Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Paige
Earlier this morning, Penelope and I gave our presentation, alongside HR from our office, to the team about the new code of conduct.
Judging by the low-level murmur before we started the meeting, a lot of the team had already caught wind of the incoming changes, and the continued glances and side conversations that went on during the slideshow were hard to read with any certainty.
While I’m sure the changes are necessary—and Penelope has agreed with me—I’m aware of how difficult change can be to accept.
So, I’m not completely surprised when Jack shows up at my door after lunch.
He raps his knuckles on the doorframe before sauntering in. Instead of sitting down, he peruses the photos of my family that sit on top of the lone filing cabinet. I set my phone in my lap in case I need it.
“Can I help you?” I ask.
“This your boy?” He points to a photo of Joey from Chloe’s birthday party where he’s covered in cake.
“Yes.”
“Where’s his dad?”
“Not in the picture.”
“Makes sense.” He gives a nod before spinning on his heel to face me. “Everyone at the office reckons this new code of conduct is aimed at me. That true?”
“It’s aimed at the general work culture. There were already policies and procedures in place that weren’t being followed, relationships that had become skewed without clear guidance. The new code of conduct makes things neat and tidy.”
“Are all Americans like you, or has Joey’s dad had a lucky break?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say, a bit distracted as I type a message to Penelope under my desk without breaking eye contact with him. The door to my office is still open, and Maryam is just outside it, but this conversation is taking an ugly turn. Even uglier than normal for Jack.
“I imagine that’s true. You and I—we don’t speak the same language.” He sighs as though I’m the problem. “You’ve got no idea how to foster relationships with people. There’s a reason why so many of our coworkers are my mates and not yours.”
The biggest reasons would be that I’m the boss and that he’s been here twenty years. Maybe I’m not even the type to inspire a passionate advocate or a loyal following, but I’m very good at my job, which is a much easier thing to measure—promotions, raises, pats on the back.
“Jack, you were giving contracts to companies that didn’t have the best prices.
I can only assume that was because you’d developed relationships with people in those companies that didn’t benefit our company, or maybe you were getting kickbacks.
I didn’t call you on your lack of due diligence after our first conversation because you followed procedure and got more quotes—and the prices—that we needed to stay on budget. ”
“Your code of conduct makes it impossible to keep good relationships with suppliers.”
“No, it doesn’t. It makes the people in our company who are buying from suppliers act in our best interests. It means no more side deals, tit-for-tat negotiations, or other avenues that lead to short-term gains and long-term losses.”
“I’m not signing it,” he says as Penelope arrives at the door.
“Everything all right in here?” Penelope asks.
“Jack was explaining that he’s not going to sign the new code of conduct.”
“It’s bad for the company.” He half turns so he can look between me and Penelope. “Honestly, she’s bad for the company.” He tips his head in my direction. “Why the company hired an American for a job a Brit could do, I’ll never understand.”
“At the global headquarters, we decided this office needed an outsider’s perspective,” Penelope says with ease.
“And we’ve been very happy with the clear-eyed take Paige has had on everything that’s been going on in this office.
Sometimes we get so firmly entrenched in routine that we don’t notice that old habits no longer benefit us. ”
“Sounds like I’m an old habit,” Jack says.
“We’re in the midst of great changes, Jack. If you’re not able to adapt to those, then I’d say we’ve come to the end of our road,” Penelope says.
“You’re sacking me?”
“As we explained in the meeting,” I say, stepping in again, “any employee who wishes to remain with the company in their current role has to sign the code of conduct. It’s in line with up-to-date government regulations, policies other companies also follow, or global human rights standards.
” And I know that because I spent months researching all of it to ensure Penelope would take me seriously when I went to her with suggestions.
“Suppose you got what you wanted in the end,” he sneers.
“I never wanted you to quit or get fired. I wanted you to do your job.”
“Bloody high-maintenance women.” He throws up his hands and rolls his eyes.
Maryam steps to the entrance of my office and glances between the three of us. “Should I call security?”
