Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
ANDIE
“ K nock, knock,” Sidni sing-songs as she dances into my office on Monday morning.
“You really should google the purpose of knocking.”
“Oh I have. Riveting stuff! Would you like me to go back and come in again?”
I roll my eyes at her. “Sit down, Sid.”
“You’ll be pleased to know you have no meetings scheduled for this morning. Your calendar is clear until noon.”
My brows furrow. “What’s happening at noon? Is there a lunch meeting I’ve forgotten about?”
“Anne, from HR, would like to see you. She said it would only take a moment.”
It’s probably regarding the teams I’m hoping to put together for the Landmark deal. “Okay, what else?”
“Riley up in Legal says Addison would like you to pop into her office when you’re finished at HR.”
“She probably wants to review the teams with me. Anything else pressing?”
“Hmm, just a few of us wondering about that rock you’ve been wearing on your ring finger.” Sidni cocks an eyebrow. “Is there something you forgot to tell me?”
Chuckling, I twist the ring around my finger. “Nothing of consequence. Just a little game Liam and I have been playing.”
“Must be some game.”
I lift a shoulder in a casual shrug. “It’s Liam. You know how it is.”
Sidni exhales with a laugh. “I know he’s crazy about my boss.”
“Anything else on my agenda today?”
“You’re no fun, you know that, don’t you?”
“Excuse me? I am the epitome of fun,” I say in mock defense.
Giving me an exaggerated nod, Sidni says, “Yes, of course you are. My mistake. Can I get back to my job now?” She rises from her seat and starts for the door.
“Sidni,” I call after her.
“I was so close to a clean escape. Yes, boss?”
“Shut the door, will you, please? It’s time for you and me to have a conversation.”
Sidni has the good sense to look nervous as she closes the door and returns to her seat across from me. “What’s going on?”
I rest back in my seat and tilt my head to one side. “Have you ever heard the story of Dave Anderson and Jim Murphy?”
Narrowing her eyes at me, Sidni says, “One went to work for $1.75 an hour and the other went to work for the railroad company. That story?”
I nod. “That’s the one.”
For the next thirty minutes, Sidni and I discuss her goals with Graham Land Development. The fact that she’s familiar with the story of Anderson and Murphy is impressive and encouraging, because I plan to make good on the promise I made to myself last week. As much as I hate the idea of losing Sidni as my assistant, she is too valuable an asset to remain in her current position. Of course, it’s premature for me to say anything yet because I’m not in a position to make any promises, but I am going to do my best to make sure she knows I will do everything in my power to help her achieve her career goals.
At noon, I stop by the human resource department as instructed. Anne, the head of HR, waves me into her office and gestures for me to have a seat.
“Mr. Graham asked me to have you sign a new contract,” she says without preamble.
“Mr. Graham?”
Anne nods.
“Which Mr. Graham?”
Laughing, Anne says, “ The Mr. Graham.”
My eyes go wide. “As in Leland Graham?”
Again, Anne nods. “As in the current CEO of the company.”
“Okay,” I say leerily. “Was there something amiss in the one I signed at the beginning of the fiscal year?”
“Yes, Mr. Graham asked me to alter some of the wording.” Anne slides a file folder across her desk. “Take a moment to look this over, and if you’re okay with the new wording, sign at the bottom.”
I open the folder and scan the contract. The first thing my eyes catch on is the title: Director of Marketing and Public Relations . The second thing my eyes snag on are the numbers, as in the adjusted, six-digit base salary. After that, everything is a blur. All I can do is stare at the contract and shake my head.
“Mr. Graham approved this?” That might be the lamest question I’ve ever asked someone at this company.
Anne chuckles and dips her chin in a nod. “It was his idea, Andie.” She gestures to the folder. “Go on, there’s more.”
The next few pages of the contract include a signing bonus, a profit-sharing agreement, and provisions for salary adjustments each year for the next five years, based on my performance. It’s a staggering package.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Congratulations, Andie. I take it you find these terms agreeable?”
I shake my head. “Yes. Yes, of course, I do.”
Anne slides a pen to me. “All we need is your signature to make it official. Your new position is effective immediately. It will take a couple days for us to prepare your new office, so if you’re okay with it, we’d like for you to stay where you are until then. Wiley cleared his things out this morning, and we’ve hired someone to clean it. In the meantime, feel free to look it over and let the operations manager know if there’s anything you would like for him to order for you.”
“This is for real?” I whisper, more to myself than to Anne, but she hears the words and smiles.
