9. Gus
9
GUS
“Your brothers are right,” Carl Roberts, head of HR says, laughing. “Not something you usually want to hear me say, but?—”
“Today’s the exception, Carl,” I cut him off, feeling like I could do a little dance in my chair. Hell, with this news, I could do cartwheels down the damn hallway. “I’ll deny it if you ever tell them.”
“Confidential HR conversation.”
I sit back in my chair, letting out a long, heavy exhale. One that I feel like I’ve been holding on to since I saw Margeaux again. Everything inside me relaxes, both my body and mind finally at ease. Well, maybe not. Because there’s a part of me that’s still very worked up over that kiss. Just the memory of it makes my dick twitch, the blood flowing straight to my groin. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was a teenager again with how easily I’m ready to go at simply the thought of Margeaux.
Of her, and all the things I want to do to her. But mostly just her.
“So that’s that then. ”
“Well, there are stipulations,” Carl says. “Everyone must be of age and everything must be consensual.”
Damnit, Carl…
I shake my head. I realize that as the head of human resources, he has to legally make sure that’s covered. That he’d be remiss in not mentioning it. Still, if there is anyone who knows that I wouldn’t cross that line, it’s Carl. After all, he only spent half of high school making fun of me after he found out that I had asked Carly for permission before I kissed her the first time. Hell, I’m halfway surprised he’s not poking at me about it now.
Wonder what he’d say if he knew that I didn’t bother asking Margeaux…
“We’re both legal, and I promise, it’s consensual,” I reply, trying to keep the snark out of my voice.
“Figured. Then as long as she’s not directly reporting to you, and you officially declare it, then everything’s on the up-and-up. This you declaring it?”
A quick succession of knocks on my door steals my attention before I can answer. Looking up, I see my father poking his head in my office, and I wave him in.
Shit, did we have a meeting that I forgot about?
I glance down at the calendar built into my email and don’t see anything, which is both a relief and a concern. Because if Auggie is showing up unannounced, well…that could go a lot of ways.
“Carl, let me call you back. Auggie just walked in.”
I hang up before he replies, giving my father my full attention. His brow is furrowed and I can tell that whatever this is about, it isn’t good. Shit.
“How worried do I need to be?” I ask.
Instead of answering, he lowers himself into one of the large, leather guest chairs across from my desk. Taking a moment, he nods .
“It’s not world ending,” he says, his careful, slow drawl making it seem as if he chooses each one of his words purposefully. “But it’s not good.”
Okay…
I nod, waiting for him to continue. Because honestly, I don’t know how to respond to that.
“It’s Percy.” My father pauses and my heart lurches. Oh fuck. What happened? “His mama.”
That fucker…
I know better than to curse my father out, even in my head, but that was dirty. The slight, almost imperceptible uptick in the corner of his mouth lets me know that he knows it too.
“She doesn’t have much time left. Carly called this morning and said she’s taken a turn, so he went home to grab Linda and they are on their way to Mobile now.”
My stomach sinks. Old Mrs. Adams was a hell of a woman, full of life and wisdom. Carly had talked about her so much before she visited the first Christmas that I felt like I already knew the woman before she arrived. That didn’t stop me from tripping over my own feet when we were introduced, making a complete fool of myself. I know how excited Carly was when she was able to find a job close to her grandmother in Mobile a few years ago.
“What can we do?” I ask.
“Not much at the moment. Once we have more info, I’ll have Tess send some meals or something. But I wanted you to know in case you wanted to reach out to Carly.”
“Thanks. I’ll text her this afternoon.” It’s been awhile since I spoke to my high school girlfriend, other than the requisite polite catch-up if we run into each other over the holiday season. But I suppose this is the kind of situation that requires at least an expression of condolences .
“There’s also the business of the legal department while he’s gone.”
Auggie sits back in the chair, crossing his legs like he’s asking what’s for dinner. His nonchalance is unsettling, even more so than the news of Percy’s mother’s impending death. Paired with a statement I don’t quite understand, I can’t help but feel like this conversation just took an ominous turn.
