“Yes, I’ll be the first in line to tell you I think your changes are insulting and ineffective.”
I laughed. It slipped out before I could think about it. I maintained a serious demeanor at all times. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“I just did, but if you’re interested in hearing more, I’d love to fill you in on my opinion.”
“No thanks,” I said and put up a hand. “I get it. You think I suck. You don’t like the way I’m doing things and you want me gone.”
She smiled. “It’s like you read my mind.”
I folded my hands and put them on my stomach. “Do you remember when you liked me?”
“No.”
“Liar,” I said with a smile.
“Trust me, it’s becoming harder to remember those days. Every day I’m here, it becomes a very distant memory.”
I didn’t believe her. There was no way she could just forget me. “I remember,” I said in a low voice.
“Then hold on to those memories. You can hold them for both of us.”
“Was it that bad?” I asked her.
I could admit my recollection of events was not the clearest. That had been a weird time. I was looking for someone to cement my position in the business world. I was hyper-focused. I didn’t think about the collateral damage. Saige would probably consider herself part of that damage.
“I don’t remember,” she said in a breezy voice. “It was a long time ago. I try not to dwell on my mistakes.”
That was a zinger. She wanted to let me know she was pissed about the way things ended without really saying she was pissed. That was the worst kind of pissed-off woman. Those were the ones to keep an eye on.
“That’s a good motto,” I said.
“I thought so.”
She got to her feet and walked out, making it a point not to close the door. I shook my head. If it had been anyone else, I would have fired them. Saige was a different story.
Not only was she good at her job, but our history did also pose a bit of a tricky situation. I didn’t think she would cry foul and bring up our past, but one never knew. Money made people do crazy things. I hated to admit it, but I had been forced to pay a few claims. People got butthurt and sued.
I could only imagine what she was going to say tomorrow. It would be a lecture about being nice and putting the stupid donuts back in the breakroom. I couldn’t believe she was still pissed about that. There was something to be said for eating healthy.
I didn’t see anyone complaining about the missing fruit.
Chapter 15
Saige
My heart was racing when I sat down at my desk. I couldn’t believe I had just said all that to him. I didn’t know where the nerve came from. He’d just pushed me too far. Seeing the way he treated Hal was the breaking point. We were all busting our asses a little harder because he was pushing out staff. He didn’t have to pick up the slack. The rest of us did.
We were all working harder and longer to make up for being short staffed. I had ads out on the job boards, but this was not the time to be shuffling CPAs. He wouldn’t know that. He was in his posh little office doing whatever it was he did. He was worse than the Grinch. He was every villain I had ever seen in Jace’s cartoons.
My phone rang, interrupting my nasty thoughts about my new boss. I really wanted him to go away. “This is Saige,” I answered.
“Miss Conway?”
“This is she.”
“This is Mrs. Link at the school,” she said.
Everything stopped. It was the call no mom wanted to get.
“Yes?” I breathed. I was already on my feet. I just knew I had to get to him.
“We have a minor problem,” she said.
That meant it was a big problem. “What kind of problem?” I asked. I was hoping she would tell me he was sick. I could deal with sick.
“He was involved in a fight.”
“Is he okay?” I asked.
“He is fine, but it would be best if you could pick him up.”
“I’m on my way,” I said and hung up the phone. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door.
Jody stopped me just before I made it to the door. “Where are you going?” she asked.
“I have to pick up Jace. Can you make sure everyone stays on task? We can’t afford to slip