All or nothing (Love in chaos #1) - Missy Johnson Page 0,6
I pass, I size up as a possible option for marriage, until I arrive at the building I have called home for the past four years. Tyler Enterprises. It's not quite as impressive as some of the other towers around, but it's everything to me. Two years after I took over the company, we had to move; things had expanded that quickly. I remember being so excited to embark on a new adventure. I had finally found something that I excelled at. I didn't just do my job. I went beyond that.
There was a reason why clients kept coming to me, because they knew my advice would make them more money than any other firm could. I loved what I did. I had a passion and I knew the market. Six years later, that passion is still strong, and my client base is growing every day. Most of our new clients are word of mouth, which is the best kind of praise I could ever ask for.
I walk through the foyer, holding my head high, but inside, I'm a nervous wreck. The one thing I pride myself on is the trust and loyalty I've gained from my clients and my employees. Now I feel like a fake, like I don't deserve their admiration.
How long until they find out what a fool I’ve been?
“Good morning, Mr. Tyler.”
“Morning, Mr. Tyler.”
I smile and nod at a group of consultants as I make my way to the elevator and up to the top floor, where my office is. Only once I'm inside does the stress I'm feeling inside begin to seep through.
Taking in a breath, I slump down at my desk and pick up the dozen messages Samara has left for me, all from Avery Jackson. He’s one of our biggest clients and has been for years. He’s also a good friend of my father and makes a point of belittling me every chance he gets. Nothing is ever good enough for him. Not even when the profit from his chain of sausage shops reached the millions last financial year because of my advice.
I'm about to call him back when Samara pokes her head through the door.
“Can I come in?”
She’s over at my desk and sitting on the edge of it before I can even say no. As far as assistants go, Samara isn’t very good. Unfortunately for me, she’d been an intern here and I had accepted her transfer to the position of my personal assistant before I’d learned who I could trust. It wasn’t the worst way to learn to watch my back, but it was a daily cause for frustration and a great lesson for the future.
The problem is there’s no way I’d be able to get rid of her without ending up with a lawsuit on my hands, because her father just so happens to be one of the top defense lawyers in the country. Unfair dismissal. Sexual harassment. Take your pick. Neither of them would be true, but she’s the kind of girl who’d make anything up to get what she wants. The real kicker is if there’s any harassment going on, it would be her harassing me, but who’s going to believe that?
“Did you want something, Samara?” I sigh, sitting back in my chair, if only to create some more distance between us.
“How about an explanation as to where you were yesterday?” she asks. “You never just don't show up for work. Are you sick? Because you certainly don't look it.”
“I'm not sick. I just had things to do,” I reply. “And since when do I answer to you?”
“Mr. Jackson has been calling nonstop. He sounds really angry.”
I don’t bother telling her I was in the process of calling him when she walked in. No doubt she’ll be listening on the other line when I call him, anyway.
“Did you call him Friday, like I asked you to?”
I’d left Samara a note, instructing her to explain to Avery I needed a few more days to finalize my report, but I’m guessing it’s just another thing she neglected to do.
“No.” Her voice comes out small and she doesn’t meet my eye. “I forgot.”
I sigh. “I didn't think so. Was there anything else you need?” She shakes her head. “Good. Then maybe you can make yourself useful and go get me another coffee.”
“Of course.” She fixes a smile onto her face and walks out.
As soon as she’s gone, I call Avery and go into damage control.