muttered. “Her kid just happens to get sick on a Friday. I’ve seen this before. These people use their kids as a crutch. Kids are not an excuse. They need to figure out their daycare situation or stay home. I really don’t want to hear that excuse again. Ever. I won’t have it. If someone has kids, they choose to be here or be there. One or the other.”
She sipped her drink. “I see. Do you see children as a weakness?”
I mulled it over. “I see people that use them as a crutch or make them their weakness.”
“I’m going to assume you don’t have children?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t and I won’t. I’ve chosen my path. I’ve decided to put my work first. Other people need to decide what is more important to them.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So, it’s all work or it’s reproducing?”
“I’m not telling anyone how they should live their lives. I’m only saying my companies require a commitment to the job. If that is too much to ask, there are plenty of other places looking for employees.”
“You’re right. There are a lot of jobs out there.”
I felt like we were finally getting somewhere. “Do you understand my expectations?”
“I understand you have expectations,” she said and very carefully dodged the question.
“And?”
The waiter delivered our lunches and drifted away. “And I think there will be many discussions in the future.”
“About?”
“All of it. I don’t agree with you. I will do what I can to uphold your expectations, but I am asking you to be open to discussion. You may not realize this, but other people have some really great ideas. Other people might know better.”
She was going to challenge me at every turn. I wasn’t sure that was going to be good for the company. I predicted a lot of difficult conversations in our future. I just hoped we could find a way to work together.
Chapter 11
Saige
I rubbed my eyes, being careful not to smear my mascara across my face. It had been a long day—a long week—and it was Wednesday. Not even the end of the day. Nash was making my life difficult. I felt the tension in the office. The walls were a mood killer. It looked like an office from days gone by. It was ugly and depressing.
I was doing my best to pretend it wasn’t there. I had to be the one that told the employees it was all fine. It was a good thing and now they had just a tiny bit of privacy. They all knew why the walls were up. The new regime liked control. He hated happy people apparently. Anytime he was in the office, there was a thick tension. No one talked, which was exactly what he wanted. I found it to be depressing and I knew the changes were going to have a negative impact on the work. It was just a matter of time.
I grabbed my bag and stuffed my tablet inside, along with the company portfolio that we used to promote the business. I had a meeting with a potential client. I was thrilled to get out of the office. I felt like I was abandoning my people, but my escape was necessary for my own mental health.
“Saige,” I heard someone say as I made my way through the cubicle maze.
I turned but of course I couldn’t see who it was over the stupid wall. I moved a few feet and looked around. No one was there. I frowned and started on my way again when I heard my name. I turned around and caught a glimpse of an arm.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered. I felt like a mouse in a maze and I was failing. I was going to have to put arrows on the floor to guide everyone to the exits. I just didn’t understand how he thought this was better.
“Saige!”
I looked to my left and finally saw him. “Arthur,” I said. “What’s up?”
He was slightly out of breath. “Have you been in the breakroom?” he asked.
I noticed a couple of people coming to the center of the room where we were standing. “I haven’t,” I said.
“It’s been cleaned out,” he said. “Are we getting a new food service?”
I sighed. I had hoped Nash would change his mind. “Mr. Aarons said he was going to make some changes,” I said.
“Changes?” I heard someone else say. I was drawing a crowd in the center of our cubicle maze.