Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I’m sorry,” Lianna said before Konni could speak. “You’re right. I overstepped, and I shouldn’t have. I joined Steele because I believed in your vision then and still do now. Forgive me?”
Every word rang with humility and sincerity, which was awkward to witness as I stepped off the elevator behind Konni.
“Let’s forget it and move on,” he said. “I’ve made my share of mistakes today as well.”
I knew he was talking about me earlier today, but in reality, he hadn’t made the mistakes. I had.
Lianna’s gaze flicked my direction, and I saw a hint of suspicious curiosity there.
“Get the marketing department leads together,” Konni said to her. “I want a meeting in ten minutes. Everyone needs to be there. No exceptions.”
“Were there problems like I thought?” she asked.
“Some.”
She looked at me again as if searching for answers as he started for his office. I shrugged behind his back and hurried after him.
Edi stood when he saw us coming.
“How did it go?” he asked Konni.
“There are some issues we need to address. I’m meeting with the marketing department in ten minutes. Get the blueprints ready and the latest marketing plan.”
Edi nodded. I set down my purse and focused on watching what he did for the next few minutes.
Although Edi, Bomir, and Marius all shared the same titles, Edi was definitely the head of our secretariat.
He delegated, coordinated, and calmed down Bomir, who was getting frazzled when he couldn’t find the latest marketing plan.
“Here,” I said. “Let me. I remember the way they organize them.”
I pulled up the drive and found the file. Edi saved everything to his laptop and was ready when Konni walked out of his office again.
Edi and I followed while Bomir and Marius stayed behind.
The marketing leads were already waiting in the executive meeting room when we arrived. Lianna had already claimed the chair next to Konni’s, and I wondered if she would regret her choice by the end of the meeting.
Edi connected the laptop and set it in front of Konni. Then we both stood behind him, waiting. Listening.
“Ms. Stonestock brought some concerns regarding the Southside build to my attention this morning.” He looked at Lianna and indicated she should voice them.
“Our client is looking to recreate downtown in the build, but the ceiling heights are lacking, as well as the square footage for most of the retail and residential space. We either need to adjust the building plan, which will cost our client significantly more, or the client’s risk of losing potential lessees increases. ”
Konni’s gaze swept over everyone. “Asking for more money to adjust the build is out of the question. We designed the build. The client approved it, trusting our expertise and vision. Now, does anyone here have any solutions?”
Everyone was quiet and starting to look nervous.
Konni looked at Lianna expectantly. She didn’t look nervous, though. She looked vindicated.
“This is why I wanted to meet with you this morning,” she said. “The client was specific about recreating the downtown feel. Without those elements, it won’t be the same.”
“Our client wants to recreate downtown’s energy and business. They’re not looking for a carbon copy.” He turned to look at me. “Do you have an idea, Ms. Elmantas?”
Me? Was he trying to paint a target on my back again?
I realized it didn’t matter if I spoke or not. The target was already there.
Besides, ruffling Lianna’s feathers was entertaining.
I repeated my thoughts from earlier, and the room remained quiet when I finished speaking. Lianna’s face slowly turned a lovely shade of red, though.
“This is why Steele welcomes new talent,” Konni said. “It may take a while to train them, and there may be mistakes along the way, but we shouldn’t give up on them. Because new talent brings new ideas that seasoned talent needs.”
He pulled up the blueprints and started talking through my idea and comparing it to their existing marketing plan, both showing how what they had would work with the new concept and encouraging changes to accommodate where it wouldn’t.
“I want an adapted marketing plan on my desk by the end of next week. Be creative. If you need inspiration, ask Ms. Elmantas.”
He stood. Edi went to grab the laptop. I didn’t wait for him but followed Konni out.
Bomir and Marius looked up at our approach and watched me walk into Konni’s office behind him and close the door.
“Do you want everyone to hate me?” I demanded angrily.
Konni surprised the hell out of me by turning suddenly. I stumbled back a step as he swiftly closed the distance between us and found myself pinned between him and the door as he rumbled softly and rubbed his cheek against the top of my head.
“Get off me,” I said, pushing at his chest.
“Shh.” His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer and preventing me from pushing at him.
“I’m thinking about biting you,” I warned.
The rumbling increased.
“Can you at least tell me what this is?”
“Soothing,” he said, his voice rough.
“Well, it’s not working. I’m feeling more annoyed than soothed.”