“What do you mean?”
“Someone needs to head it up,” he answers, as if that was obvious.
“How long will Percy be gone?”
I’m not trying to rush the man back. He should take all the time he needs. But certainly he won’t be gone long enough that we need to find someone else to run his department. Right?
“Depends on how long she lasts,” Auggie continues, his words still slow and purposeful. “Then however long it takes to get her affairs in order. I don’t know what is in place. Knowing Percy, I would imagine that things are probably pretty neat and tidy, but death always complicates things. You remember how it was with your grandfather.”
I do. Hayes Industries has been in our family literally since the Civil War, handed down through the generations. With an airtight legal foundation. The plan for Auggie to take over the company was put in place the day he was born. Much like me, but by the time my grandfather was ready to retire, Auggie’d been tapped and trained, prepared to step into the role he was born for. Still, when my grandfather unexpectedly died six months later, the transfer of everything Hayes was a major undertaking.
“I would expect at least a month, if not two,” Auggie continues.
What? !
“Okay…” I manage to keep my composure outwardly, but only barely. And truthfully, I don’t think my old man is fooled at all.
“So I need you to oversee it.”
“Me? Why me?”
I lurch forward, my gut hitting my desk, knocking the wind out of me a bit. So much for maintaining my composure. But there is no way I heard him correctly.
“You’re executive vice president, Gus.”
“But I’m not a lawyer.”
“You’re my number two.”
So?!
I know nothing about the legal side of things. All I know is when I have to consult the legal team. Which is usually enough. Because that’s why corporations have legal teams, so that their executives don’t have to know these things themselves. Just when to consult the actual lawyers.
“Isn’t there someone in legal who, you know, actually knows legal stuff?”
My heart jackhammers, the idea of having to take on the legal department scaring the shit out of me. Legal is scary stuff. Because that’s an area you don’t want to get wrong. Not to mention the workload. I have enough going on with Guns and Ammo and the extras from being Auggie’s number two. Add in this? Fuck…
Then there’s Margeaux. So much for having time for?—
Margeaux.
Margeaux works in legal.
Fuuuuuuck…
“Not anyone who knows Hayes. Henry Nedens is a half step away from retiring and has no interest in leading anything, even temporarily. He’s made that very clear. Micky Sliger is the one Percy’s got his eye on for the future, and he can help with the legal aspect of things, but he’s not ready to fully take on anything. Not quite yet. So I need you, my number two, to make sure that Hayes is being…”
My father’s words fade into the background, until they’re nothing more than noise. A lot like the teacher from those old Charlie Brown cartoons. Because all I can think about is the gorgeous woman I spent Friday night with. The one whose laughter fills my daydreams, and whose kiss made me come to life. The one who has starred in every fantasy since the second I met her.
And that’s all it’s going to continue to be. Fantasies. More of me jerking off to thoughts of her in the shower like some thirteen-year-old kid. Fuck.
“So we’re agreed?” Auggie asks, his question cutting through my fog.
“Huh?” I shake my head, refocusing. “Yeah, sure.”
He stands, eyes trained on me, deciding whether or not he believes me. Nodding curtly, he turns to go, then stops short of the door.
“I know I’m asking a lot, son. But Hayes is going to be yours. Great responsibility includes sacrifice.”
I look up at my father and sigh. Working with family can be weird, having to straddle the line of both family and coworker. One thing this man does well is know where that line is. When he’s the boss, he’s the boss. When he’s Dad, he’s Dad.
Right now, staring back at me from my office door, however, he’s both.
“The line is with great power comes great responsibility, Dad,” I remind him.
He shrugs. “Heard it both ways. Regardless, I sit at the same Sunday dinner and Munch table as you do. And I do believe I told you that was a three in that photo to begin with.” He levels me with a look, wordlessly calling me out. “It’s only temporary. See you at Munch.”
It’s only temporary.
Right…