Page 30 of Steal a King (Five Kings 2)

It feels like ages before she slides the notebook back and I stare at her words in surprise. Watch him.

I look up and see a man doing nothing different to what he usually does and I write, Why?

Because he is saying what he thinks you want to hear. He keeps on looking at you as if to remind himself you’re here, making me wonder if he would be saying something different if you weren’t. It’s all a little fake if I’m honest. They are all like coiled springs waiting to unravel if pushed and I’m guessing they only tell you what they want you to hear. I would in their position, it’s human nature.

Leaning back, I think on her words and study my team a little more carefully. I’ve never had any reason to doubt them before, and yet there’s something in her words that is ringing true. How well do I really know my employees, my friend even? I am usually hidden away in my ivory tower and, as she said, only hear what they want me to hear. I thought things were set up, a well-oiled machine that runs despite me. Maybe that’s where my problems lie. I’ve relinquished control of my business to my managers, and maybe they are just telling me what I expect to hear and not what I need to know.

Deciding to delve a little deeper, I catch Adam’s eye and hold up my hand. He stops talking and all eyes swing toward me nervously.

“I’m sorry to interrupt gentlemen, but now I have you all together, I want to ask a question.”

You could cut the atmosphere in the room with a butter knife and I take my time, loving the awkward silence and the fear in their eyes. Why are they afraid, what are they hiding? That is something I need to know, so I stand and start pacing the room, a tactic that always sets people on edge and gives them nowhere to hide. Glaring at Nathan, the guy in the red tie, I snap, “I want a full report on my desk by close of business on the Cobalt project. Why are they stalling on a completion date and what’s holding things up?”

I turn to Bill Bailey, my business manager who is obviously attached to his watch and snarl, “If you paid as much attention to your job as your fucking watch, I may not be fending off questions from shareholders and fielding calls from organizations who doubt we can deliver.”

He appears to shrink in his seat and I snarl, “Same for you. A full report on what’s holding us up and a list of shareholders who are dragging their heels. There is no reason for anyone to be getting cold feet on this project, and I want to know who’s spreading doubt.”

Turning to Mike who is licking Adam’s ass, I bark, “Stop playing the fucking yes man and grow some balls. If I see you suck up to Adam’s ass one more time, I’ll shove you so deep inside it you’ll pay rent. Now, do what we pay you for and do your risk assessment because if there are any obstacles in our way going forward, I’m using your head to batter them down.”

Fixing my attention on the guy who appears nervous as hell, I say ominously, “What’s your problem?”

He looks as if he’s about to pass out as he swallows hard. “I’m sorry, sir, I don’t have a problem.”

“Then why are you sweating like a pig, is there something you want to share with us, or are you so far out of your depth you’re struggling to breathe?”

I catch Adam’s eyes and he looks more interested than anything and Brad stutters, “I’m sorry, sir, it’s just...”

“Just what?”

“My, um, wife is in labor and I’m, well, worried.”

I stare at him in disbelief and yell, “Well, what the fuck are you doing here, go?”

He looks up in shock and I shake my head. “Just go, why didn’t you tell Adam?”

“I thought...”

“What, that we wouldn’t care, that we value business over family, that we are fucking monsters? Get the fuck out of here and apologize to your wife for being such a fucking weak-willed moron, and I don’t want to see you back here for one week. Work remotely and enjoy your family and if that kid isn’t named after me, I will want to know why.”

“It’s a girl, sir.” Brad smiles and just like that the worry disappears from his eyes and I smile. “Then name her Ella after Miss. Quinn. Now fuck off.”

He looks so relieved I feel quite good about something for a change and as soon as he leaves the room, I growl, “Did anyone know about this?”

There’s an awkward silence and Adam says sharply, “Well, did anyone know?”

Mike’s voice shakes a little as he says, “He did mention something about it this morning.”

Adam stares at him disbelief, “Then why did he come in?”

“Because he was worried you would fire him and with a new baby, he can’t afford to be out of a job.”

I hear Ella gasp behind me and feel her disapproval hit me square in the jaw from across the room.

Adam shakes his head. “Why would he think that, we’re not monsters?”

I feel all eyes turn to me and know it’s probably down to me. I’m such a bastard I demand full commitment from my staff and never consider they have a life outside the office. Adam himself has a new wife and yet he sees more of me than her and for a moment I feel bad about that. Then again, business is business and we are facing a shit storm approaching, so I snarl, “For the record, if your mind is not one hundred percent on the job, you are fucking useless to me, anyway. Sort your shit out before you come to work and if you need time to do that, tell Adam. Brad may as well as been the paint on the walls for all the use he was today and when he returns, he’ll be way more efficient because of it. Business isn’t just about physically being here, it’s also about what you do when you are. So, man up, grow some balls and take responsibility for your shit and I don’t expect to have to second guess every minute of your day. Now, fuck off the lot of you, I want a word with Adam—in private.”

They don’t need to be told a second time and as they gather their stuff, Ella jumps up and I bark, “Miss. Quinn, go and arrange some coffee. Ask one of the assistants outside to show you where to go.”

She nods and looks relieved to be given a hall pass, but just before she leaves, I growl, “Oh, and Miss. Quinn...”

She turns and I hold out my phone.

“You’ll need this for the call I asked you to make. Don’t be long.”

She looks at me in surprise and the smile on her face makes my world stop spinning. She looks so beautiful I almost stop breathing as her eyes sparkle with tears and her chest heaves with emotion. As her fingers close around the phone and brush against mine, she whispers, “Thank you.”

Then she turns and leaves, and I resist every part of me that wants to race after her and pull her close and keep her there forever.

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