Page 19 of Grump and Grumpier

“Thank you.”

After he explains how to leave temporary out-of-office messages, he gets up to move away, and my snowglobe catches his eye. “Is this yours?”

“Yes, I collect dolphin figurines. Thought it would be nice to bring a couple in.” I gesture toward the other one I’d set on the far side of my desk.

“Sweet.” He picks up the glass one and looks it over before carefully setting it back in its spot.

“I’ll be working on bringing in help for your department. Do you have time to talk about what qualifications are needed?”

“Can do.” He sits back, looking less comfortable now that he’s not working with the equipment. I ask a few questions and take note of his answers. “How long have you been with the company?” I ask once I have a good picture of what’s needed for the open IT position.

“A long time. I was a consultant when they were just selling packaged beans, and I’ve been here ever since they moved into this office.”

“Oh. Interesting. As someone who’s been heresince the beginning, I wonder if you have any feedback on why the employee turnover rate is so high?”

He shrugs and shrinks down a bit in the chair, gripping an armrest and looking even more uncomfortable. “People complain about Jansen and Derek being hardasses—excuse my language. But they’re just doing their jobs. People are too sensitive.”

I just nod at that. It makes sense that some people would get along with grumpy, demanding bosses, and other people wouldn’t. Then there are people like me, who seem to get turned on by their surly behavior.

“Do you feel fulfilled in your position?” I ask.

Charles stares at me for a long beat, looking like he’s lost in thought. When I lift my brows in question, his head makes a small jerk, as if he’s waking himself up. “What was that?”

“Are you happy in your current position? Are there any changes you’d make if you had the chance?”

“Hmmm …” As he thinks, his eyes drift from my face to my chest in a way that makes my skin itch under my silky blouse. “Not sure what I’d change,” he says finally, “except to have another person to take up some of the workload.”

“Of course. I’ll be working on that.” I slide my chair back as a nonverbal cue that our discussion is finished, but Charles doesn’t move. “Would you like to talk about anything else?” I ask.

Again, he looks vaguely startled by my question. “No. You?”

“I’m all set for now. I’ll let you get back to your work. Thank you for helping me get things set up.”

“Bye, Ana.” He ducks his head and gives me a small wave, and then he’s gone.

CHAPTER 15

ANA

After Charles leaves, I have some time alone to continue getting situated. I explore the company server, and I’m setting up email inbox preferences when Jackie knocks on my open door. “What questions can I answer for you so far, Ana?”

“Oh, lots. C’mon in.”

Jackie looks less tired now as she sits down on one of the chairs, and I imagine that the caffeine must have gotten into her veins.

“Is there any sort of employee manual?”

Looking vaguely apologetic, she says, “No, there’s nothing like that. Things have been a bit like a runaway train here ever since I came aboard.”

“When was that?”

“A little over two years ago. And there have been three different HR managers here during that time.”

Inwardly, I wince. Maybe this is why Derektracked me down and accepted my pie-in-the-sky salary request. “You’re not interested in the position?” I ask the older woman.

Jackie shakes her head. “No, ma’am. I’m happy working on payroll and benefits, and I’ll be even happier when I can retire in the next five years or so.”

Nodding, I say, “Makes sense. Why do you think there’s so much turnover here?”

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