“For me.”
I stopped struggling and frowned.
“Why do you need to be soothed? Did your boss single you out, then passively aggressively challenge your old team, while putting you on a pedestal everyone is going to want to knock you off of?”
The rumbling increased, and he dipped his head lower to rub his cheek against mine. His stubble rasped against my skin, and I liked it a little too much, along with his pheromone-laced scent.
“We’re at work,” I said. “You have two seconds to let go of me, or I’m going to knee you again.”
“Knee me.”
I grabbed his hair and pulled hard instead. His head moved away from mine, and our gazes met.
Why did his sad pout melt me a little?
“Talk to me, and I might be nicer,” I said less angrily. “What’s going on?”
“It’s my molt. It’s getting closer, and being around you is…” he sighed, reached up to untangle my hold on his hair, and kissed my hand. “I like having you this close. Seeing you smile. Hearing you laugh. Smelling you. I want more of all of it.”
The vulnerability in his gaze had me leaning in.
The rumbling started up again. I felt like doing the same—until the door handle behind me jostled, and I was pushed into Konni forcefully by an inch.
Eyes wide, I stared at him in a panic.
He growled and slammed his hand against the door, closing it.
Outside, I heard the murmur of voices, but nothing distinct.
“I told you,” I hissed. “Keep that door closed.”
I slid out from under his arms, then hurried to his desk, where I grabbed a notepad before planting my ass in the chair across from his.
When I looked back at him, he was grinning like an idiot.
“I will quit if I have to,” I warned.
He sobered and yanked the door open.
Lianna and Edi stood outside of it, and both looked at Konni in shock. Whether from his abrupt presence in front of them or due to his hair standing up from where I’d pulled it, I couldn’t be sure.
Lianna’s gaze shifted to me, and I stood.
“I’ll come back later for the rest of the notes,” I said, already moving toward the door.
“No,” Konni said, stopping me. “What do you want, Lianna?”
“I want to talk.”
They stared at one another.
I glanced from them to Edi and pleaded for help with my eyes. He cleared his throat and looked at Konni.
“If I could borrow Sophia for a few minutes to go over next week’s schedule…”
Konni sighed. “Fine. We’ll pick up where we left off after this.”
We wouldn’t, but I didn’t say that. Instead, I scooted around Lianna and escaped.
The door closed, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Edi.”
“Anytime. Is there any follow-up from the marketing meeting?”
“I don’t think so. But if you can think of any work that will keep me away from my desk for the rest of the afternoon, I’d be grateful.”
Edi was the best at what he did. He delegated to Bomir and Marius and whisked me off to other departments to coordinate the information for next week's meeting.
I didn’t return to my desk until ten minutes before it was time to go.
“If you want to leave early, you can,” Edi said. “You came in early.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed my purse and headed out.
I called Uncle Jay on the way home just to check in.
My replacement was working out well, including keeping up with the drink posts.
Business was a little better lately, proving the posts were attracting more people, along with the mystery-shot pyramid, which was being used as a drinking game for groups.
“When are you coming back?” he asked.
“Probably not for a while. I seem to be making more enemies than friends, and I’d like to keep Lunar as my fallback if I have to quit. That means not bringing my drama to your door before then.”
“If it’s that bad, you should quit anyway. Become my business partner.”
“That’s sweet, but Lunar is yours. I’ll build something of my own like Mom did, but better.”
“I know you will, Sophie-girl. I should go. New guy is still learning the setup and prep.”
I was still thinking about the mess at work when I walked into the house thirty minutes later.
“That’s not a happy face,” Mom said.
“Long day. How about you?”
“A good one. I got a call back from one of my past coworkers and have lunch planned for tomorrow to catch up.”
“That’s good news.” I bent to untie my sneakers and wrinkled my nose at the thought of my abandoned shoes. “We might have company tonight.”
“Oh? Who?”
“Either Mr. Steele or his driver. We went to a construction site this morning, and I forgot my shoes in his car.”
She got up and looked at the ones I was taking off.
“Where did those come from?”
“His trunk.”
“He just happened to have brand new shoes your size in his trunk?”
“I’m trying not to think about that.”
“You should, since he just pulled into the driveway.”
I groaned. “I left ten minutes early. How is he just minutes behind me?”
She grinned and moved to open the door before he even reached it.
“Hello, Mr. Steele.”