Page 12 of VOGUEish

“On the surface, you’re correct. Unfortunately, it has developed a shaky foundation that could cave at any moment.”

Isabelle pulled her brows inward. “Are you saying Amanda was part of the shaky foundation? I just can’t imagine that’s right. She’s an insanely brilliant fashion editor. The outfit she put on Johnny K for his layout in last year’s June issue alone proves her brilliance. You do know she received an award for that issue, don’t you? Not to mention, she’s this year’s guest judge on Project Runway.”

“I’m not allowed to tell the details of why any employee is fired. I’m Chandler Roman, by the way.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Roman.”

He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up, giving him the appearance of a man thoroughly kissed. “Amanda mentioned your status during our discussion this morning,” Chandler said. “She said if she had her way, you would be the next fashion editor at Naked Runway.”

Isabella grinned. “That was our agreement when she hired me. Considering my qualifications, I would think you could look the other way if she broke the no-hiring thingy. She was obviously just looking out for Naked Runway and hiring me before a competitor grabbed me up.”

He turned, leaned against his desk, and folded his arms. “Amanda disobeyed a direct order. Do you think someone in my position should condone that kind of behavior?”

“Artistic types with power are temperamental. It goes with the territory. They need to be handled differently from the average employee.”

“I saw your doodles in the magazine this morning. Are you a temperamental artistic type? Do I need to handle you carefully?”

Was that innuendo she heard in his voice? No. Just her resolution brain thinking inappropriate thoughts. “Amanda’s famous in the fashion industry. She has powerful friends. She can crush this magazine. Maybe you should’ve discussed it with the magazine’s owner before firing her.”

“I have a motto: Everyone’s replaceable.”

A thought hit her, and she sat up straight. “Am I next?” For the love of a good undergarment, why had this just now occurred to her?

“I’m not inclined to fire you yet.”

“Yet?”

“I’ll have no choice but to fire you if I can’t figure out what to do with you.”

“You do have a fashion editor position open, and I am qualified.” The moment the words were spoken, she regretted them. They made her sound very opportunistic. “I apologize. Forget I said that. It’s my hope you will reconsider your firing of Amanda.”

His lips quirked. “Come to the power meeting with me. You can listen and learn while I play around with what to do with you.”

The meeting? Amanda had vocally blamed Isabella for her demise. They’d hate her. Not to mention, this guy had made them clean up her mess. “No, thank you.” The idea of going in there ranked right up there with going back to school the Monday following prom. Sure, she’d done it, but she’d spent most of the day in the counselor’s office crying.

“Nonsense. Besides, my assistant went home sick. It would be helpful if you’d take some notes for me.”

“I don’t—“

“In the taxi, I didn’t get the impression you were the type to quit.”

She fisted her hands in her lap. It was as if he’d just channeled Ms. Patricia. “What kind of notes?” Had his administrative assistant really gone home sick, or had he fired her, too?

Chandler snagged an ink pen and stenographer’s notebook off his desk and handed them to her. “Surprise me.”

CHAPTER THREE

Chandler took a seat at the head of the oversized steel table, twelve pairs of eyes fixated on him. The tension in the room pissed him off. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. This meeting was to have been the beginning of the smoothing out phase. The last phase before he exited left and let those still standing get on with business.

Of course, this morning hadn’t supposed to have gone the way it had either. First, his driver had called in sick. Then Nonna had needed his assistance. Then a hot as hell brunette had read him the riot act over taxi etiquette.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. Why in the blazes were the clocks still running ten minutes fast? He’d told maintenance to correct them. One more person would have to be fired before he left the building for his next assignment.

As per his usual, he’d come into Naked Runway like a wrecking ball and had immediately gone to work breaking down systems to find out what wasn’t working. He’d quickly discovered there were a lot of wonky practices in place. Practices that required his attention. But yesterday was to have been the end of that phase. He’d thought he was done with the firing of people.

When he’d walked into the building this morning, he’d been ready to put on the white hat. And in this meeting, he was to have been the bearer of good news.

Only his morning hadn’t gone as planned. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had an unexpected development at this stage in the process.

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