“As soon as you sign on the dotted line, it is.”
I pick up the pen and am just about to sign when a thought occurs to me. “There’s one thing I’d like to request before I sign.”
Anne’s eyebrows raise. “What would that be?”
“I’d like to promote Sidni to assistant director.”
Shaking her head, Anne sits back in her chair and grins. “Mr. Graham, excuse me, Mr. Liam Graham, thought you might make such a request.”
“Did he?”
She slides a second folder in my direction. “Go ahead, take a look. You can make whatever changes you’d like as far as the job description goes. And we’ve already completed personnel requisitions for a new assistant for Sidni. You can also begin interviewing potential team members.”
“This is great news! Thank you, Anne.”
“Expect some issues during the transition, but once things level out, you should have a sound support team working with you.”
I grin, and then I put pen to paper and sign my new contract.
“You knew!” I say when Liam comes over for dinner. “All weekend you knew what was going to transpire today.”
“It’s my business to know these things,” Liam says, as he wraps his arms around me. “You’ve earned it, Andie.”
I nod, but one thought nags at me.
“What’s that look for?” Liam asks. “I thought you’d be over the moon about this.”
My eyes widen. “I am. Truly. It’s a great contract.”
“So, what’s the reason for those frown lines?” He presses his thumb to the space between my eyebrows.
“I worry people will wonder if I got the promotion because of my relationship with you.”
“Let them wonder, Andie. Your track record speaks for itself, and it won’t be long before people recognize how talented you are.”
That’s easy for Liam to say, he’s a man. The rumor mill never hints at a man sleeping his way to a promotion, but I’ve known several women who have had to battle this stereotype.
Liam’s phone rings, and his eyes widen at the caller ID. “It’s the escrow officer handling the purchase of my house.”
“This is Liam,” he says as he walks into the living room to take the call.
It’s several minutes before he returns with a confused expression on his face. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
Slowly shaking his head, he says, “Nothing. At least, I think nothing. The escrow officer just let me know the remainder of the funds have been deposited into the escrow account. She said the underwriters gave final loan approval this afternoon. ”
“You sound shocked by that.”
He gives me an exaggerated single nod. “I am.”
“I’m a little lost here. You weren’t expecting the funds to be deposited yet?”
Inhaling a long breath, Liam says, “I wasn’t expecting them at all.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you sometimes speak in circles?”
“Frequently.” He stares at his phone momentarily before clicking on an app. A few taps later, he releases a low, drawn-out whistle. Lifting a finger, he says, “I need to call Grams.”
Grams must answer on the first ring. “Grams, what did you do?”
I can hear a muffled version of her on the other end but not well enough to decipher her words.
“An equal amount showed up in my personal account. That’s a mistake, right?”
Liam runs his hand through his hair, tugging on the ends. “That’s way more than it’s supposed to be.”
He makes eye contact with me, his hand still tugging at his hair. “She’s right here.”
“She wants to talk to you,” he says, handing me his phone.
Reluctantly, I lift the phone to my ear. “Hey Grams, how are you?”
“Andie, dear, Liam’s had a little shock.”
“I can see that. Is everything okay? Was there some mistake with his bank account?”
Grams laughs. “Lord, no! The board of directors signed off on his signing bonus last week.”
“But doesn’t he actually have to sign something to qualify?”
“He’ll receive another payout when he officially takes over as CEO.” My gaze flashes to Liam’s.
“What if it’s not what he wants?”
“The funds deposited into escrow and those deposited to his personal account are gifts made without any contingencies. The company owes him for past profit-sharing benefits the board neglected to pay him. A simple oversight, which has now been rectified. If and when Liam takes over as CEO, he’ll receive a signing bonus.”
“Why are you telling me this instead of Liam?”
“Because I knew this would take him a minute to process, and sorry, honey, but I’d rather you be the one to explain it to him since he’ll need to have it repeated. I don’t have the mental bandwidth to have this conversation more than once.”
I chuckle despite myself. “I’ll be sure to pass along the information, you’re not fooling me with that bandwidth comment. Nice try, though.”
“As his fiancé, you have a right to know.”
“About that–”
“You didn’t say no, did you? Because if you did, then you’ll have to erase everything I just told you from your memory.”
“That’s not exactly it, either.”
“He did ask you to marry him, didn’t he?”
“Not in so many words.”
There’s a long silence followed by a very non-silent sigh. “Lord have mercy, I’m too old for this. Andie, you know I love that boy, right?”
