Page 85 of Endgame

‘Not really. She’s a nutcase. She could say anything.’

‘Do you want me to come home?’

‘No, I’m fine. I’ll see you tonight.’

‘Shall I share it with Samir and start the process of you coming back to work, or leave it until these storytimes are over?’

‘Samir has already called twice since I’ve been on the phone to you. I guess he’s seen it too.’

Dominic’s name pops up on my phone. ‘Dominic is calling.’

‘I’ll see you when you get home then. I love you.’

‘I love you.’

I accept Dominic’s call.

‘Have you seen it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Can I pick you up for lunch? We need to talk.’

I look at my diary. ‘I can meet later, around four?’

‘Sounds good. I’ll be on the bike.’

I know what that means. As I am making a note to change my hair from the bun into two pigtails for the helmet, an alert pops up on my screen.

shusssein:

Ariella, a word when you get a moment?

I go straight to his office. Samir does not believe in a open-door policy, so I have to knock.

‘Come in. I take it you, Lydia and Bryce were huddled around watching the video?’

‘Yes.’ I sit opposite him. The video has left me feeling tired.

‘How would you handle it?’

‘I’d get everyone at Ivory Bow into the meeting room, show them the video, talk through it, very clearly state what this means for Ivory Bow and specifically for Caleb, then reinstate him. I’d also send him a huge apology gift for not quite believing him when he said he had nothing to do with it.’

‘Would I be sending that apology gift to his or yours? Or isn’t that the same thing these days?’

‘Samir.’ I look him dead in the eyes. ‘What can I help you with that is directly related to my employment here?’

‘Your relationship with Caleb is directly related to your employment here.’

‘How so? He’s delivering everything asked of him and more. Whatever you may think of me, the operations team is doing an incredible job. There are no gaps in service, execution ratings have gone up, your time sheets are accurate – and, if they are anything to go by, you really should be offering immense overtime bonuses. In addition to that, the girls still find time to be out, in their own time, promoting this company, regardless of how undervalued their efforts are, by you. So, Samir. What can I help you with that is directly related to my employment here?’

Is that a smile?

‘What do you know about Melissa’s investment in Ivory Bow?’

‘Ivory Bow UK was doing well in Singapore. She saw potential and secured a franchise. She met me when she came to finalise the deal and Caleb was selected for his local success. She entered into investment talks with DMVI, as our largest client in the region, and eventually decided to sell because DMVI made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.’

‘Have you had any contact with her since?’

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