Page 8 of Insufferable Boss

“It’ll still be two against two,” he said.

“Two against two is better than two against one. When they asked for dividend payout increase last time, I gave in because I had too many other more important things to deal with. Things that were generating the money that they were so eager to get a bigger cut out of. The morons.

I didn’t want to fight then, but clearly, this has made them even more greedy.”

“I’m not surprised,” Matthias said, and I nodded in agreement.

“Neither am I, but now that it has come to this, I’m ready to fight this battle, and they’re going to lose. They’ve already lost. And afterwards, I’m going to kick each and every one of them out of the company.”

“Big plans,” Matthias said, but I didn’t respond.

“Lena too?” he asked, and I set my pen down.

“Why do you keep mentioning her?”

“Because she’s not a moron,” he said. “And if you’re buying her company now, then you most definitely won’t be able to kick her out.”

“I might be. I mean, she has her own thing going on, but everyone and everything has a price. I just need to know what hers is.”

“It’s hefty, that’s for sure,” he said. “She refused to come to New York for any reason over the last few months, but as soon as this ten million was offered, she complied.”

“She’s a businesswoman,” I replied, “so I’m not surprised by this. Plus, I don’t think it has to do with just the money.”

“Sure,” Matthias said. “But when she finds out that, despite the bylaws stating that major decisions have to be made with the four of you, you ignored this and gave in to their demands last time without her input, what do you think her reaction will be? Wouldn’t she be offended and become uncooperative?”

“She better not be,” I replied, “because that is completely her fault. Her brother claimed his share as left by her dad in his will, and my sister, of course, jumped at the opportunity to have hers when it was issued. She’s the one that was difficult and stayed away rather than contribute so what was I to do? I’ll be sure to emphasize all of this to her directly and then I’ll see how she responds. She’s a businesswoman herself not an idler, so I guess the outcome will depend on how mature she is.”

Matthias smiled. "I truly wish I could be a fly on the wall during your meeting with her. She's never in the spotlight, but I have heard impressive things about her, and it doesn't hurt as well that she's a stunner."

"If you were on the wall, I'd smash you. Or she would before I even got to you. I'll provide you updates tomorrow."

He laughed while I shook my head.

"Alright," he said and rose to his feet, very clearly receiving the cue to leave and get back to work.

3

Lena

"So..." Diana said on the phone. "What are you wearing for dinner with Mr. Edgy?"

"It's not a date. It’s a dinner,” I groaned as I held up the plain halter-neck black dress I had brought along, as well as the power suit in my hand.

"So, what is it?" she asked. "Isn't it to welcome you to the Big Apple? Or are you two going to be discussing business straight away?"

"Who knows what it's for, but whatever it is, it's not a friendly dinner. More like a meeting between..."

"Enemies?"

"That's extreme. Not getting along with someone doesn't make him my enemy."

"But you have assumed that you won't get along with him, even though you haven't seen him in so long or even interacted with him."

"I've had enough indirect interactions with him over the course of the year to know that I definitely won't get along with him," I replied.

"Really?" she asked dryly, and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, really," I said as I made the final decision to choose the halter-neck dress.

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