Page 17 of Small Town CEO Grump

The one who had just spoken was Theresa. She was a young file clerk who worked in the office part time while she was attending college.

“I agree with you. There's just something off about him.”

That voice belonged to Jack, one of the junior agents.

I paused for a minute, trying to decide how I could make myself known without things getting too awkward, but also curious as to who they were talking about.

I didn’t have to wait long for my answer.

“Everyone talks about how he worked hard and built this company from nearly nothing, but I don’t believe it. I’m sure he had rich parents who handed everything to him,” Theresa said, and I could hear the disdain in her voice.

“Yeah, I’m sure you're right. Plus, he hardly ever smiles. He is probably just a complete jerk. I mean, he’s never lashed out at me or anything, but I can tell he’s not a nice guy,” Jack answered.

That was it. I couldn’t let them go on saying things that were just not true. I didn’t care if things got awkward. I had to put a stop to this, and I felt both a personal and professional obligation to speak up.

I cleared my throat and walked around the corner.

Jack and Theresa looked up at me, with startled and guilty expressions on their faces.

‘Hey guys,” I said.

“Hey, Jenna,” they both replied, neither one willing to make eye contact with me.

“So, I heard you two talking just now,” I said, figuring that it would be best to just get right to it.

“Oh, yeah?” Jack said, fidgeting uncomfortably.

“Yes,” I said. “And I have to address it. First, I just want to remind you guys that you are in a professional environment, and it is not appropriate to be discussing your coworkers in this manner.”

Theresa nodded. “I understand,” she said. “I apologize, and guarantee it won’t happen again.”

“I apologize as well,” Jack added. “And she is right, it won’t happen again.”

“Okay, good. Thank you,” I said. “But I also want to clarify a few things because it sounds to me as if you two are misinformed about a few issues. Is that alright with you?”

Theresa and Jack looked at each other and then me and simply nodded. Neither one knew what to say, and we all knew that they could not refuse.

“Thank you. First, his parents had nothing to do with his success in this business. He started working as a junior agent, just like you, Jack. He was just very good at what he did, and quickly rose to be the CEO. He is the one who oversaw the expansion of the business and the creation of the new offices, including this one,” I said.

One of the writing projects I was working on was a new biography section for the website, and I had been doing quite a bit of research to get my information.

“I didn’t realize that,” Jack said.

“Neither did I. That’s really impressive,” Theresa added.

“I thought so, too,” I said. “He doesn’t advertise all of this, but I have looked through all of the documents myself. It’s a pretty great story, in my opinion.”

Both Jack and Theresa nodded.

“And finally, I have to let you know that he is actually a very kind and caring person. He is tough, for sure, and he is strict. And if he is unhappy, he’s not afraid to let you know. But none of this means that he is not kind.”

“I understand,” Jack said. He looked at Theresa and raised her eyebrows, and instantly knew that they were most likely going to assume that there was something going on between Ryan and me.

I did not say anything. I just nodded and gathered my things to go back to my office.

I could not control what they thought, but I knew that from that moment forward, neither one of them was going to be that petty at work, or gossip in such a public place.

I had only been sitting at my desk for a few minutes when my phone buzzed. I looked down and saw I had received a message from Ryan.

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