Page 22 of By the Letter

She stopped in front of me, her mouth curved in a frown. I thought she’d ignore my question or refuse to answer it, but after a beat, she sighed.

“She’ll be fine. She’s home and resting. Her friends are taking care of her.”

“Good.” I nodded a few times. Since Shira was taken away yesterday, I’d picked up my phone more times than I cared to admit to call her and check in. I’d almost called Terry too. I’d even been on the verge of phoning the hospital, knowing they wouldn’t tell me anything.

“That’s good. I hope she recovers quickly. She hasn’t looked well for a while—”

Terry’s forehead crinkled, and her nostrils flared like a bull seeing red. “Oh, you noticed she hasn’t been well but still went through with the bullshit you pulled yesterday?”

I jerked back, shocked she’d used that language in the office, given she’d never been anything but staunchly professional. I should have known she’d be angry. Despite everything, she and Shira were close, and I hadn’t treated her well. I’d just have to work to bring myself back around to Terry’s good side.

“Look, in hindsight, I should have handled things more delicately. I realize that now, but what’s done is done. I’d like to move forward and build a healthy relationship with you. We can talk about a new title, but I need your insight as I move GoldMed forward—”

Terry slapped her paper on my desk. “Absolutely not, young man. I am sixty-five years old and should have retired years ago. The only reason I stayed was for Shira Goldman. Not Frank, Shira. If you think I’ll work for the man who usurped that woman, you must’ve been born yesterday. As of today, I’m officially retired, and you’re shit out of luck.”

She punctuated her statement with her middle finger. “Oh, and that’s effective immediately.”

She marched out of my office before I could protest or even begin to wrap my head around my next course of action. Terry was part of the backbone of GoldMed. She would have been able to give me guidance on decisions that had to be made—

Another woman unceremoniously walked into my office. I recognized her from staff meetings but couldn’t bring her name forward with all the thoughts bouncing around my brain. What I did know was she looked just as pissed off as Terry.

“Good morning.” I braced for what I had a feeling was coming. “How can I help you?”

She wasn’t as brazen as Terry had been. She took a seat on the edge of the chair across from mine while holding a piece of paper in her trembling hands.

“Good morning, Mr. Wells. In case you’ve forgotten my name, I’m Gabriela Watson. I’m head of marketing…well, I was. I let HR know, but wanted you to know too. I’m turning in my two weeks’ notice. I’d rather leave today, but I’ll work my two weeks because I’m a woman of my word.”

Shit. Fuck. Shit. Shit. Shit. Fuck.

Inside, I was screaming, but I kept my composure.

“I’m very sorry to hear that. Would you like to tell me why you’re leaving so suddenly, Gabriela?” Tension rode me like a demon. My shoulders were so tight it was all I could do to sit still and not react.

Gabriela, who struck me as somewhat timid, lifted her chin in a decidedly Shira style.

“Yes, I would. I won’t work for men who mistreat women—especially not one as good as Shira. You might think the way you handled removing her as CEO was a business decision, but to me, it was personal.”

I shook my head. “I have to disagree with you, Gabriela. I would have done the same thing if Shira had been a man. My actions had nothing to do with her gender, and I strongly disagree that I mistreat women.”

Her eyes narrowed. “That’s what my ex said after he punched me so hard my orbital bone was fractured. Do you know who helped me? Shira. She paid for my lawyer, so I didn’t have toworry about anything except getting out of a situation that would have killed me. Then she helped with that too. That woman held my hand, literally and figuratively, all the way through. So, no, I will not work for the man who treated her poorly and made a humiliating power play. I’m done with men like you, Roman Wells.” Scooting forward, she placed her letter of resignation in front of me. “For the sake of my coworkers, I wish you and GoldMed good luck.”

She walked out, leaving me stunned. When I’d started working in GoldMed’s offices two months ago, I’d spoken to several employees about their opinions of the work environment and Shira. Now, consideringwhoI’d spoken to, it gave me pause. I’d had lunches with executive team members who’d been around since the early days. All members of the old boys’ club, along with Frank. None of them fans of Frank’s “child bride,” as they called her, being in charge of the business. Why hadn’t I talked to someone like Gabriela?

Before I could answer my own question, the door to my office opened, and Annabelle Ortiz, head of HR, marched in. My stomach dropped.

“I hope you’re here to address the two resignations we’ve had this morning and not adding your own to the stack.”

She slapped her letter of resignation on my desk. “Sorry to inconvenience you, but I refuse to stay at this company any longer. This is my four weeks’ notice—and I’m only giving you four weeks because my role is critical to the rest of the employees. It’s not a favor to you in any way.”

I nodded to the chair behind her. “I understand. Would you have a seat and talk to me for a minute?”

She hesitated but finally decided to sit down. Like Gabriela, she perched on the edge of the chair, poised to take off at a moment's notice.

“You disagree with my decision to let Shira go,” I started.

She scoffed. “Let her go? Is that what you call the ambush you orchestrated? When you came to GoldMed, you told us it was to rebuild the company, but your intentions have been clear since day one. From what I’ve observed, no changes have been made and you’ve barely spoken with any team leaders who are women or below the age of fifty. I know everything I need to know about you, Roman Wells, and I won’t be a party to it.”

Sitting forward, I clasped my hands to keep from pounding the hell out of my desk. She wasn’t wrong. Not at all. How could I have been so blinded by my agenda I’d made such a massive misstep?

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