glancing warily at the other. Both sets tainted in different ways.
At least her side already had a leg up on the British set, who would still be jet-lagged. Not that she had a side. There was just her, as far as she was concerned. She’d look out for Jen if she could. Otherwise, she’d only form alliances if she needed them.
A tap tap tap sounded as someone tested the podium mic. “Everyone, take a seat. We’re about to get started.” Everyone dutifully filed into the row of chairs in the center of the room. Lacey slipped into one at the end of a row next to Jen.
“Have you checked out the imports?” The curly haired woman murmured. “Some of them look mighty fine. Who was the blond you were talking to last night? He would give Adonis a run for his money.”
Lacey arched an eyebrow at her. “Just a lobbyist.” She didn’t even have to try to infuse her voice with disdain. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure Meredith’s no-fraternization rule applies to them as much as it does to anyone from our side.”
Jen pouted, her black curls bouncing. “But we’re not technically colleagues yet.”
“You’re HR. Aren’t you supposed to be the light of Langham for everyone else to be guided by?”
Jen rolled her eyes at the line her useless boss had recently used in a company-wide memo. Soon to be ex-boss if this exercise was what Lacey anticipated. Chase wouldn’t last ten minutes in real America.
Meredith walked into the room and there was instant silence as if someone hit mute on the world. Another woman appeared behind her, carrying a clipboard. Meredith strode to the podium and gripped the lectern.
“Good afternoon, everyone. I trust your flights were sufficient. I’m not one for small talk, so let’s cut to the chase. You have all been identified as having potential for senior roles in the merged company.” At that a murmur swept through the room.
Lacey leaned back in her seat, giving Meredith her full attention.
“However, given what has brought us to this point, it is clear to me that standard appointment processes are not going to work to get me the types of people I want leading the new company. If you thought you were going to be able to schmooze and network your way into a new job, you might as well leave now. Backslapping and the old boys’ club isn’t going to work either. I don’t care how many accounts you’ve landed, best sellers you’ve had, or advertising dollars you’ve pulled in. Some of your previous colleagues made me a lot of money but had the moral code of cretins and, quite frankly, the profit margin has not been worth the media I’ve had to deal with. It certainly hasn’t covered the stock market’s response.”
That had to be directed at Langham staff. Wyndham was entirely privately held.
“The fact you are in this room means you are competent. But it doesn’t tell me a thing about your character. That’s what this next stage is about. And it starts now.”
The door opened, and a line of hotel staff marched in carrying large olive green backpacks. Placing them against the wall, they left the room and returned with more.
The thrill of vindication swept through Lacey at the sight of the packs. She was right. She’d known exactly why they were here.
Going by the looks of confusion covering most of the faces in the room, she was a step ahead of most.
“Each rucksack is labeled with a name. You have fifteen minutes to find yours, get changed, collect any personal items you may need, and be on the bus. If you are not on the bus, you will be returning to New York or the UK tonight.”
There was a burst of sound as people sprinted for the side of the room. Lacey pulled her shoes off, carrying them. She was not missing this bus for anything.
Her bag was the third one she checked, and she lugged it back up to her room in record time. Stripping her clothes off, she grabbed the fatigues out of the rucksack and put them on. She didn’t know who had sized everyone, but they had gotten hers perfect.
She opened her suitcase, giving thanks that she’d put everything she might need into one corner. Granola bars, candy bars, insect repellant, matches, sunscreen, dry shampoo, blister packs, hiking socks, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, battery pack, and a baseball cap. All got shoved into her rucksack.
Pulling her pants leg up, she strapped the