Page 44 of One Last Chance

Chapter 14

Rowland

This file has no end to it, does it?I scroll past a few pages, making my already burning eyes roll to the back of my head. These interns think that if they put in as much information aspossible, it somehow counts in their favor. Instead, I can barely find the right data I need to pick out to actually do my job.

I press the button to call the reception. “Riley?”

“Yes, Mr. Hall?”

A trickle of numb pain passes down my chest.

“Could you please make a meeting sometime at the beginning of the next week with the new interns and their supervisors? I think I have to go over with all of them the requirements for a proper report that doesn’t impede productivity,” I say with a tired sigh.

“Of course.”

“Just put it in whatever time slot I have free. It doesn’t matter.”

I hear her hum pensively. “There aren’t very many at the beginning of the week, unless…well, unless you skip lunch again on Tuesday.”

The faint discomfort at the back of my head moves toward my temples and gets stronger, slowly building up into a slight migraine. I rub my eyes. “That works.”

Riley stays quiet for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“I said to make the meeting, Riley,” I say, maybe a little too sharply. Before I get the chance to apologize, a prolonged beep announcing another call on the line interrupts me. I look at the screen, seeing a familiar yet groan-inducing name. “I got it. Make the meeting and go home. It’s late. Enjoy your weekend,” I tell her and sever the connection.

I take a moment, draw in a deep breath, and prepare for the grating sound that’ll come from the other side. “Afternoon, Preston.” Hopefully, my tone is lively and not-as-annoyed-as-I-am enough.

“Afternoon? It’s basically the evening, Hall,” says the loud, scratchy voice.

I blink slowly. “I suppose.”

“You still at work?”

“No, Preston. This call is simply a figment of your imagination,” I mutter.

“Boy! You really should go home. Cranky. You’re never this cranky. Then again, you’ve been like that pretty much the last…what, four months?”

Clenching my jaw, I dig my nail into the plastic covering of the phone’s cord. If only it was easier to snap it apart.I’ve been cranky to you ever since we’ve gone to college, because I couldn’t stand you even back then, I want to say, but bite the inside of my mouth instead. “Not to be impolite,” I let out another dig, “but does this call have anything to do with work, by any chance?”

His annoying laughter nearly blows my eardrum.

“Ah, Rowland, you’re getting to be just like your old man, you know? Anyway—yes, I’m calling you because of work, believe it or not. I talked to the people from Berdrust and they accepted the proposition. I still think it’s a pretty risky move, working with them, considering how finicky that damn company’s heads are, but I suppose it all worked out just like you said it would. No risk, no reward, just like your father used to say.”

Something inside me releases. A small pressure plate among many. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t do much to relieve my inner tension, but it’s some good news.

“Great. You called just to tell me that?” I ask, leaning back in the chair. The door closing I just heard must have been Riley. I never would have let her work this late if she didn’t start later than usual today. Then again, she would have insisted anyway.

Preston lets out a snort. “Well, pardon me for giving you the good news. Figured you’d be glad to hear. It was a pretty big win, especially to the people actually working closely on the deal, like myself.”

Does he really want me to praise him for his job?“Well done, you’ve earned a gold star. And by gold star I mean the salary increase you’ll gain thanks to this success. Like I said you would. Now, I would love to chat, but I have some more paperwork to finish up and emails to send, so if you’ll excuse me…”

“Man, get out of the office and go spend time with your family, would you?” he says, sounding annoyed, like it is any of his business.

Feeling my teeth cry out under the pressure of my clenched jaw, I will myself to stay quiet. “Right. Good chat, we’ll speak on this more on Monday at the board meeting,” I spit out my words firmly and put the phone down.

With a deep exhale, I sink into my chair and hang my head back. Carefully, I rub my temples, enjoying the silence. Too bad my mind is screaming. Names, dates, things to deal with, emails to write, people to please, deals to research… As I finally turn back to the computer, ready to get back into it and crunch the rest of my responsibilities, my stomach twists the moment I check the calendar.

I almost forgot.'Saturday. Help Hope.'

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