Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,59
would like to meet with the one who refused one of our employee’s children.”
“That would be me,” Ms. Spokes boldly spoke up.
I’d never been in this room, and I only knew the woman through staff meetings when we decided to open the preschool, but it was evident that the woman thought she owned the place.
“Very well. Where’s your office so we can speak privately?”
I didn’t fail to observe her glare at Avery before she motioned for me to follow her.
“Come with us,” I said to Avery.
Avery didn’t need the invitation. I could tell she wanted a piece of this woman herself.
“You will wait outside, Miss Gilbert,” Ms. Spokes said.
“You’re fucking kidding, right? That’s my kid in there, and I’m not leaving a decision about her to be left up to you or him,” Avery snapped.
“Excuse me?” Ms. Spokes countered. “You do realize you’re in the company of Mr. James—”
“Mitchell,” Avery finished for her. “Amazingly enough, Mr. Mitchell is CEO of the company’s preschool that wants to reject my daughter.”
“Avery,” I said, knowing I should have kept it formal with last names, but that slipped. “Please allow me to ask Ms. Spokes why Addison was…” I paused to ensure I heard correctly. “Addison was rejected?”
“Yes. Rejected,” Avery confirmed.
“What is the meaning of this?” I asked Ms. Spokes in a demanding tone. “Do not even think about giving me any excuses either, Ms. Spokes, or this will be your last day watching over this department.”
“We don’t have enough staff,” she said indignantly.
“How long has this been an issue?” I asked.
“At least a month.”
“I’ve heard nothing of the sort. I haven’t had any requests to expand this department. Did I miss something that you may have sent my way?”
“No.” She stood solidly. This woman was an old crow. “We told the parents we were full.”
“That is not your duty, ma’am,” I said sternly, and the woman finally broke and sat in her chair. “Those are not merely parents. They are my employees who depend on my company’s Children’s Center for numerous reasons.” I kept my gaze locked on hers, “I must know exactly how many children are in other daycares or preschools due to you not informing upper management there was an issue with a shortage in staff?”
“Eight, maybe.”
“Eight, maybe?” I questioned. “Maybe is not a word I like hearing from a woman that my company entrusts with our employees’ children and their safety.”
“I can’t remember,” she whined.
“That is no excuse. That is eight parents—my employees, might I remind you—who have had to scramble to make other arrangements despite what was promised would be made available to them. I should have had something on my desk, informing me that more staff was required before the first child was turned away. I’m not quite certain I can trust you in such an important position, one that requires someone to look out for what’s best for my employees and their children. You will be replaced.”
“I’m fired?” She covered her heart.
“You will be transferred to a different role if that satisfies your needs. Currently, I do not care for your callous attitude or negligence. Until your replacement has been hired, I suggest you will work with your temporary replacement,” I said. “An official announcement will be emailed to all employees, announcing their children are welcome back to our Children’s Center. We have more than enough room here, so I know that space is not the issue. That is all, Ms. Spokes.”
“I am so sorry, Mr. Mitchell.”
“You might say that to the employees you’ve shunned; however, I do not see you as the type to apologize to the parents who’ve been placed in difficult childcare situations. I am thankful I found this child on one of my office floors with her mother, or I would have never known there was an issue. I will be working with human resources and our child development recruiters to find your replacement, and I do hope it’s immediately.”
“And where do I transfer to, Mr. Mitchell?”
I turned from where I was leaving her office. “Well, that’s a question you might want to ponder for a while. Sleep on it tonight, perhaps? You see, the fear I see in your eyes is most likely the same that was in the parents’ eyes who depended on this daycare and preschool for their children. It’s in all their offer packages, and yet, here you are turning them away and making a liar out of me.”
“My Lord in Heaven,” she sat in her chair, frazzled.