20. Emerson
EMERSON
OAKEY: When you get in the office come see me before you go upstairs.
Istare at the message as we pull into the garage of Andrews International and park by the bank of private elevators reserved for a select few, and frown.
“Nico?”
“Yes, Miss Andrews?”
I swallow the growl that wants to escape at the greeting as he looks at me in the rearview mirror.
“Do you know anything about meeting Tom this morning?” I hate surprises but even more I hate surprises on days that shouldn’t have anything out of the ordinary going on.
“No, he didn’t say anything before I picked you up.”
Perfect.
“Well, let’s go see your boss, and we’ll figure this out, but just realize if it’s bad we’re stopping for ice cream on the way home.”
His lips twitch but he nods solemnly. “Understood.”
Packing everything back into my work bag, I wait until Nico opens my door to school my expression. It’s the best armor I have, and even though I’m just going to see Tom, I want to ensure anyone I come across knows I’m not concerned.
About anything.
Because I’m Emerson Fucking Andrews.
Nico punches in the code to the side door and we enter the moment the lock disengages, my heels clicking on the dark tile floor.
The décor is minimal down here. Tom didn’t want the focus to be taken away from what they’re being paid to do with watercolor paintings and fake plants that no one would bother dusting.
When I’m feeling feisty, I like to send him a package with a fake plant that he has to sign for and then I wait for him to call and bitch about me wasting his time.
It’s my favorite game.
Isla and I have been doing it for years—and since she’s not here anymore, it’s only right that I carry on the tradition.
Rounding the last corner, I stop and knock on his office door, his expression grim as he meets my gaze.
What now?
“I need you to not make that face,” I tell him, the ex-military turned private security hulk of a man not dissuaded by my request as he sighs and hands me a piece of paper.
“This article was blasted all over social media last night,” he says as I scan over the words, the reporter’s name not ringing any bells as I read through the mostly vague gossip and speculation about my relationship with Garrett.
But my heart stops as my gaze snags on the next words.
Sources close to Emerson Andrews stated that there’d been no indication that Andrews was dating anyone prior to her trip to Vegas and it was business as usual when she returned. However, sources stated that things changed when Garrett North arrived at Andrews International, out of the blue…
“Someone in my office.” It’s not a question but a statement and Tom nods. “Who? And who the fuck wrote this?”
“The reporter, Heather Fraser, is a former girlfriend of Garrett’s from about four years ago. They dated for about two months. She’s more of a blogger and influencer than a reporter.”
“Do we know who her source is?”
“Not Des,” Tom reassures me as he picks up another piece of paper, the relief palpable as it courses through my veins. The person I trust the most in my immediate office circle hasn’t betrayed me.
Thank fuck.
“Who then?”
“Royce is working on it so don’t do anything drastic,” he warns, his eyebrow arching as if to imply I’ve done that before.
I totally have.
Multiple times.
Lucky for me, I’ve always been right.
“You know I’ll fire everyone up there if I have to. It’ll be me, Des, and Nico answering phones and filing papers.”
“She’s kidding,” Tom says to Nico who shifts his weight from one foot to the other.
“I’m not.”
“I know.” Nico dips his head. “I’d file papers if that’s what we needed to happen.”
Patting his shoulder, I smile. “See? He fits right in around here.”
“You mean he does what you want,” Tom corrects and I scoff playfully.
“I’m saying that he’s a valuable part of the team and I’m thankful to have him.”
“You make me so tired. I—” Tom stops and swipes his phone from the desk before the first ringtone ends. “Go.”
Lowering my voice, I look back at Nico as Tom presumably talks to Royce. “We’re definitely stopping for ice cream.”
“I’m really sorry about all this, Miss—Emerson.” His correction has me smiling as Tom disconnects and pushes back from the desk.
His nephew Royce is in charge of all things computer related. When he first moved in with Tom, he was still in high school and already on the wrong side of cyber law, but Tom gave him structure and a place he could use his skills for good.
And he has.
He’s more like a cousin to me—family—and right now I’m thankful, knowing he’ll leave no stone unturned on this.
