Chapter 7
Noah
Anger courses through me, my heart pounding in my chest as I pace my office. I strip my jacket off, hoping to cool the rage. It doesn’t help.
I would have leveled that prick if we’d been anywhere other than in the office during my first week of work.
Bitchy? Laughing at her? Chip is a real piece of work.
I got a taste of his asshole behavior at lunch with the bosses the other day, but he’s good at the masquerade.
The fucking suck-up. His dad practically eats every word he feeds him as if he’s God’s gift.
It goes beyond pride. Mr. Lowe believes Chip walks on water. It’s a damn boys club, and they’re the only members.
Mr. Bancroft played along and laughed where he was supposed to, but he wasn’t engaged in the conversation.
He did better than I did. It may be my first week, but I won’t blow smoke up that asshole’s .
. . asshole. That would go against how I was raised.
I’d rather side with the genuine underdog than gain favor with the higher through lies.
Though I have no interest in Chip Lowe himself, one thing is clearly obvious after this morning’s display between him and Liv. They used to date. Which honestly surprises me. Everything about Liv gives the opposite of Chip.
She’s whip-smart, can hold her own in an argument, and independent. Chip is a spoiled and entitled toddler who needs to be put in time-out. What could she have possibly seen in him?
A soft rap on the door is followed by Leanna dipping her head into my office.
“There’s been a change. Mr. Bancroft and Mr. Lowe want to meet at Salisbury’s.
I added the lunch to your calendar but wanted to check with you before replying.
Confirm?” As soon as the question is asked, she quirks her head. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. You can confirm.” At a standstill, I glance out the window. Lying is not something I favor. I’ve told my fair share, and I’ll do it to get by, but I want to earn respect, not be known as untrustworthy.
She leans her shoulder against the wall just inside the door, crossing her arms, and sports an all-knowing grin. “Want to try again?”
Fuck it. I ask, “What does Chip do exactly—”
“Ah. Chip.” She shuts the door behind her and comes to sit down.
“I get he’s in marketing, but he doesn’t—”
“Ever seem to work?” Tapping her nose, she adds, “Ding. Ding. Ding.”
I return to my desk and sit across from her. “I came onboard to be part of a team, to build something greater than what’s already been achieved.”
“That’s noble, Noah.”
“I’m trying to be noble. I want to succeed. That means making sure the company is profitable.” Resting forward on the desk, I lower my voice. “Chip operates differently.”
“He sure does.”
“I’ve known plenty of guys like him. They’ll stab you in the back to get credit for your work. Is that what I’m dealing with here?”
Her back is straight, and her gaze has shifted beside me as she appears to mull the answer she’s comfortable sharing. When her eyes come to me, she replies, “I’m not one for gossip, but I wouldn’t be upset if Chip were gone. For good. He makes everyone’s life miserable.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I should clarify that he makes the women miserable.” She leans back. “Let’s just say he likes to be hands-on. Not with me, but some of the others. He talks down to us as if we’re all here to work for him.”
Hearing this doesn’t help my blood pressure. We’ve only been working together for a few days, but we share a level of comfort as if it’s been much longer. “I trust you, Leanna.”
She smiles. “I trust you, too, Noah.”
“Can I ask you something that’s really none of my business and trust that it will stay between us?”
“Of course.” Her body language is relaxed, her expression open.
Despite the lack of time we’ve spent together, my gut tells me she’s an ally I can talk to. “HR went over the no-dating policy. They didn’t go into detail but mentioned it was put into place in the past two years due to a situation.”
She looks down at her lap, her fingers twisting along with her lips to the side.
“Chip and Olivia.” Her eyes plead with mine when she adds, “Don’t let it get out I told you.
I like Olivia, but she gets a bad rap around here.
Some people love to stir up controversy to discount her hard work while letting Chip skate by on his last name alone. ”
I appreciate having my hunches verified, but I’m confused as to why she’s so disliked by some. “Why is that?”
Ticking her fingers one by one, she replies, “Smart. Funny. Obviously beautiful. The boss’s daughter. The blowout with Chip. Everything and anything.” Leanna stands. “You should get going so you’re not late for the lunch appointment. I’ll call a car.”
