Page 25 of Hers to Love
“There can be no hint of impropriety,” Perry continued. “We already frown upon romantic relationships in the office, but we can’t have any rumors whether true or false.”
“What makes you think there’ll be any?” Marshall asked sharply. “We all know I was recently divorced and—”
“And you’ve been underperforming ever since. We’re about to vote whether or not you can keep your job. It’s the perfect opportunity for a distraction,” another member claimed.
That was true. And Kori was a beautiful distraction. From the moment she stepped off the plane, it’d been in the very far back of his mind that she was attainable—and then in front of his face last night. She was a breath away. His fingers inches from her curvy hips. Backing up and being a professional made him both an idiot and…professional.
He was too old to be an idiot.
“Sounds like it’s the perfect opportunity for me not to screw this up,” Marshall countered.
“If she makes a pass at you or gives you any issues in that area… If you become fearful in any way, we want you to fire her on the spot. Put her on the next plane out of Italy. That will go a long way with this board,” Perry said, his eyes saying what was left unsaid.
Marshall could keep his job if he let Kori go.
Maybe.
If he fired her right now and didn’t wait for cause.
Marshall couldn’t do that. She was a positive influence, and he wanted that in his life right now. Needed someone to genuinely be on his side. He had an ally in Kori. She could’ve walked into the office and not cared that he had let things slide for a year. She could’ve pandered to him, ignored his moods, and watched him be as lazy as he wanted—like his last assistant. But she didn’t do that. She whipped him into shape, and he loved to exercise.
“I will keep that in mind,” Marshall said.
“Especially on your next trip,” Perry said.
“Excuse me?” Marshall pounded on his tablet for his schedule. He didn’t remember Kori setting up a trip.
“We need you to personally go to Bendola. Talk to the prospectors and give us an update on whether or not we can invest. There’s talk of a civil war, but if things can be resolved peacefully—”
“You mean if a democratic government can be voted in,” Marshall interrupted.
“Yes. If it can, then we want to make sure we’re one of the first major financial institutions to invest in the country’s new government.”
“Of course,” Marshall said.
“Keep things professional,” Perry added. “To help, we want you to take Jarod with you. He’s done an excellent job as our country analyst, and we’d like his professional opinion as well.”
That tool?“Sure.” Marshall gritted his teeth.
Jarod did his job well—according to this last performance evaluation—but he had a reputation around the office as a guy who dated often, with penchant for new female employees. Taking Kori on the trip wouldn’t be a good idea for either Marshall or Jarod.
Or Kori, for that matter.
Marshall practically knocked over a few of the board members on the way out of the conference room. Their flight was leaving in two hours, and he had to tell Kori, brief Jarod, get all the data on Bendola for Kori to read on the plane, and they all had to make a run back to their rooms to pack.
He stopped short, seeing Jarod and Kori laughing outside Kori’s office. Jarrod’s left hand was resting on the wall next to Kori’s head, and he was leaning in way too close. Kori had her arms crossed and her body angled away from his, but she still smiled at Jarod, and that meant she wasn’t smiling at him.
Jealously wormed its way around Marshall’s intestines, cinching him ever two inches.
“Jarod!” Marshall yelled too loudly.
Jarod straightened and presented a pleased grin Marshall wanted to punch right off his face. “Sir! What do you need?”
Marshall’s sharp gaze assessed Kori, whose wide eyes studied him right back. He couldn’t read her expression, and that made him angrier.
“We’re going to Bendola. The three of us. I need you to get me the latest opinions on the government and rebel talks. We’ve got to meet with our contacts.”
“You got it.” He winked at Kori and walked confidently off.
