Page 61 of Rich and Bossy

Behind him is a massive screen, displaying statistics. “This is what happened to this company. You can see their numbers, here.” He turns to the screen, using a laser pointer to highlight the numbers in question. “Within six months, their workforce dropped by fifteen percent. The union’s demands forced the company to restructure, in order to meet their contract. So what started out as a good idea, actually hurt more people. There are eight thousand people in this warehouse. Fifteen percent of that is twelve hundred people. Sure, maybe the rest get a few more things through organizing, but over a thousand of you might be out of a job.”

My jaw tightens a little when I realize what I just happened to walk into. This is a mandatory meeting? Who the fuck decided my employees needed to attend a union-busting meeting? Is this even legal?

“Which of you would be willing to sacrifice your job? Are you willing to give up everything, because a small group of people decided to force a bunch of unreasonable demands into a contract?”

This has to be a fucking joke. I’m not a fan of a union, but this is blatant, anti-union propaganda of the highest order. They’re not even trying to show both sides of the issue. I’m not even convinced this company he’s talking about on the screen exists. He’s not giving any names or details. How can this information be verified? This is pure fearmongering to squash any talks of a union.

I’m tempted to raise my hand, identify myself, and start up the Q&A portion a little early. Starting with who hired this asshole to come in here and pretend to dress like one of my employees?

The sick feeling in my stomach tells me I have a pretty good idea who did this, though. Is that why John was so relaxed? He hired a union busting consultant? I know what’s at stake, but this is over the top. It just feels—wrong.

Yet here we are. Here I am.

Not saying shit about it.

And I should be glad about this. As a businessman with a responsibility to my shareholders, this should make me happy. I should feel relieved.

If these workers form a union, it will seriously strangle future expansion. It’ll fuck all our projections, and the plans to infiltrate and take over other market sectors. We must do that. We must keep expanding to keep investors from fleeing.

Not to mention, we make the world more efficient. We free up time and resources for other things, as opposed to some mom-and-pop place providing these services. We keep costs low and the economy booming. Not to mention the twin cities and the state of Minnesota. The tax revenues they bring in, because we’re pulling in resources from all over the world, and they land right here in Minnesota, for our local use, and the benefit of our local citizens through taxes.

Where would all these magical union benefits come from? Profits, naturally, where else?

When I think about it that way, the answer is simple. Walk away, pretend I didn’t see this, and be glad John is the one handling it.

Right. Like that’s going to happen.

Hazel’s out there somewhere, hidden, fucking fuming, hating my guts. I’m surprised there isn’t a puff of smoke drifting up somewhere, straight out of her ears.

I’m so busy processing my surprise that it takes a minute for me to notice the hair on the back of my neck standing up. A strange, prickly feeling washes over me that’s downright eerie.

It doesn’t take long to figure out where the sensation is coming from. A glance to my left, toward the open door, reveals a certain petite brunette staring fucking lasers, right at the side of my head.

She looks way, way, way different than the last time I saw her. I have no doubt that she wants to murder me. Like I might be worried if she was holding a weapon or had access to one in the general vicinity.

But instead of killing me, she turns on her heel and flees. This time, she’s running even faster than the slant route she ran after the Vike’s game.

I take a deep breath. I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t draw attention to myself. I should let her go, and just walk my ass out of here and pretend I never saw anything.

What the hell am I going to do?

Fuck.

CHAPTER 16

Hazel

Dang it.

I knew he’d try to burn this down before it started, but I didn’t think he’d have the nerve to come watch the fire he set, like some sicko arsonist.

It hasn’t even begun and he’s already acting like a sociopath over his precious company.

I should’ve known better. In the end, he was only ever going to care about himself. His company, his investors. He doesn’t give a damn about workers, they’re replaceable. It’d be nothing but robots in this warehouse if he had his way.

When push comes to shove, he showed what matters. He’s trying to scare the crap out of everyone who works here, and it looks like he’s succeeding.

That’s what always matters to people like him. He can pretend to be aregular,down-to-earth uncle of twinskind of good guy all he wants. He’s full of it though.

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