Chapter 10
Hayes~
Walking away from Chamber yesterday had been one of the hardest things that I’d ever had to do, and to say that I hadn’t gotten any sleep last night would be an understatement.
Even though she’d done her best to assure me that she hadn’t been dumping me, knowing that she’d been going home to reach out to her ex-husband for support had been a very bitter pill to swallow.
A very bitter fucking pill.
Nonetheless, after having no choice but to let her handle the situation in a way that suited her best, I had spent most of the night going over all my finances and updating my resumé.
Now, luckily for me, I was a man in my forties, so being the fiscally responsible adult that I was, I could afford to be unemployed for a while before there was a need to panic.
Plus, my resumé and professional reputation were impressive enough that I had bigger concerns than looking for a new job, which was why I was here now.
Like I’d told Chamber yesterday, even if we hadn’t been involved, I had to be able to look at myself in the mirror each morning, and continuing to work for Lyle wouldn’t allow that.
When the door finally opened, Deandra Carlie walked out, and like a woman who brokered million-dollar deals all day long, she smiled confidently as I stood up from the chair, and she immediately stuck her hand out to shake mine as soon as she was close enough.
“Hayes,” she greeted. “It’s good to see you.”
Taking her hand, I said, “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Ms. Carlie. I really appreciate it.”
She waved my appreciation away as soon as I let go of her hand. “Nonsense. I know you well enough to know that you wouldn’t have called for a meeting if it wasn’t important.”
Silently, I followed her into her office, her secretary ignoring us both as she typed away on her keyboard, doing whatever it was that she did.
Now, while I could have gone directly to Lyle’s boss, since I didn’t know the particulars with what was going on, I thought it be best to talk to someone that had nothing to do with Lyle at all.
“Sit down,” Deandra instructed as she went to go sit behind her desk. “Then you can tell me what’s on your mind, Hayes.”
Getting straight to the point, I said, “After this meeting, I’ll be submitting my resignation, effective immediately, because I can no longer work for Lyle Simmons, and...well, to be frank, I don’t want my professional reputation tainted by his operating tactics.”
Deandra’s brows immediately rose high on her forehead. “And what would those operating tactics be?”
“He wants to acquire The Fantasy Factory, and after it’d been made clear that the owner was unwilling to sell or franchise, Lyle began to conspire with a friend of his at the city clerk’s office to file false complaints against the club and/or sabotage the operating permits.”
Her head immediately jerked back in surprise. “And do you have proof of this?”
“The city clerk, Darlene Ruger, made the mistake of telling Chamber McLaurin’s ex-husband of the plan,” I explained. “It’s my understanding that he immediately told his ex-wife of the conversation, and that he also reported the misconduct immediately, though I don’t have those details.”
Eyeing me, she asked, “So, it’s her word against his?”
Looking her dead in her eye, I said, “No, there’s also...Lyle had an open conversation about it in front of an employee, and even though it could be considered hearsay by the time the information reached my ears, I’m prepared to testify on behalf of The Fantasy Factory should things get that far.”
Deandra cocked her head, regarding me in a way that probably made most grown men squirm. “If what you’re saying is true, then we’d have to look through every acquisition that Lyle Simmons has ever been involved with.”
“Or you could just look the other way,” I countered. “This could be a one-off.”
“Considering how stressful this situation must be for you, I’ll ignore that insult,” she replied smoothly. “Can I ask why you didn’t go to Stuart with this? After all, he’s in Lyle’s direct line of contacts.”
Yeah...
“Considering the rumors that are circulating about Lyle’s relationship with Stuart, I thought it best if I came to you. You know, someone without a conflict of interest in this,” I answered honestly and so goddamn uncomfortably.
Those brows of hers rose again. “Sounds like I need to get out of my office more.”
I let out a deep sigh as I ran my hands through my hair. “Look, Ms. Carlie-”
She put her hand up to shut me up, and I quickly closed my mouth. “Hayes, if what you’re telling me is true, then I have an obligation to this company, our partners, and my family to investigate your claims.”
“What about...Stuart?” I asked pointedly. I mean, family was still family.
“If my cousin is having an inappropriate relationship with Lyle Simmons, then that will also be addressed,” she replied confidently. “However, I can assure you that a full investigation will be conducted, Hayes.”
I gave her a terse nod as I thanked her. “Thank you, Ms. Carlie.”
Giving me that look again, she asked, “Are you still insistent on quitting?”
“Full disclosure, I’m dating Chamber McLaurin,” I admitted.
“Still, even if I wasn’t, I just...I can’t continue to work here if nothing comes of the investigation, Ms. Carlie.
Essentially, you’d have to throw Lyle to the wolves quickly and publicly for me to be able to continue to work here, and I’m aware of how much that’d be asking of you. ”
Leaning her arms on her desk, she asked, “Would you consider a paid leave of absence until the investigation is concluded?”
“Why?” I asked her suspiciously. “I’m just an acquisitions manager, Ms. Carlie. I’m not hard to replace, especially with the job market being as horrible as it is right now.”
“Because as you’re unfortunately learning at the moment, integrity is becoming an extinct species, and I can appreciate how difficult it must have been for you to come talk to me. However, you did it anyway, and I like people with guts, Hayes.”
Not caring how it made me sound, I said, “I can have an answer for you by the end of the day, but I can’t make any promises.”
“Fair enough,” she replied easily, but it still didn’t make me feel any better.
*****
Chamber~
If I had any sense, I’d ignore that face, that body, and those damn dimples, then run in the opposite direction as fast as my legs were able to take me.
