Chapter 17
Late Friday morning, Blake phoned Grandpop. No answer, and he left a message. “It’s Blake,” he said, as if the man didn’t know that. “It’s been too long since I last visited you. I want to catch up. By now, your ribs and cheek should be healing. With the opening of the new store in less than two weeks, things are busy for me but on track. I’ve hired some good people and ordered bikes, cycling clothes and shoes, and other equipment bicycle enthusiasts need. Anyway, give me a call.”
He wanted to ask about Caroline, but not in a voice message. Vi might know something. They hadn’t been in touch since the previous Saturday night, and he figured she was as busy as him. Had life at the telecom company calmed down any? He wanted to know. Also, he missed talking to her. At almost noon, figuring this was as good a time as any to reach her, he phoned her.
Her cell rang several times and he figured she didn’t want to talk to him. Ouch. He was about to leave a message when she picked up.
“Hi. It’s crazy here,” she said, the buzz of conversation he heard in the background attesting to that. “I can’t talk long. Do you have news about Gran and Malcom?”
“No. I was hoping you did.”
“She doesn’t answer. I asked at the front desk. According to them, she’s in the dining room every night. I guess she doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“I didn’t think to check with the desk. They’re both unhappy. When does she need the down payment for her unit?”
“Thanks for reminding me. Things here are so messed up, I haven’t thought about the insurance check. I’m a bad granddaughter.”
If she’d forgotten that, she probably hadn’t thought about him at all. Better than avoiding him. “What do you think about dropping in on them again sometime this weekend? Maybe we can do something to bring them together and talk through their differences.”
“It’s worth a try, but I wouldn’t count on it. Hold on.” The phone went silent. A few minutes later, she was back, this time breathless. “Mr. Iglesias, our new CEO, wants to see me.”
“What’s that about?”
“I don’t know, and there’s no time to explain. I’ll call you back.” She disconnected.
Calling him back, huh? If that wasn’t a good sign… Smiling to himself, he headed out to pick up lunch.
After a quick visitto the restroom to tidy her hair and freshen her lip gloss, Vi made her way to the second floor of the company where the big meeting room was located as well as the offices of Mr. Iglesias, Todd, and the telecom’s other high-level executives. Not sure what to expect, she stopped at his secretary Peggy’s desk. The same fifty-something secretary who’d worked for Alan Regan before he’d been sacked. “Hi, Peggy. I’m here to see Mr. Iglesias.”
The woman greeted her warmly. “Yes, he mentioned that. I’ll let him know you’re here.” A moment later, she hung up the phone. “He’s waiting for you now.”
The CEO’s office was big and classy, with a view of the Pacific Ocean, as befitted his position. Like Todd and everyone else in the company, he looked exhausted. But he greeted her with a warm smile. “Sit down, Vi. Would you like coffee? I can ask Peggy to fix you a cup.”
“No, thanks.” She sat down and folded her hands on the desk.
“Todd shared your idea with me and passed on the list you compiled. I like what you came up with.”
“Thank you. I’m worried about burnout and this will help ease some of the pressure.”
“I agree. I ran your idea by HR and got the okay to temporarily rehire twenty of our previous employees. Depending on the state of our finances, we may be able to hire some of them back permanently.”
Vi beamed at him. “That’s great news. Everyone on the first floor will thank you.”
“We’re counting on it. We can’t afford to lose any of our remaining employees. We also need to bring a few new upper management people on board.”
“I wouldn’t know who to recommend,” she said.
“That’s not why I called you here. Todd let me know you were up for a raise and promotion before the bad news hit. I’m not able to restore your bonus or anyone else’s at this time, but I would like to offer you a new position as executive sales manager for the company. As one of our vice presidents, you’ll get a significant raise commensurate with your title and an office on this floor.”
He wanted her for a job that far up the ladder? Vi could hardly believe her ears. Such exciting news and such a huge responsibility. She was both flattered and scared. “Thank you, Mr. Iglesias. I accept.” She also needed time to figure out how to do the job. Not that she’d admit that.
“Excellent. When can you start?”
“How about next week?” she said, mentally calculating how to start off with a bang. It’d be nice to have a reference point. The previous manager in charge had been let go, but she may have left information behind. “Are there any notes on what was going on before we filed for bankruptcy?”
“Check with Peggy. Before I forget, you’re going to need guidance, and Todd has offered to work with you. You can imagine how busy he is in operations, but he’s available to meet this afternoon.”
She could hardly believe her luck. Todd would be a big help. “That’d be wonderful. Should I keep the promotion to myself?”
