Page 27 of Power Move
“Daphne, I do nothateEva. I find herdifficult.”
“She is not your direct report. She says you yelled at her for being sick.”
“You shouldn’t come to work sick. I got her a replacement shirt, but really, she has broken dress code six ways from Sunday.”
“She lives in Indiana, Davey! She cannot exactly run home, grab some clothes and come back! She isn’t contagious.”
“I tried my best, okay?”
“Yeah, you say you did, but she’s an inch from leaving me. You don’t get it. She’s the one who can whip this program into shape. Claire scares people off. PeopleloveEva. She’s got dry wit and is smart as hell. You, though, you are going to be the end of me, David Robert!”
I thought Daphne was being overdramatic about Eva wanting to quit, but now I realized she was serious. Had I reallyunnerved Eva that much? I thought she was contagious. I’d tried to help her! Why did she hate me so much?
“Calm down, Daph. I do not hate her. I’m sorry she feels that way. I can apologize?—”
“You will donosuch thing, David. I will smooth this over. Every time you are alone with her, things go wrong, and you end up on her bad side.”
“I’m your boss. You’reherboss.”
“But this is not the way I work. I am not hierarchical and if you want me to run the business the best way possible and bring you good earnings reports?—”
“I know, I know. You make me look good. You make it easy,” I agreed. “Daphne, no one is faulting you, but maybe she’s not a good fit. If she wants to leave?—”
“She’s not leaving. And you will stay away.”
I held my hands up, signaling I gave in. “Are we good?”
“Stay off my porch and I won’t come back in here with Mum. Got it?”
“Got it loud and clear, Daph.”
She waddled out, still angry. Daphne was intense whennotgestating a human, but when pregnant she was ten times worse. I watched her cross back to Eva’s office. They talked for a bit, before she returned to her own domain. Eva crossed into the conference room, holding it together somehow. I couldn’t help but smile rather than scowl. She wassocute in that polo. It was a ridiculous outfit, but she pulled it off.
I told Daphne I’d stay out of it, but there was no way I could. We’d gotten off on the wrong foot, but I’d win Eva back somehow.
11.PEACE OFFERING
Eva
After the broken pipe,came the AC malfunction from hell. Following the pipe, I had a successful meeting with a new vendor willing to cut us an amazing deal because we were big fish who might help them land bigger fish. Returning, I found the temp in my office was at least eighty-five degrees. I kept my polo on long enough for the office to thin, finishing my emails and working on my calendar for tomorrow. But, after about 5:30, I stripped my top off, tossing it aside so my tits could breathe. Pregnancy boobs could fry an egg.
I was in no hurry to get home. Ellie texted that Jane had a fever, and she had to run to help her ex get meds before their pharmacy closed. She said she’d come by later and still get me my food, but it wouldn’t be until at least eight.
As I began to pack up, Davey arrived with my hoodie.
He approached my desk. “I come in peace, Eva. Promise.”
I wanted to make a Star Trek reference, but refrained. He’d never get it. I stared, very confused, as he placed a bottle of scotch on the table.
“I went a little better than the Macallan 12 and I washed this. We have a laundry area off the big suite where we host things. Ifigured you didn’t want to lose it. Oh, and Daphne made it clear you just had a ‘tummy bumble’ and not to worry. So, I apologize for freaking out.”
I took the hoodie, praying it still smelled like Mona’s perfume, and he hadn’t done something stupid like use a laundry sheet. It smelled clean but faintly like her.
“I uh… thank you.” I ignored the scotch. He could leave it, and it would just stay a trophy in the office until I could drink again sometime next year.
“Great. So, let’s just… have a drink and… let bygones be bygones?”
Was he serious right now?
