CHAPTER 49
Leo
He double-takes when he sees me at my desk. ‘Leonora, what on earth are you doing here?’
I look around, confused. ‘I’m at work, Cece?’
‘But why are you here?’ He emphasizes. ‘I need you there. With him. To make sure it all goes to plan.’ He shakes his head. ‘You know these celebrities, only care about themselves, forget the little man if they’re not constantly reminded. Selfish, utterly selfish!’ He prattles on.
I look away, rolling my eyes. ‘Cece, he knows the drill. I don’t need to be there. He’ll mention us and how great everyone has been supporting him. Done.’
I’m not quite ready to face George yet, or risk Gordon being there. He hasn’t reached out since the party last week; I wouldn’t even know what to say to him. I’m confused, I need some time to figure out what to do next. I want to speak to him so badly, but my pride is bruised.
I’m exhausted too.
Cece ploughs on, his condescending tone grating. ‘You don’t understand how important endorsements like this are to a business, Leonora, how hard I’ve worked on this.’
I snap, the building pressure and annoyance of the past month erupting.
‘How hard you’ve worked on this?!’ I shout, surprising everyone, even myself. ‘You’ve done nothing, Cece, absolutely nothing to help with this!’
There’s silence in the office. I realize I’ve never spoken back like that to a boss before. The team are wide-eyed, glances darting back and forth between the two of us.
‘Leonora.’ He’s quiet, his face almost puce. ‘You do not speak to me like that. Have some respect, young lady!’
‘Young lady!’ I bark out, standing up. ‘I’m thirty years old, Cece, a director in this company and a perfectly capable woman.
’ I grab my bag and start packing my things.
‘I have been carrying you for years. Any success I have found here has absolutely nothing to do with you.’ I fling it over my shoulder and look him straight in the eye. ‘You are a joke.’
‘Leonora, carry on and you’re fired.’ He’s shaking, almost purple now.
‘Too late; I quit.’ I walk straight up to him and he baulks.
‘I cannot stand another moment in this room with you or your incompetence. The only reason this company is a success is due to the people who work for you.’ I look around, catching some eyes of the colleagues I guess I won’t see any more.
‘Remember that, everyone. You are so much better than this.’ I gesture at him before walking out.
‘You’ll regret this,’ he calls out, almost spitting, he’s so angry. ‘You’ll never find anything else!’
I turn at the exit. ‘Cece, unlike you, I don’t have to rely on my parents’ friends to get me a job. I think I’ll be just fine.’
I slam the front door and stride away, my confidence waning with each step, as the reality of what I’ve done hits.
I immediately get a text.
Felicity Mayfair Lifestyle:
Proud of you girl.
He’s in shock.
It’s brilliant.
And another:
Arianna Mayfair Lifestyle:
You’re my idol! Boss bitch!!!
I take a deep breath.
Fuck.
It buzzes again.
Jack Harper:
I have last-minute VIP passes to Wimbledon today from a client.
Come with me?
I’ll get the strawberries . . .
Why not? I’ve got nothing else to do now.