Page 2 of Punish Me

“Career-ending injury. Fell back on my dual degrees in construction and finance.”

“Mm...that doesn’t automatically make you CEO.”

Sighing, he clasps his fingers and answers, “Mike Cape was good friends with my dad. Took me under his wing when I was hired and eventually became my mentor. I grew to head up the Building Group and became VP of that department. Mike was grooming me to replace him when he retired in three years. Unfortunately, tragedy sped up that timeline, and here I am.”

“They didn’t have anyone else to put in the position besides you?”

“It’s not a losing situation for the company, Bryn.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean it like that.”

“I was the closest one prepared for the role besides the former COO, who left to start his own company.”

“The guy that I’m replacing?”

He nods. “It would’ve taken too long for them to recruit externally and train someone into the role when I know this company like the back of my hand.”

“Still...big learning curve, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’ve been getting acclimated the last couple of weeks.”

“How come you didn’t know about me?”

“So much going on. I knew a B. St. Clair was coming in, but...how do I say this politely? We suspect that Sandra Crowe, our receptionist, has an early onset of Alzheimer’s. She’s the one that screwed up and had you listed as Brian St. Clair.”

“Ahh,” I say, recalling that Adriana had explained there had been some mix-up in my paperwork, which had her calling meto clear up some clerical errors. “They fixed that a week ago, though.”

“I’ve been out of town this last week, concluding business in my prior role before handing it off to my replacement. So, I was expecting Brian today.”

“Hmm.”

“You’re looking good, Bryn.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“It’s Brynlee, and thank you.”

“Okay...Bryn. It’s been a while.”

“Not long enough,” I mutter.

“I’m sorry about how things went down. Always wanted a chance to right my wrongs, but you wouldn’t take my calls—”

“Ambrose, I’m here to do a job, not to reminisce. There’s no need for explanations or apologies. That was another lifetime, and a lot has changed for me, as I’m sure it has for you,” I say coldly.

He rubs the back of his neck. “Things have changed. In fact—”

“Is there anything else you need from me... work-related before I go to my office?”

“Is that how we’re going to do this?”

“Do what?”

“You do realize we will work closely together. You realize that people go through you to communicate with me, and the only way to guarantee our success, your success and mine, and this company’s, is to unite the two of us.”

“I won’t have a problem as long as you can agree to leave the past where it belongs,” I say, standing and smoothing my hands down my sides.

Pulling his hand over his beard and mustache draws my attention to his maturity, the chiseled jawline, deep groovesaround his eyes, and the smattering of gray strands in his mustache and beard.

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