Chapter Ten
Chase
I left the office early in the afternoon, using the management elevator. Hannah was still with Magda. It took all my willpower not to go into that office again. Staying away from Hannah was taking far more self-control than I thought.
I got into the elevator with Cyrus.
“Done for the day?” he asked in a disapproving tone.
“Yes. You?”
“Nah, I’m only going out for a smoke and then back up. Still got meetings.”
He was a cantankerous old bastard, but he was an asset.
I shook my head. “You need to relax from time to time, Cyrus.”
“I do. I play golf every weekend with my buddies from Farley I loved that little guy.
Jeremy: THANK you, Uncle Chase. I’ve been playing nonstop today.
Chase: You’re welcome. Don’t forget to study too, ok? Don’t want your dad to get upset with me.
Jeremy: thumbs-up emoji
I'd also missed a call from Duncan, so I called him back, pouring myself a second scotch.
"Hey," he said. "Got a few minutes?"
"Yes."
"I need to run a few things by you."
"Sorry I didn't answer before. I was talking to Hannah."
"Why?" He didn't sound pleased.
"She said she's taking the job."
"Listen, I know you two have history, but she's very smart, and she’d be a real asset. Maybe in time she could even become a managing partner."
"I thought about that too," I admitted.
"Okay, good. So don't mess it up, okay?"
"What were you calling about? Jeremy’s game?"
“No, actually, although I’m still treading a fine line with how much computer time he’s allowed. Everyone’s already on my case for getting him a phone, but I want him to be able to contact me at all times. And it’s not a smartphone. But that’s not why I called.”
“Then why?”
I needed him to get back on track. The more he warned me off, the more I wanted Hannah. I was like a bull with a red flag. Why couldn't I get myself together?
"We need to cut loose the partnership with Cloudport. We’ve given them enough chances.”
They were an external company focused on data analysis, and they were falling short.
"I agree," I said, immediately getting my mind into business mode.
"All right, so are we on the same page on that?"
"Yes. And I can do the honors.”
“Good. Because I was counting on you."
Over the years, I'd played the bad cop in these kinds of situations. Whenever we needed to end a partnership, I was the one who announced it. I never had a problem cutting ties.
So why couldn't I do the same with Hannah?