“It won’t be official until I make the announcement Monday and alert the press, but news is bound to get out. I don’t mind if you want to tell people before then.”
They talked a bit more, then Vi returned to the first floor. Make that, floated. She decided not to tell anyone at the company just yet—she wasn’t sure how her friends and the remaining teammates would take the news. Family and friends outside the company were a different matter. It was lunchtime, and she headed to a nearby café to pick up food. As if she could eat. She bought a sandwich, a soda and a giant chocolate cookie to celebrate.
Still amazed and hardly daring to believe her luck, she itched to share the news with Gran, Rose, Carmie and Blake. She took her lunch to the car, where she’d have privacy, and then forgot about the food while she made calls.
The first was to Gran, who actually answered the phone. “I have exciting news,” she said and shared it. “I won’t get my bonus for a while yet, but my salary is going way up.”
“That’s wonderful, honey.”
“Did you get the insurance check?”
“No, and I’m getting worried.”
“Don’t be. With my bigger salary, I should be able to take out a loan to cover you. Rose can help some, too.” Depending on Peter.
“I hate to do that, Vi, but if I don’t have the insurance money by next Wednesday, I may have to. As soon as I get it, I’ll pay you both back.”
“I’d rather you keep your money and let us do this as a way of thanking you for all you’ve done for us over the years, but I know you won’t accept that. So yes, I’ll consider it a loan. I’m sure Rose will, too.”
“That’s so reasonable. Why can’t Malcom be like you girls?”
Ah, they were still at loggerheads. “I have to go, Gran. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
On the way home from work, she phoned Carmie. No answer. “I have news,” she said via voicemail. “Get in touch when you can.”
Then she phoned Rose. Her sister was thrilled for her. “What a shame you didn’t get your bonus, too.”
“I probably will in the future. Anyway, I’m very happy about the promotion. Gran will only take money from us as a loan and will pay us back when she gets the insurance check. If she gets it before the final date, she won’t need to borrow at all.”
“At least she agreed to let us help. I’ll talk to Peter about that.”
“Let me know what he says. Did Gran mention Malcom at all?”
“Only for a second. From the little she said, they haven’t made up yet. That stubborn streak is creating big problems for her and always has.”
“As we both know,” Vi agreed. “Malcom is just as bad.”
“I guess if I ever meet him, I’ll see for myself. Their life is like a soap opera. When are you going to share your good news with Blake?”
“As soon as I get home.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy for you. Promise me you’ll let him in.”
“What do you mean?”
“You tend to push people away. Don’t do that with him. He’s a keeper.”
Vi hadn’t expected that, but Rose was right. She tended to keep her distance, mostly with men. “Now you’re playing the role of mother with me?”
“You did it for me for years, so why not? You could use some good advice.”
Though Rose couldn’t see Vi, she rolled her eyes. “I know you approve of Blake, but what makes you think he has any interest in me besides our mutual concerns about Gran and Malcom?” Other than a few kisses, as unforgettable as they were. “Right now, we’re close because of the grandparents. Once that’s settled, I doubt we’ll feel the same way.” At least Blake wouldn’t.
“Oh, his interest goes further than that and vice versa. He looks at you like he cares. That night at your house I could almost feel the electricity between you two. Why not enjoy what you have while it lasts?”
“I want to, but like I said, I don’t want to get hurt.”
“I’d like to shake Devin until his teeth rattle.”
“What good would that do?”
“It’d make me feel better. He should suffer for what he did to you.”
“He doesn’t care. Anyway, I’m over that and him.”
“Prove it. Let your feelings for Blake run wild.”
“Stop with the advice already. I don’t need to hear that.” No sense getting her hopes up when the man had admitted he didn’t think he was capable of committing to anyone, especially long-term. Her feelings for him were already too strong, and she absolutely, positively didn’t want to fall for him. “Let’s drop the subject, okay? How’s Peter?”
“He seems fine. He left early for the hospital. I don’t know when he’ll be home.”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“He said he’d be here for dinner, but you know how that goes. An emergency comes in and they’re short-handed so he steps in. Such is the life of a much-in-demand surgeon.” Rose was quiet a minute, then let out a sigh. “As busy as he is, I sometimes wonder if he’s avoiding me.”
Vi frowned. “He wouldn’t do that. He loves you.”
“Does he? Speak of the devil, he’s calling now. Bye, and tell Blake hi from me.”
Vi waited until after eating the pickings she found in the fridge and the giant cookie from lunch. Then she poured a glass of wine, toasted herself, and phoned Blake.