“Please,” Penelope says. “Jack’s unwilling to sign the new code of conduct, and I suspect everything he’s said to Paige today goes against the behavior section.”
“Fuck you, Penelope,” Jack says, and then he looks at me. “And fuck you and your American ways too. We were doing bloody well until you got here.”
“You probably were,” I say, “but that’s exactly your problem, Jack. The only person you ever think about is yourself. Maybe you believe the people out there are your friends, but I think they’re intimidated by you and, frankly, the office will be better off without your negative attitude.”
Two security guards enter my office. Jack throws up his hands and storms out, and the two security guards follow.
“I’m going to make sure he leaves the building, but then I’ll be back for a quick chat, if that’s okay?” Penelope says.
“Yeah,” I say, a little breathless by the confrontation.
On the outside, I’m sure I seemed calm and reasonable, but inside I was glad for Penelope’s support and the presence of the security guards.
Jack’s bark has always been loud, but I couldn’t guarantee, when pushed, that he wouldn’t have some bite in him too.
While I wait, my mind wanders to Ash and his complicated relationship with Imogen.
They aren’t sharing custody of Chloe, but the last couple of Sundays, she’s been at her parents’ place when Ash has dropped her off.
They’re talking. I’ve seen his phone light up with text messages from her, and while he’s never in a hurry to answer them, each one feels like a knife to my heart.
On top of that, he didn’t directly answer my question about what he’d do if she wanted him back.
His sense that it was ‘unlikely’ wasn’t exactly comforting.
Having felt the full force of Ash’s commitment, I can’t imagine any woman giving that up once they’re in their right mind.
It was pretty clear from what Ash told me that Imogen wasn’t in her right mind at all when she left.
If she is now, all bets are off, as far as I’m concerned.
She could be playing the long game with him, waiting for me to leave so she can sweep back in.
Penelope appears at my door again, and she gives me a weak smile. “Hopefully, that’s the worst one.”
I cross my fingers and hold them up. “He does have some followers in the company, but given how they’ve behaved when he’s had days off, we’ll be all right. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Your contract, if his behavior didn’t scare you off.”
“It hasn’t so far,” I say with a smile. “And it doesn’t seem like it’ll be an issue anymore.”
“At this point, we’ll definitely have you until the end of April.”
That’s another month. At least four more weeks.
Ash said he’d work for me until this project was done, but I haven’t mentioned the other offer that might arrive.
I hate the idea of him being with me when he might prefer to be somewhere else, and he’s so loyal that I worry he’d stay with me for the wrong reasons.
“We’ve been chatting to the Michigan branch.” She purses her lips. “Do you have a preference on location? You weren’t sure last time we spoke.”
The temptation to say I want to stay runs through me like a wildfire.
Things between me and Ash have been better than I expected since Imogen returned, but I’m not convinced he won’t go back to her or that a part of him isn’t torn.
He’s exceptional at forgiveness, and she is the mother of his child.
Ten years of history is a lot to compete with.
The only people I have ten years of history with are family members, and I know how I feel about all of them—even Gwen.
“No preference,” I say. “Career advancement and salary will be at the top of my mind. Joey and I will be happy in either place.”
“Oh, wonderful.” She smiles. “You’ve sorted out something with your childcare then? We didn’t want to pressure you about it.”
Shit. Right. She’s been waiting for me to get back to her. My head and heart have been so scrambled with Imogen’s return.
“Yes, we figured something out.” It’s not quite the truth and not quite a lie.
Feels impossible to discuss the full scope of any offer with Ash when I don’t have it yet.
There’s a big difference between a few weeks and another year.
And I’m honestly terrified to even have the discussion with him beyond the quick conversation we had about the extra weeks.
“I apologize for not getting back to you.”
“We’ll tell HR here to get a package together for you to consider.
I’ll let the Michigan branch know you’re open to returning as well.
” She leans against the doorframe. “Though I hope the offer from the UK branch will be more appealing. I like having you in this building, even if we don’t work together directly. You’re a smart cookie.”
“I really appreciate your help today with Jack.”