Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
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NINE (B)
ANDREA
The Following Morning
“As you can all see, this is a much-needed change for this company.” Mr. Cross stood atop the lobby’s desk, addressing us poor souls who had no other options.
“Starting next week, I’ll be calling you in one by one for a private interview,” he said. “Be ready to explain exactly what you do here, why I should continue paying you the same rate, and why I shouldn’t fire you on the spot.”
“During that meeting, you’ll need to tell me your favorite Sweet Seasons drink and three ideas to make us stand apart from Starbucks.”
I snorted. You’re beyond obsessed with them…
“Something funny, Miss Stone?” Mr. Cross called out to me, and suddenly everyone was staring in my direction.
“No—no, not at all.” I put my phone away. “I was just…”
I looked around, hoping for some sympathetic glances, but there were none.
“You were just—” Mr. Cross’s voice was terse. “—not paying attention to me?”
“I—You have my full attention, Mr. Cross.”
“You’ll be one of my last interviews,” he said. “Perhaps the time you’ll spend waiting will inspire you to not draw attention to yourself during my meetings.”
It took everything in me not to roll my eyes, but I managed.
“Anyway, back to what I was saying, Team Sweet Seasons—” He looked away from me. “This takeover will require a complete overhaul of everything you used to know and everything you used to be.”
“We have a goal of becoming number one, and anyone who doesn’t live, breathe, or eat this goal is no longer welcome here,” he said, veering into more unhinged territory.
I focused on the clock behind him as he spoke, deeply missing the days when I was still in bed at this hour.
By the time his speech ended, twenty minutes had passed and the crowd had long since scattered.
Not wanting to be the last person present, I walked down the hallway.
“Miss Stone?” Mr. Cross’s voice caught me the moment I rounded the corner.
“Yes?” I didn’t turn around.
“Where are you going?”
“To pick up where I left off yesterday.” I continued staring forward.
His footsteps sounded from behind until he was standing right in front of me.
“I couldn’t help but notice that you looked somewhat amused during my presentation this morning.”
“I wasn’t amused.”
“Were you entertained?”
“No…”
“So, my words were boring to you?”
“I…” I stopped. I felt like there was no winning here.
“I’m deeply disappointed in you, Miss Stone,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “We’re five days in, and I’ve yet to see anything impressive from you.”
Stay quiet, Andrea. Just stay quiet.
“Perhaps I need to check the employee list and see if there’s a different Andrea Stone that Mr. Lewis was referring to,” he said. “Is there?”
“No, Mr. Cross.”
“There must be…” He closed the gap between us, stopping close enough that I could feel the warmth of him before I caught his scent.
“Since you’re in such a good mood today, I’m sure you won’t mind running a few additional errands for me?”
He asked that question like I had a choice.
“Take out your phone and start typing this list,” he said. “It’s going to take you awhile…”
The remainder of the week passed by in an unrelenting and ugly blur. Between all the errands, his endless scheduling demands, and this abrupt shift in my life, I forced myself to compartmentalize and memorize every aspect of his lifestyle.
He arrived at headquarters at three thirty every morning without fail, and he didn’t leave until midnight. His yacht captains and personal pilots sent me status alerts throughout the day about upcoming trips, and he scheduled his meetings in a way that only allowed for ten-minute gaps in between.
I shadowed him on trips between the office and every cafe he owned in the city—biting my tongue as he pulled that “I’m too busy to wait in line” routine at each and every one.
Only now, no one resisted. Women gladly blushed and let him.
Men, too…
He spoke to me in commands—hardly ever adding greetings or niceties—but he often stared at me for long stretches without saying a word.
I was ashamed to admit that those moments made it into my dreams, but I knew I never made it into his.
The man never slept.
As often as I could, I did my best to ignore the angry whispers that came my way whenever I spotted coworkers in the hallways. And whenever I managed to get a few minutes to myself in the cafeteria or the lounge, I didn’t bother trying to share a table with anyone.
Their glares made it clear that this blindsided takeover was my fault.
The only good thing that came from my first week under him was passing a mini practice CPA exam—and the hope that if I pushed hard enough, I could quit and move the hell on soon.
TWO WEEKS LATER
TEN
ANDREA
Day #21 of Company Takeover
“Andrea Stone.” I gave my name to the guard at the door and made my way to the elevator bank.