Page 16 of Insufferable Boss

I shut the door behind me, and soon we were off.

It took a little while, but eventually, I was able to completely settle down, and then I met the driver's gaze.

“Where to, ma’am?” he asked, and I opened my mouth to reply but realized that I had no clue.

“Just drive around,” I replied, feeling quite ashamed.

A few blocks and then back to the hotel for some fresh air.

He gave me a strange look, and then he nodded.

I turned to look out of the window and watched the city. Things were so bright and busy, much more fast-paced than LA, and it made me wonder once again if I was ready to make this new move. Things were about to change all around, and since I had made the physical move here, then I was sure that my heart was fully open toward it. However, from what I had heard at dinner, things could get quite ugly, but I was up to the challenge.

We went around a few more blocks simply because I enjoyed the ride, and then we returned to the hotel.

I was exhausted and itching to go to bed so that the day could start, so I headed in and called it a day.

6

Kane

The next morning, as I headed down to the conference room, I could tell that something was wrong. My secretary, Madison, was unable to meet my gaze and was more nervous than I had ever seen her. When the elevator stopped and she got out on the wrong floor, then got back in with her papers scattering all about, I tried to be patient despite feeling irritated.

“What’s wrong?” I asked and she tried to force a smile, but I wasn’t buying it.

“Madison,” I called, and she winced.

“The meeting is supposed to start in ten minutes, Sir, but only Miss Mercer has arrived.”

I frowned at her words but remained calm.

“Why?” I asked.

“Well, Sarah called in this morning to say she wouldn’t be able to make it and would be out of town till next week, while Dylan, I’m sure, is just running late as usual. No word from him yet if he’ll be there.”

I could understand her nervousness, especially as a surge of annoyance rushed through me. This meeting had been set up a week prior as soon as Lena’s visit to New York had been confirmed. Its main purpose was to discuss the terms, and yet they had chosen to disregard it for whatever reason.

I didn't say a word until I arrived at the meeting room and indeed found that Lena had arrived.

She looked much different from the previous night, now dressed in a striped pantsuit with her hair pulled away from her face.

I gave her a nod in acknowledgment, took my seat, and decided to wait a few more minutes until the clock struck ten. By then, she had perused the document I had sent over to her, so she looked up and met my gaze.

“It seems we are missing a few members,” she said, and for a moment, I was certain that her gaze softened in understanding.

“Let’s proceed without them,” I said.

“Can we?” she replied.

“Yes,” I said. “We will, and the first order of business will be to fire your brother. Do you have any objections to this?”

She stopped then, her eyes widening in shock.

“Um…” She looked around at the secretary taking notes in the corner, who absolutely refused to raise her head.

“Can you do that?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, I can. I’m the CEO, and I maintain the right to employ and discharge employees as I see fit.”