“Of course, you do.”
“But sometimes he’s about as sharp in the noggin as a bowling ball.”
Liam’s head snaps up when I suddenly burst out laughing. He narrows his eyes at me and takes his phone away from me.
“You two done discussing my lack of smarts, Grams?” Liam says into the phone.
Grams says something on the other end.
“I haven’t had a chance–” He pauses. “I did–” Another pause. “She does, but–”
Liam grins. “She said she never plans to take it off. ”
Liam reaches an arm up and I slide into his one-arm embrace. “She loves you too, Grams.”
Grams says something else, and Liam squeezes my shoulder. “I will. And Grams? Thank you.”
Liam pockets his phone and wraps his other arm around me.
“So, does this mean what I think it means?” I ask hopefully.
He cocks an eyebrow in question. “You tell me. What do you think it means?”
“You can finally close on your house?”
Liam nods. “Evidently, escrow has more than enough in the account. They’re ready to close as soon as they receive loan docs from the lender.”
“Congratulations! That’s huge!” I lift onto my tiptoes and kiss his cheek.
Liam tightens his hold and lifts me off the ground. “Grams says to ask you about the surprise funds.”
While Liam and I enjoy dinner, I relate (almost) everything Grams said, omitting the parts about the status of our almost engagement.
“I don’t know how she managed to pull that off. The woman’s sneaky.”
“For what it’s worth, it all sounded legit, Liam.”
Liam shakes his head. “That’s how she reels you in, Andie. And she somehow always manages to appear innocent.” He gazes off to the side for a moment, appearing to puzzle something out in his mind.
Unlocking his phone, he opens the text message app and sets the phone between us so I can see.
Liam: Did you receive a profit-sharing package when you signed on as CFO?
Layton: Hello to you, too.
Liam: Answer the question.
Liam: Please
Layton: Why?
Liam: And a signing bonus?
Layton: Why?
Liam groans. “Why can’t he just answer the question? Infuriating idiot.”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you sound like you’re attacking him?”
“I’m not–”
I raise an eyebrow in challenge.
“Fine. How should I have asked him?”
I pick up Liam’s phone and shoot a message to Layton.
Liam: Hey Layton, it’s Andie. Is it customary for new VPs to receive a profit-sharing benefit upon signing their contract?
Layton: Hey gorgeous.
Layton: Yes. The benefit kicks in after the first year as VP.
Liam: And this is in addition to any signing bonus?
Layton: Yes, ma’am.
Layton: Liam’s surprised by this?
Liam: It appears so.
Layton: Maybe he should actually read contracts before he signs them.
Liam: Where’s the fun in that?
Layton: Has the fool proposed to you yet?
Liam: Not in so many words.
Layton: My offer stands. Layton follows this with several laughing emojis.
Liam picks up his phone and shoots off a final text he doesn’t let me see. I imagine it’s something rude in response to Layton’s teasing. These two brothers are more alike than either cares or dares to admit.
“Feel better now?” I ask. “Knowing Grams isn’t fibbing?”
Liam still looks skeptical. “I don’t trust either of those two as far as I can throw them–and I’m pretty strong.” He flexes his biceps to prove his point, which he doesn’t need to do because I am well aware of Liam’s muscles. “The two of them have been in cahoots more than once. In fact–” Liam pauses for a moment. “Hmm.”
“What?”
“Grams is always telling me that I remind her of my grandpa.”
I nod. “She’s told me that a few times as well.”
“Well, it just occurred to me that Layton and Grams are more alike than I realized.”
I tilt my head in an understanding side nod. “That’s…slightly terrifying.”
Liam laughs. “Oh my gosh! I can’t believe I’ve never seen the similarities before.”
“It explains so much. ”
We enjoy the remainder of the evening, celebrating my promotion and Liam’s escrow being ready to close.
“I’ll finally have my own place,” Liam grins. “Alex and Bree will be thrilled.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Of course, they will. Because soon, they’ll be able to take afternoon naps anywhere and anytime they want.” My expression falls. “Do you think we should stop teasing Alex about taking mid-afternoon naps?”
Liam shrugs his shoulders. “Perhaps, but–” He considers the question for a moment. “Nah.”
Three days later, Liam and I do the final walk-through of his new house, and Liam signs the closing docs.
By Friday afternoon, Liam has received the keys to his first home. And I’ve moved into my new office–one with a giant, legit window that looks out at the rolling foothills of Eugene.
I never knew so much could change in the span of one week.