Page 14 of Broken Grump

He’s wearing a shirt and tie, but it’s all so tight that it’s accentuating his double chin. “Right.”

I find his response to be ambiguous and confusing. “Well, have you had the chance to speak with Mrs. Flores about any of this?”

“No. Unfortunately not.”

“Alright.” I’m trying to be understanding, and I assume he’s a busy man. Unlike my father, I make a point to frequently remind myself that the world, in fact, doesn’t revolve around me.

Steven then reaches to his side and picks up his briefcase. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to head over to Flores Holdings with me.”

Oh?I wasn’t anticipating that, but I have blocked the morning off of my schedule beforehand. “Okay. I suppose I can do that.”

He smirks. “Great.”

“Do you want me to call my driver?” I offer.

His wrist flicks in my direction. “Nah. We’ll take mine.”

Alrighty then.

Like Lionel, his driver also drives an SUV. Although I wish it was a little bigger because I feel a bit cramped in the back with Steven’s rotund body.

“Everyone comfortable?” the driver asks.

“Mhmm,” I lie.

“Could you turn the air up just a smidge?” Steven requests.

“You got it, boss.”

After that, I’m left practically shivering, but it’s fortunately a pretty short ride.

When we get there, it isn’t just the air conditioning that’s sending a cold zap down my spine. Instead, it’s the line of employees stomping out of the lobby, holding boxes filled with plants, staplers, pictures, and the like.

“What the hell?” Steven asks.

“I—I have no idea what’s going on. But I think we’d better find out?”

His head swivels around, and after making eye contact with me, he nods.

“Excuse me,” I try to flag down one of the disgruntled people filing out of the building. She’s a young woman with a blonde ponytail and large, black glasses.

“What?” she snaps back.

I take a few steps back before asking with caution, “What’s going on?”

Her pretty face twists into a scowl. “I’m not working for Rosalinda Flores. Over my dead body.”

Ah, okay.Now I’m starting to understand.

“Or that mousey little daughter of hers.”

“What?” I turn to face Steven, and I’m a little upset he didn’t put me in the “loop” before we came all the way down here. “Addie is in charge?” I press.

He sighs and glances down at the ground. “I wasn’t at liberty to say. You know, company confidentiality and all of that.”

That didn’t answer my question. “So, Addie is the new CEO?” I ask again.

His chubby cheeks rise, and that causes the ends of his mustache to also curl upward. “Not exactly.”

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