Page 16 of Let's Call a Truce
Eduardo concluded the meeting, and we all started filing out of the space like a herd of cows, bottlenecked to get out of the one door. I felt more than saw a presence by my side, and stiffened as I heard a voice say, “You handled that surprisingly well.”
Ben appeared in the corner of my eye. I looked around for an escape and realized we were surrounded by the shuffling herd. My fingers twitched as I fought the urge to plow through them like a linebacker. I was a large woman. With the proper motivation, I could do it. And getting away from Ben wasdefinitelyproper motivation.
“Was this your plan? Corner me at the all-staff meeting when there is no way for me to escape your insults? Real impressive from the man who thinks we should act more civilized.”
“Who said it was an insult? It’s a tough topic. And I’m willing to listen toanyonetalk if they put that dick Connor in his place, even you.”
He kept his expression neutral, except for that persistent upturn of his lips, as he nodded to the colleagues we passed, but when he moved his eyes back to me, the challenge was clear:
Spar with me. Show me what you’ve got.
“I’m sorry you had to endure twenty minutes of hearing me talk for the one-minute put-down at the end. You could leave if it’s that difficult for you to deal with me. I’ll even throw in a free résumé review.” I smiled sweetly. My heart raced from the thrill of battle. Nothing more.
His lips tilted into the infuriating smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re extremely difficult to work with.”
“Well, you’re not much better.”
“Then why do you still do it?”
“Are you offering to quit? If I’d known that was an option, I would have given you that résumé review years ago.”
We made it into the hallway to face off. I could almost hear the whistled tune of an old Western film as the stream of people split around us. They shot us concerned glances as they scurried off like townsfolk desperate to get inside before the gunslinging began.
“I was here first. You can find somewhere else if it’s a problem.” His eyes gleamed as he stepped closer. “But I don’t think it is. I think you look forward to it.”
I rolled my eyes. “What in the world makes you think I take any enjoyment from our forced interactions?”
“Tell me something.” He moved even closer, leaving a few inches and forcing me to crane my neck to maintain eye contact. “Why haven’t you handed my jobs off to someone else onyour team? You’ve assigned other people to almost every hiring manager. I get holding on to Asia. She’s your best friend. But what’s making you hold on to me, Juliana?”
For once, the teasing glint was missing from his eyes, and I gulped. There was a buzzing under my skin, a flood of adrenaline. I needed to move, needed to run and burn off this energy, but my brain wasn’t signaling the rest of my body. I was frozen, a statue given sentience but cursed to stay in place for all eternity.
His gaze locked on me like he didn’t want to miss a single micro expression. My mind went blank, searching for a quip to put him in his place and coming up empty. His expression changed at my speechlessness, victory making his eyes sparkle. Damn it. This interaction would have to go in his win tally, but I swore it wouldn’t happen again.
I straightened my spine, hoping my confident stance would distract from the burning in my cheeks. I nearly ran down the hallway to distance myself as I spoke over my shoulder.
“I wouldn’t subject my team to you. And I won’t have to deal with you either until the next staff meeting. I sent over the candidates for your position, so we’re done.”
“Juliana.” The touch of desperation in his voice stopped me in my tracks. I glanced at him over my shoulder. “I meant what I said. Your presentation was excellent, and you and Asia should be proud of the initiative. I think it will do great things for KMG.”
My mouth dropped open as I reviewed the words a few times for the gibe I expected.
“Thank you?” I meant it as a statement, but it came out as a question.
One side of his mouth twitched before he nodded and headed off in the other direction.
I was so lost in my confusion I didn’t hear Eduardo approach me.
“Juliana, I need a moment with you in my office. Christina is joining us.”
A rock dropped in my stomach. An unscheduled meeting with my boss and boss’s boss? I prayed my nod didn’t look as jerky as it felt. I joined them as we made our way to his office on the top floor, and I racked my brain for what I’d done wrong. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being called into the principal’s office for breaking a rule I didn’t know existed.
Eduardo’s office was large and welcoming, just like the man himself. His beautiful mahogany desk sat in front of two wingback chairs. He reserved space on the side of his office for a few more casual couches, and I held in a sigh of relief when he led us their way. The entire ride up I had pictured sitting across his desk as I was scolded, fired, and escorted out of the building by security.
“First, you aren’t in trouble, so please, relax,” Eduardo said, chuckling at my rigid posture, which had worsened while my mind ran through increasingly absurd scenarios. I laughed and fought to lower myself gracefully onto the couch, even though my knees felt like they would give out. “Christina, why don’t you start by filling Juliana in on our conversation from a few weeks ago.”
“I approached Eduardo about a decision I’ve made. I’m getting up there in years, even if I don’t want to admit it, and Justine wants us to travel before we get too old to explore. I told Eduardo we needed to look for my replacement so I could retire.”
My eyes went wide. She lived and breathed the work. I knew she wouldn’t stay around forever, but it hadn’t crossed my mind it would happen soon. A selfish thought flashed through my mind as I wondered if my new boss would be anywhere near as supportive and flexible. This was going to change my life, and my hands shook as I fiddled with my skirt to buy myself a few seconds. I forced a smile onto my face and congratulated her.