Hayes Rainier was turning out to be just a little too good to be true, and even though my brain was screaming at me to slow the hell down, the rest of me was already jumping in with both feet.
After our conversation yesterday, Hayes and I had gone our separate ways, and when I’d gotten home, I had called Ben for more details, wanting to make sure that I’d have all that I needed when I called my lawyer.
No matter what happened next, I was not going to let Carlie Incorporated be in control of this possible trainwreck.
I was going to go on the offensive and approach this like they had already made their first move.
Now, while that was still my plan, Hayes was standing in front of me, telling me that he’d be more than happy to accompany me to my attorney’s office, and what in the hell was a girl supposed to do with an offer like that?
Not only had he explained how he’d spoken to Deandra Carlie yesterday, he had also shown up at my house to inform me that he was still willing to quit his job if it meant making me feel better about the situation.
Honestly, where did this man come from?
“Do you want something to drink?” I asked. “Because I need something to drink.”
“It’s only ten am, baby,” he remarked seriously. “Are we talking orange juice here?”
“I’ve also got water, apple juice, milk, and a couple of protein shakes, because I’m in my forties in case you’ve forgotten,” I drawled out, really wishing that hard liquor right now would be acceptable.
“I’ll take some orange juice,” Hayes chuckled. “I can also make some breakfast if you’re up for it.”
“Breakfast is rather ambitious right now,” I sighed tiredly, having gotten no sleep last night.
“How about some toast?” he suggested. “You can’t go wrong with toast.”
“As long as there’s a pound of butter on top, I’m game,” I answered as I opened the fridge to get some orange juice.
“I thought we were watching our cholesterol, what with us being so old and all,” he quipped as he headed towards my pantry for the bread.
“I never said that I was watching my cholesterol,” I pointed out. “I just casually mentioned that I had some protein shakes available for consumption.”
As I poured our glasses, he said, “Fine, but once we hit fifty, it’s kale and butter substitute.”
“It’ll never be butter substitute,” I huffed as I put the orange juice back in the fridge.
When I turned to head back to the kitchen table, Hayes was eyeing me from the counter as the toaster did its thing, and he looked just too comfortable in my home after only one weekend together.
“You know, avoidance isn’t healthy.”
“I’m not avoiding the topic,” I denied. “I’m just...tired, Hayes. I’m just really tired.”
“I get that,” he replied easily. “I didn’t get much sleep last night myself. Still, we have to talk about this, baby. We can’t just...it’s too big to ignore.”
“I’m not ignoring it,” I replied. “I just...I don’t want to be responsible for you losing your job, Hayes. That’s not a decision that I should have any input in. We barely know each other.”
“When I walked into work this morning, I’d been prepared to quit on the spot, but.
..” He let out a heavy sigh, and this really did suck.
“If Lyle is acting on his own, then I feel that Carlie Incorporated has the right to defend itself, and I think that Deandra Carlie will do the right thing. However, there are other jobs out there, Chamber. There’s only one you. ”
There was a reason that compromise existed, and this proved it. “So, how about you continue to work for them until it’s proven or disproven that the entire company was complicit?” I suggested.
Those blue eyes of his narrowed a bit. “How about I take Deandra up on her paid leave-of-absence until the truth comes out?” he countered. “While I still would like to give them the benefit of the doubt, I still want to make it clear whose side I’m on, baby.”
Just then, the bread popped out of the toaster, and I watched as Hayes turned around, then got to preparing my slices with too much butter to be healthy for anyone. It was also hard not to admire a man with integrity, and Hayes Rainier was proving to be a really decent human being.
When he set my toast in front of me, I said, “Deal.”
His brows immediately shot upward. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
He eyed me for a second before saying, “It’s because I put half a stick of butter on your toast, isn’t it?”
My lips twitched as I said, “It didn’t hurt.”
Hayes laughed as he turned to make himself some toast, and even though there was going to be a bit of rough terrain in the near future, I found that I liked his laugh enough to see this through.
Hayes was easy to be around, and that’s what I wanted for myself.
I wanted someone that could ease the tension when I wanted to punch the world in its face.
Turning back around to face me, he said, “We’re also going to have to revisit the topic of your ex-husband.”
“I figured,” I muttered before stuffing my mouth with the warm toast.
“Now, I have no problem with you guys becoming...friends or whatever, but I want it made clear that I’m the man in your life, not him.”
“I didn’t peg you for the possessive type, Mr. Rainier,” I quipped, grinning at him.
“All men are possessive,” he retorted. “Some just more...obvious than others.”
“Ben and I are a done deal, Hayes,” I told him seriously. “Even if we...even if things become more cordial between us, that ship has sailed. In fact, it sunk with a heavy thud.”
“Good,” he snorted before turning back to the sound of his toast hot and ready.
“I do have one very non-negotiable condition to this thing between us,” I said, my nerves fluttering a bit.
“What is it?” he asked as he buttered his toast, using enough butter to never judge me again.
“No less than six months before we meet each other’s children,” I said, and while six months might sound like a long time, it really wasn’t.
Hayes turned to look at me. “Even though our children are adults?”
I nodded. “Their ages don’t make them any less important to me, and I will not introduce them to anyone who I’m not serious about, and we’re not quite that serious, Mr. Rainier.”
“Speak for yourself,” he huffed.
“Hayes, I mean it,” I said. “Six months.”
“Fine,” he replied petulantly. “But I’m not waiting six months to tell you that I love you. I’m saying that shit as soon as I feel it, and I don’t care if you say it back or not.”
Yeah, Hayes Rainier really was turning out to be a good dude.