Page 46 of Crave Me

CHAPTER 11

Evan

“No,” I reply, not that I bother glancing up from my work. “Adeptus has been promised to the community hospitals where it can most serve the underprivileged.”

“But Robert Harold has offered double,” Remington counters.

As my Head of Finance, we habitually butt heads. Today is no exception. “Because they can,” I snap, flipping the page, irritably. “Their hospital and pharmaceutical company have made an exorbitant amount by overcharging for their medication and services, all the while paying pennies for their ingredients and rescinding on their promises to help underdeveloped countries.”

“Maybe. But it’s because of their success, that they can give us more.”

“You call it success,” I reply, tossing my report across my desk to meet him in the eye. “I call it unethical and appalling. Tens of thousands of children in Uganda, Nairobi, and the Congo died because they weren’t properly vaccinated with vaccines Robert Harold promised to deliver.”

“They delivered them,” Remington insists. “Due to paperwork, the shipment was delayed.”

“The shipment was delayed,” I agree, my tone razor sharp. “But if they hadn’t sent vaccines set to expire in three months’ time, with proper packaging, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

I turn to Anne. “Where are we with production for the Adeptus commercial?”

“Shooting starts today, Evan.”

“And the media campaign?”

It’s Clifton who answers me. “Ready, when you give us the word.”

I’ve moved on, Remington has not. “I ask you to reconsider,” he says. “Partnering with Robert Harold will guarantee us millions over the next year, and possibly billions over time.”

Remington was one of the men my predecessor hired. Like my predecessor, he believes in profit without a care to who it harms or who we deal with. The report I was reading outlined the millions in profit lost over the past three years, a reminder that iCronos is potentially months away from financial collapse. The report should work in his favor. Yet it’s poor decisions and even worse business practices encouraged by heads like him, and former employees who sold our trademark technology to our competitors, which has almost ruined my company.

I won’t stand for it. The employees who betrayed us are currently being tried for several counts of white collar crime and we’re suing our competitors for the violations and loss of revenue. Our legal team is certain we’ll settle and be better for it, but that will take time. Time I’m wasting on employees like Remington.

“Evan, are you listening?” he asks.

There’s so much steel behind my glare I can practically taste the metal slide along my tongue. “We’re not selling to Robert Harold or any other company that practices like they do. You have a choice,” I snap, interrupting him when he opens his mouth. “Work with us or leave.”

I feel Clifton and Anne straighten as the tension between myself and Remington surges like a growing storm.

“Fine. I’m out,” he quips, the presumptuous ass believing it’s my loss.

I barely blink. “Anne, as of this moment Remington is banned from my building. Have security escort him back to his desk to collect his personal belongings and follow him off the premises, and tell HR to immediately revoke his access to our files.”

“Yes, Evan,” she responds, lifting my phone and speaking quickly.

Remington regards me as if slapped. “About my severance pay.”

I rise slowly. “Severance is granted to deserving employees who have worked full-time for a minimum of five years. You’re here barely four and are about as deserving as Robert Harold is of our technology and resources. Get out.”

The first member of the security staff walks in. Remington’s attention stays on me. “I thought you were smarter than this,” he tells me.

“I am,” I reply. “Which is why you no longer work here.”

He turns abruptly, pausing when he sees three members of my security team now waiting. “This way, sir,” the first one tells him.

The guards nod in my direction before leaving. Remington’s departure should grant me a great deal of relief. It was necessary and we’ll fare far better for it. But not one dismissal has been easy, each a reminder of what little loyalty exists in the amount of greed that surrounds me. I’m desperate for the right people, yet can’t be sure I’ll find them.

“Do you want me to go with them?” Clifton asks.

“If you wish,” I say, returning to my chair and the mountain of work waiting for me.

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