“Royce found communications back and forth between Quinn and Heather Fraser on her computer here. She deleted the emails but Royce found them and other things.” My heart sinks as my eyelids flutter closed for the briefest second before I school my expression and push every ounce of disappointment and fury down.
Quinn has been with me for six months and was doing surprisingly well, minus the incident with the microwave. I’d had no complaints from Des or anyone else.
“Are we in the clear on this?” I ask and he nods.
“She violated the NDA and the terms of her employment. Termination is effective immediately.”
“I hope it was worth it,” I say to no one in particular.
Terminations like this don’t happen often.
We treat our employees well and in return, we gain loyalty and retention, but this—there’s no coming back from it.
She’ll be lucky to get hired anywhere in Chicago once they find out why she was fired.
“Do you want me to handle it?” Tom asks, his voice surprisingly gentle, but I shake my head as I straighten my spine.
“No one fucks with me in my house.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I can feel the headache blooming behind my eyes as Des slides a bottle of pain reliever and some water across my desk and takes a seat.
Quinn had immediately broken down into tears when she saw me walk in flanked by Tom and Nico. She’d apologized profusely, but I didn’t stick around long enough to hear any of it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t catch it sooner. I should have known.” Des’s voice is quiet, but I can hear the guilt laced in there too.
“It’s part of the business. And it’s okay that you liked her. It’s okay that you’re hurt by her betrayal.” I let my lips tip up on one side because he deserves it. Des has been loyal to me from day one, and while he’s upset with Quinn, I know he’s more upset that she hurt me.
“We’ve just never had this before. I guess,”—he rolls his lips inward—“I guess I didn’t think it would happen.”
It’s moments like these that make me truly grateful to have him with me, not just as my executive assistant but as close to a friend as I get with people I work with.
Des has witnessed countless people being let go or quitting for various reasons but he’s right—we’ve never had someone escorted off the premises for violating their contract.
And my privacy.
“I love that about you.”
Shaking his head, he rolls his shoulders back and clicks through his tablet.
“I’ve already ordered lunch and it should be here earlier than usual considering you haven’t eaten.
I’ll refresh the posting for Quinn’s job.
Your father has already sent a companywide email highlighting the company policy on grounds for termination. How do you want to handle it?”
“Order lunch for the building…Thursday. That’s the next day I’ll be in.”
“Done.”
“Call Arden James and set up a video call with her—today if she can manage it. I know she had a baby not too long ago. You can get her number from Tom if we don’t have it on hand.
I want her to run a story. She can have the exclusive and I’ll apologize for not calling her myself, but I need this pounding in my head to stop first.”
“It’s because you’ve only had coffee this morning.”
“I can’t eat this early.”
“It’s ten.”
“Still early.”
“It’s not but whatever. I’ll call her and set it up.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, sagging back into the leather of my desk chair.
Arden James traveled all the way from Blackstone Falls to spend a week in Chicago with Tom’s wife, Kat, while doing a multi-part story on her author career.
It was incredibly well done, and Kat had raved about the experience and Arden’s professionalism.
And that’s what we need right now.
I know how to spin a story and I know how to play the game.
I just really hoped I wouldn’t have to—not like this.
“What else do you need?”
“We really need to hire someone as soon as possible. I can’t have you any more overworked than you already are."
“I'm fine,” he says but I don't miss the flash of something in his eyes before he’s back to looking at his tablet.
“You’re better than fine. You keep everything, including me, running.”
“It’s the best job I’ve ever had and I love it, truly.” With a roll of his eyes, he adds, “Even if you are nosey about my social life.”
“What? Why? Got a hot date?”
“Possibly. Sometime.”
“Aww, that’s for saving the best for last.”
“There’s a chance it won’t work out so don’t get your hopes up too high.”
“Where’s the fun in that? Besides, if you can put up with me then Theo will be a breeze.”
“And on that note…”
“Oh, come on!” I call but he’s already across my office and out the door before I can get another word in.
It’s just as well. I have a long day ahead of me, and I just pray it doesn’t get worse.