Page 9 of Third Time’s a Charm

“It’s all pie in the sky.” He waves a hand in dismissal. “She’s got a lot to learn about business. I just wanted to assure you we wouldn’t be entertaining such a naïve and unrealistic proposal.”

He’s not reading the room. Which doesn’t surprise me. The list of cons for this guy keeps growing. He’s probably twenty years my senior and his tone suggests he still believes himself in charge. It doesn’t seem to have occurred to him that having me here could be an indication of a lack of faith in his ability. He’s got a rude awakening coming. And it starts now.

“I think you’ll find that’s no longer your call to make, John. I’ll be giving her proposal due consideration.” Which, unfortunately, I won’t. Unless something changes. Which he doesn’t need to know.

His smarmy mouth drops open and judging from the deep breath he takes he’s about to argue, so I stand and move to the door, a clear sign I consider the conversation over.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.”

Dismissed.

It takes me a long time to get the unpleasant taste of my impromptu meeting with John Mackelden out of my mouth.

London holds master copies of all the staff HR files. Until now, I haven’t had cause to look at those files, but that conversation has unsettled me in a way I hope is unsubstantiated.

Rather than raise red flags here by asking the Australian office for his file, I shoot off a text to Edward, my executive assistant in London, and ask him to get his hands on John Mackelden’s file. I hope I’m wrong, but I’d rather be sure, so a little investigation is warranted.

Based on the couple of Teams meetings we’d had in the past, I had expected John Mackelden to be arrogant, and I wasn’t disappointed. And from my brief review of the books, it’s pretty obvious he’s been playing fast and loose with the truth in some of his expenses and accounting practices. I’m curious to see what other nasties are lurking in his history because I have a bad gut feel about this guy.

I didn’t want to come to Australia. I didn’t want to take this job. But Tate Brown, the Chief Executive Officer of CRI, was desperate. So desperate he made it impossible to refuse. So desperate that he promised if I sorted out the shitshow that’s going on and shut the business down quickly, with minimal negative press, I’d be given the European region to run. Which is where I want to be.

Of course, ‘no drama’ and ‘minimal negative press’ are relative terms. I just have to hope Tate keeps his promise. He is, if possible, a bigger tool than John Mackelden, and I don’t trust him. Still, agreeing to a job Tate clearly didn’t want to get his own hands dirty with was a risk I had little option but to take.

I arrived reluctantly prepared to do a job. And now that I’ve heard Louise’s pitch, I’m not convinced of the need for a total shutdown.

I’d rather build something than destroy it.

If I can figure out a way to pull this business out of the fire and turn it around, surely the promotion I was promised would be in the bag? Because Tate might be a tool, but if there’s one thing he loves as much as himself, it’s money.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. There’s a lot of work to do. But there’s also hope.

Chapter Five

Louise

“So? How did it go?” Colin, my work bestie, appears in my office door seconds after I’ve sat down following my meeting with Jasper. “And what’s this I hear about the McSexy new regional director arriving on the very day I’m not here? I’m HR. Why wasn’t I told?”

“You’re right. We should have called and interrupted your root canal. And who said he was McSexy?”

“Jodie. Duh.” He rolls his eyes as though it’s obvious, which, of course, it is. Our receptionist is not only the fount of all gossip in the office, but she has no filter. “And just because I was not here is no excuse for leaving me out of the loop. You could have texted.”

“I’m terribly sorry. Next time I’ll make sure to message you about the attractiveness of new staff members as soon as I meet them. My bad.”

“Yes. You’re a very bad girl.” His grin is a little lopsided due to the swelling in his cheek and jaw, but it takes any sting out of the words. We both know he likes naughty, whether they be men or women. “So, is he? Or am I getting a classic Jodie exaggeration?”

A question I’m not prepared to answer.

“I’m afraid I was too busy trying to salvage my career to notice,” I reply primly. “Did you really have to go to the dentist on the day of my big presentation?”

A puffy bottom lip pops. “Sorry, my lovely. I was in pain. And it was the only day he could fit me in.”

“Hmm.” I know he had no choice. But of all the days for him to be away, yesterday was, without doubt, the worst choice.

Colin raises perfectly groomed eyebrows as far as his Botox will let him, inviting me to explain.

By the time I get to the end of the sad tale of yesterday’s presentation, Jasper’s fast exit and John’s scathing review, Colin is cooing in sympathy.

“Don’t worry, my darling.” He’s up and out of his seat, wrapping me in a hug. “It sounds like you pulled it out of the fire this morning.”