Chapter Twenty-One
Fernando frantically opened and closed drawers. Zipped and unzipped pockets on his luggage. Threw back covers on the bed and searched the small closet before marching over to the door adjoining their rooms. “Sophie, do you know where my…” he started, swinging the door open without warning, “Comp- AH!” Standing in front of the now open portal, Sophie met his startled gaze with a glare, a clay-covered mask applicator in her hand. “What is all over your face?” he asked, more than a little surprised.
“You’re back! It’s just a mask. Didn’t Hannah ever wear one when you were growing up?” Sophie asked, her tone shifting from surprise to amusement.
“Um, no. Not to my knowledge, anyway. What’s it for?” he asked, leaning in closer to study the goop drying on her face.
“It has a variety of health benefits: clarifying skin and absorbing toxins, that sort of thing. You do realize this is my bedroom, not my office, and you are infringing on my privacy without so much as a knock, right?”
Fernando’s face registered the realization of his inappropriate actions at the same time. He jumped back and closed the door so fast that it slammed in her face. Sophie’s laughter could be heard through the door. Her smile was so wide it cracked the clay around her mouth.
She opened the door to find him standing on the other side, frozen, and laughed again at his discomfort. Served him right for barging in on her.
“What do you need, Andy?” Sophie asked with a long-suffering sigh.
Turning to look over the thoroughly searched room, which was in total disarray, he said, “I can’t pull up my emails on my phone for some reason and my computer is missing. I was hoping you may have seen it and it wasn’t stolen. I have looked everywhere, and it is definitely not here.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, I have it. It is locked in my safe where you should have placed it before we left this morning,” Sophie commented nonchalantly.
“Oh, thank you. May I have it, please? I need to check in with work and make sure everything is running smoothly.”
Turning back into her bedroom to finish applying the clay mask in the vanity mirror, Sophie replied, “Sorry, I can’t do that. You’re on vacation, and that means no work. How was the tour of the catacombs? Everything you hoped it would be?”
“What? I’m not on vacation. I’m on a scouting trip for inspiration for my new book and to scratch this BBC pact off my to-do list,” Fernando argued, following her into the room, hands on his hips. “And the tour was fine. Actually, it was great. I think I will definitely be using it for a scene in my book. My computer, please. ”
“I’m glad you had fun, and no, you’re not getting your computer back. This is where your family and I disagree with you. Remember when I told you yesterday you needed more balance in your life? Well, your brothers and Hannah agreed, and they told me to take your computer away as soon as we got here. No work for you for the next twenty days.”
Placing the cap back on the jar of clay, Sophie walked into the small bathroom and rinsed the applicator in the sink. Returning to the bedroom, she was prepared for the outburst she knew was coming. Fernando was not going to take this well.
“My family has no right to interfere with my work!” Fernando’s voice was slightly raised, and he immediately checked it. “Listen, I appreciate what you’re doing here, but it is massively overstepping. I agree I need balance and will work on it, but not here. Not now. Where is my computer?”
His voice held a definite command, but Sophie wasn’t budging. She trusted this man with her life and her livelihood. He wasn’t going to fire her, no matter how mad he got. And she had the support of his family, which meant the world to her.
“You have built a strong company. Your staff is loyal and knows how to do their jobs. You are holding onto the reins with a white-knuckled grip, and you need to just let go and let people do their jobs without you looking over the shoulder and sitting in on every meeting. FK Media Group will still be standing when we get back, I promise. This is your chance to see that the company can survive without your fingers in every single pot so you can take more time to take care of yourself,” Sophie explained calmly.
Fernando took a deep breath, trying to calm the maelstrom brewing within him. “I hear what you are saying, but I am saying not now . Return my computer, Sophie. ”
Saddened by his refusal to even consider the idea, she went to her own computer and pulled out a cream envelope of superior quality, which she handed to him.
“We love you, and we are worried about your health long term. Your staff is worried about your health as well. When your vice presidents come to your office and find you dead asleep on your desk at a time you requested they come to see you for a progress briefing, they understand firsthand that you are burning your candle at both ends and the middle.” She knew this would be difficult for him, and compassion reflected in her stormy gray eyes.
“That happened twice!”
“More like twice a month. They stopped coming through your door. They stop by my office, and we check to see if you’re sleeping. If you’re awake, I announce them. If you’re asleep, we let you be, and I reschedule the meeting. They all know how overworked you are, so they take the blame for rescheduling the meeting. Life goes on, but they worry about you, too.”
“The VPs all know that they are supposed to be sending me updates on the various projects while I’m gone. It will look unprofessional if I don’t respond.”
“Actually, Anthony and Gabe wrote a letter to everyone explaining that you would be taking time away and that anything urgent was to be forwarded to them, including any updates they were to send you over the next three weeks. It was signed by all four brothers, so the staff knew it was legit, and I hand-delivered it to all the VPs before we left. No one questioned it. Most, if not all of them, said it was about time you took a vacation.”
“My brother’s had no right to do that!”
“Actually, you own forty-five percent of the company, but your brothers, together, have fifty-five. That is why they all signed it. They make up the board. They said you were taking a vacation, and no one can argue with that.” Sophie could see the shell shock on Fernando’s face and rushed on. “No one is taking your company from you. Read the letter. It will help everything make sense.”