“Thank you.” This newfound information regarding the Ice Queen fills in some of the blanks. It also might help me understand how to reach a truce with Liv since it sounds like she’s taken the fall for other people’s misdeeds. I grab my phone and say, “I’m ready to go.”
I spend the next few hours with the company’s namesake.
It’s not a bad lunch or conversation. Something feels off with Lowe.
Although I’ve now met him a few times this week, something hangs in the air between us—a slight intimidation tactic in his mannerisms. It doesn’t work, so I let it go, but it’s noted.
I’ve met a lot of characters over the years from professors who threaten to fail you if you question one thing that doesn’t make sense to coaches who make you drop and give them push-ups because you’re two minutes late to practice.
I’m not threatened by him or his son, but there’s no connection with them either.
Unlike his daughter, Mr. Bancroft is a breeze to read. Listens intently. Open to hearing ideas, even basic brainstorming. Easy to please because he likes me.
What I don’t like is the way he treats his daughter. I’m not jumping into the middle of family history, but it’s not all roses between them. That much is clear to everyone who works here.
So although I’m already forming opinions on each of them, I don’t question their knowledge of business practices. They’ve built a solid company and work solely off referrals with a waiting list begging to become clients. I was hired to do a job, and I’ll do that to the best of my ability.
When I return, I pass Leanna’s desk, tapping it on my way to my office. “I take it the meeting went well?”
“Better than well. Come into my office and close the door behind you.”
When she arrives, she sits down. “So what happened?”
“They’ve given me a lot of leeway to save this client, so let’s figure out the best method to proceed.
I’m thinking about dinner with the Torres’s.
They agreed to Friday night.” Kicking back in my chair, I add, “Drinks, good food, and great company if I do say so myself.” I turn back to her.
“If I can get one hour of their time, I’ll have them renewing the contract. ”
“Dinner is perfect.” She jots down notes. “Wine them. Dine them. Woo them. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble winning them over.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence.” Leaning back in my chair, I stare out the window, hoping to solve this concern before it becomes a problem. “There’s only one small issue.”
“What’s that?”
Glancing her way, I say, “I need the expenditures for every campaign, target, and medium utilized on their account. I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you get me the files so I can brush up on their account?”
She looks up from her notes and nods. “Shouldn’t be an issue. I can put in the request. It may take a day or two, though.”
“We need to see where things have gone wrong by connecting the creative to the finances. Mrs. Torres is all about the bottom line. I want to come to the table with explanations, not excuses. What are the chances I can get a peek at that file tonight?”
“It’s a big job and after three. I doubt it can be compiled in that time. What do you need exactly?”
Anchoring myself in place, I reply, “An expert who not only understands the client’s past spending but can get my concepts approved during dinner if I can get them to a yes.
” I swing my hand. “I’ll close them in one quick swoop and land my first account.
” Giving myself a nod of confidence, I grin.
“Technically, I’ll be saving the account, but same thing. ”
“It will be a feather in your cap.”
Just the way I like it. “And a great way to kick off your career.”
She sets the e-pad on her lap, her excitement waning. “The only thing is the expert.”
“Surely the company has someone who can handle this type of situation.”
“They do.” She chews the side of her cheek and looks down nervously. “I’m just not sure if this is something they’ll do. You’re talking about dinner, which is not during the workday hours. That’s going to be considered a favor. You need to figure out what’s in it for them.”
The left side of my mouth rises, confused to the verbal dance around. “I’m pretty good at convincing people and a great team player. MVP status.”
She laughs. “Yeah, but—”
“You’re keeping me in suspense, Leanna. Just tell me who I need to invite to dinner, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Only one person currently handles the client’s financials, and she never attends company events.”
“Why not?”
Leanna shrugs. “I have no idea. People call her the Ice Queen.”
“The Ice Queen.” Dipping my head down, I rub my temples. Olivia Bancroft and I haven’t reached a truce. For all I know, she’s still the last person who wants to see me succeed. My sigh comes heavy. “Fuck.”
“So you’ve heard about her? Have you two met outside of the conference room introduction?”
“Yeah,” I start, well-aware that Liv and I are still on shaky ground, to say the least. Since we didn’t get to finish our conversation, that might be in order before asking her for a favor.
If it goes south, which it just might based on the past few days, I’m certain she’ll be thrilled to serve me some humble pie in exchange for that file. “We’ve met all right.”