting didn’t have something to do with him. Last night, things seemed great, this morning, not so much. It was very possible she had regrets. Seth had been worried about that, about them moving too quickly, but he really thought what they shared was mutual.
“Where are you going?” Charles asked as he got up to leave.
“I need to talk to her,” he said.
“Sit!” Charles ordered.
Seth shot him a warning look. “Watch yourself Charles. You’re forgetting who you’re talking to.”
“No I’m not. You’re the brother who might just make the biggest mistake of his life. Now I suggest you sit and listen to what I have to say.”
Seth debated popping Charles in the jaw, or walking out. Somehow he found himself doing as Charles asked. “This better be important.”
“If you care about Charlene, then it is,” Charles replied. “I don’t want to know what happened between the two of you, because it’s none of my business. But I want to give you my observation.”
“Don’t need your opinion Charles.”
Charles ignored him and continued anyway. “You’ve changed. She’s over the top in many ways, but I will tell you, she’s good for you.”
“You know this how?” he asked.
“Simple. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you laughing and joking. And I can’t even remember the last time you were out of here at five.”
“Are you questioning if my work is getting done, because I can tell you, nothing is slipping.”
Charles laughed. “I’m saying that it’s nice to see you living. There is more than Lawson Steel you know. This might be the company that was handed down generations, but we both know it’s only a company. It doesn’t define who we are. I’m a husband and father before I’m CEO.”
“That’s great. Nice to know. What does this have to do with me?”
“Seth, do you care about Charlene? I mean really care?” he asked.
He was tempted to tell Charles it was none of his business. Instead he answered as honestly as he could. “She’s…special to me if that’s what you want to know.”
“Then before you go off and start barking at her about quitting, why don’t you think about what it would take to make her stay.”
“At Lawson Steel?” Seth asked.
Charles rolled his eyes. “In words that Gareth would’ve used, don’t be such a dumb ass. If you want her to stay in Manhattan, you better tell her, otherwise you might only be left with regret. I’m talking from experience. I almost lost Rosslyn. I don’t want that to happen to you.”
Seth hadn’t thought past what they had shared. Then again he thought they had plenty of time to talk about it later. Funny, he didn’t treat business in this manner. He addressed things immediately. So why was he holding back with Charlene?
Charles was right. Rushing right over to her without knowing exactly what he wanted to say would’ve been wrong. Seth wasn’t a person to react, he thought things through thoroughly first. The only thing he knew for sure was Charlene meant a lot to him. He was comfortable with her in a way he wasn’t with anyone else. But obviously she wasn’t because she didn’t come talk to him about this sudden change. Maybe it wasn’t just the job that she wanted out of.
Seth got up again, this time, his temper a bit more under control. “I got it. Thanks.”
“So what are you going to do?” Charles asked.
“I honestly don’t know.” He walked out of the office and back down the hall to his, shutting the door behind him. Then he opened the right bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a bottle that he hadn’t opened in a long time. Pouring himself a glass of scotch, he leaned back in his chair and took a sip.
She had asked him about kids earlier. Had that been a deal breaker when he didn’t have an answer? Had it been something else? Seth didn’t believe it was as cut and dry as Charles had made it out to be. Charlene leaving just because the job wasn’t to her liking? It was something he’d said or done. He knew it. But what? How could he fix what he didn’t know was broken?
Seth finished his scotch, and then poured another. He didn’t care if he had to drink the entire bottle. He wasn’t leaving this office until he knew what to do. Of course, he probably was going to need to take a taxi home. One thing about Charlene, she brought out feelings in him, feelings that he didn’t understand.
He pulled out his cell phone and sent her a text.
WE NEED TO TALK.
He waited and no response. It probably was better this way. Sober Seth was one thing, drunk Seth might say shit he’d regret later.
He poured yet another glass and got up and went to lay on the leather couch.
Damn it Charlene. Why didn’t you just talk to me?