Chapter 11 #2
In my peripheral, Gethin leans forward to intervene.
Before he can stick his oar in, I say, ‘There was a lot to deal with. Time’s short, and I needed to go through everyone’s CVs and last work assessments to find out who I could promote.
You should know all about it, Lucy, since you’re the one who gave me the advice. ’
‘I tried to talk to you, Rhys. Believe me, I tried.’
‘Well, it wasn’t hard enough.’
I’m fucking done with this bullshit. I cross my arms over my chest and turn my entire body away from her. I want nothing more to do with her today.
‘Well’ – Gethin puts his now empty cup on its saucer with a clink – ‘if you two have finished. Lucy, cancel today’s meeting. We need a chat. I’ll speak to you first, Rhys. Lucy, wait outside.’
Fuck’s sake. Of course, I’m the one to get a bollocking first. Everything’s always my damn fault and Princess Lucy can’t do nothing wrong.
I stare at the tiniest chip on his desk while she gathers her things, the click of her heels tracking her movements around the room.
It only takes a minute before the door shuts, and I’m alone in the office with Gethin.
‘You agreed to make her feel welcome.’
Here we go. She’s the one who made the mistake, yet I’m the one getting told off. Like when I was a kid and there was no food in the house, it’s me being kicked.
He continues, ‘Lucy and I made the decision to hold the press conference yesterday morning, and she tried in vain to get hold of you. I’ve seen her messages and her emails, and I believe her.
Things change at the last minute all the time.
You’ve never had a problem with it before.
Adapt quicker, and always have one eye on your messages.
It’s the easiest way for the three of us to communicate. ’
His moustache sits rigid on his upper lip. Yeah, yeah, I’ll add it to the list of people annoyed with me this morning. Tad, Gethin, Lucy, Gethin’s stupid little nose caterpillar. I stare at it, the way its ends curl with every twitch of his lips, making the muscle in my jaw tick.
‘Well, you need to keep me involved with things at the start. It’s like the two of you forgot I work here too.
You’re both happy as fucking Larry making plans without me.
There’s a reason I need to be involved. You saw the bloody letters, and you know the threat Cai’s under.
But no, the two of you get your heads together and never mind Rhys.
He can do what we tell him to do. I’m the head of Cai’s security.
Not only a fucking bodyguard. I’m a vital member of this team too. Stop leaving me out of it.’
‘We discussed the conference at breakfast, which was the whole point of me bringing us together. We’re looking for efficiencies, and you know how Cai feels about unnecessary travel. He’s well into this save-the-planet stuff now. You stormed off before we could discuss it.’
‘Why didn’t you come and get me?’
‘Because you said, and I quote: “Bother me at your own fucking risk.” Lucy came straight to your office once we were done. She volunteered to approach you. She wants to work with you, but you give her the cold shoulder and shut her out. I’m not asking for the two of you to be best mates, but you could at least get on with her for the sake of Cai. ’
It’s all on me. No matter if she doesn’t listen when I ask her to stop pestering me and she breaks my boundaries time and time again.
Only I have to try harder, make more of an effort.
I’m the one that’s been here the longest, the one having the way I work changed all because me and Cai dared to go to a party. How’s that fair?
Why’s it me always getting things wrong?
Can’t look after Tad right. Can’t get on with the PA.
Can’t keep the staff I’ve worked with for the past God knows how many years.
If I’m fucking shit, why hasn’t he fired me already?
Probably hundreds of bodyguards desperate to wriggle their way in here.
Bet he could find someone who’ll take my place and be happy to work with Lucy.
‘It’s all my fault, huh? I’m the only one with a problem?
You could have tried harder to hire someone who isn’t a stuffy know-it-all.
Someone easier to get on with. I mean, how the hell does she get on with a damn rod up her arse?
There’s a million bloody PAs out there, Gethin, and you hired the one who exists only to make my life difficult. I fucking hate her.’
I slam my fist on his desk. No idea when I got to my feet, yet here I am, miles away from my chair.
‘I’m leaving.’
I give him no time to call me back to bollock me more. This is the end of the conversation. He doesn’t stop me when I storm across the office, yank open the door and—
Oh, shit.
Lucy stands there, face pale and eyes watering.
Angry Rhys wants to shout at her, to accuse her of listening in on my telling off so that she can use Gethin’s words in her campaign to get rid of me.
But when I open my mouth, she shrinks away from me.
Her eyes cast downwards, the corridor tiles becoming the most interesting in the world, and all the hot air rushes out of me.
I’m a fucking wanker.
‘Shit. Lucy. I…’
I what? Didn’t mean to be a fucking dick? Didn’t mean to make it fucking personal. Cos I did, right? That’s the only reason those words would come out of my stupid gob.
I take a step towards her, but she spins and rushes away, her footsteps punctuated with muffled sobs.
Fuck.
A hand clamps over my shoulder.
‘I do understand your frustrations,’ Gethin says, ‘and I’m to blame, too, but I don’t see you being nasty about me.
We should have included you in the meeting.
Got you back to the table. I take the responsibility.
I should have tried harder to make sure you knew.
I’ll talk to her, ensure she consults with you on everything from now on.
The three of us will go back to the daily brief.
That way, you won’t get left out of important decisions.
But you have to make more of an effort to get along with her.
You need to keep on top of your messages.
And you must apologise for what you said. Understood?’
I’m the limpest dick in the world, and all I can do is manage a soggy nod in agreement.
Who do I think I am, talking like that about anyone?
If I’d heard someone spouting off about Beth that way, I’d fight them.
Biggest defender of women, aside from the one who’s only tried to do her job.
The stupid thing is, I don’t fucking hate her.
Not really. And there’s no way I’d set out to intentionally hurt her.
Yet, I did.