staff.
"Hello everyone." He paused. "Before we get started, let me say I appreciate everyone in this room for what you've contributed to the company. And although there'll be some reporting differences, there will be no job losses."
A shared sigh breezed through the room. Stiff tense postures relaxed as people waited to hear what he'd say next.
"Collectively, your units contribute more than thirty percent to the company's numbers. With this realignment, we're hoping to be able to increase that." When he finished with what he had to say, he turned the room over to Rodney and Darling.
While Rodney spoke, his words seemed to be directed specifically to Barbara.
As a contrast, Darling's focus had been more on the direction of the department going forward, and her desire to keep confusion to a minimal during the transition.
Jaxon noticed that Barbara glowered in a corner throughout Rodney's entire speech. Women like her and the stewardess, that caused Jaxon's father to break his mother's heart, were never satisfied. He could've fired her and promoted someone else into a modified position, but Rodney had begged him not to.
Even though she still had a job, she sat in obvious unhappiness, filled with resentment and anger.
Not sure of what he might see, he chanced a quick look at Darling. Surrounded by staff from both units, he allowed himself the opportunity to watch.
She moved her gaze from one person to another as they vied for her attention, her long black hair brushing her shoulders each time she turned her head.
As the crowd dwindled away, he caught her eye. The beautiful smile she gave him warmed him with its intensity. Then, with a tiny nod, she broke eye contact and focused on the people around her.
He felt the loss of contact immediately, its warmth replaced with pain. Something was going on between them and he couldn't let go of it.
Whatever it was, it grew stronger each time he was around her. Not fading away.
Darling watched as Jaxon ducked out of the room, leaving her with her new team. Everyone congratulated her, except Barbara, who practically ran from the room.
As soon as Jaxon finished speaking, after slapping Darling on the back and a quick handshake, Rodney left too.
Maybe the whole thing wouldn't be as bad as she'd originally thought. If Barbara could accept the changes and not provoke any problems, everything might just be okay. Feeling pretty good, Darling headed toward Rodney's office to ask a few questions. Some of her new team members hadn't had their travel schedules approved for the remainder of the year and that needed to be done if she was going to begin working on her end of year budget.
Darling stopped at the sound of voices coming from Rodney's office, their tones were hushed and angry
"Rodney, this is BS!" No mistaking Barbara's voice.
"Baby, calm down." There was a pause. "We'll figure this out together."
"This is your fault," she raged. "She comes in from nowhere and suddenly, I'm reporting to her. No way in hell!"
"Baby, she does have a lot of experience. The two departments should be together. It makes a lot of sense."
"Then why doesn't she report to me?" Barbara demanded.
"Her department is doing better—"
"I don't care," she interrupted. "I've been here longer."
"Mr. Slater reviewed the numbers and made the final decision. Shit, Barbara, the economy is bad. We could've lost jobs, but we didn't."
"I don't care. I'm not reporting to her."
The voices stopped and Darling attempted to flatten herself against the wall behind her.
Barbara stormed from the office, and bolted down the hallway.
As she watched the angry figure stomp down the hall, she knew Barbara would soon become a bigger pain in the butt. She didn't have anything against the woman, but clearly, Barbara wasn't going to just accept the new structure. If the woman searched around enough who knew what she'd find. If the night she and Jaxon spent together was discovered, it could hurt his company—him.
"Hello everyone." He paused. "Before we get started, let me say I appreciate everyone in this room for what you've contributed to the company. And although there'll be some reporting differences, there will be no job losses."
A shared sigh breezed through the room. Stiff tense postures relaxed as people waited to hear what he'd say next.
"Collectively, your units contribute more than thirty percent to the company's numbers. With this realignment, we're hoping to be able to increase that." When he finished with what he had to say, he turned the room over to Rodney and Darling.
While Rodney spoke, his words seemed to be directed specifically to Barbara.
As a contrast, Darling's focus had been more on the direction of the department going forward, and her desire to keep confusion to a minimal during the transition.
Jaxon noticed that Barbara glowered in a corner throughout Rodney's entire speech. Women like her and the stewardess, that caused Jaxon's father to break his mother's heart, were never satisfied. He could've fired her and promoted someone else into a modified position, but Rodney had begged him not to.
Even though she still had a job, she sat in obvious unhappiness, filled with resentment and anger.
Not sure of what he might see, he chanced a quick look at Darling. Surrounded by staff from both units, he allowed himself the opportunity to watch.
She moved her gaze from one person to another as they vied for her attention, her long black hair brushing her shoulders each time she turned her head.
As the crowd dwindled away, he caught her eye. The beautiful smile she gave him warmed him with its intensity. Then, with a tiny nod, she broke eye contact and focused on the people around her.
He felt the loss of contact immediately, its warmth replaced with pain. Something was going on between them and he couldn't let go of it.
Whatever it was, it grew stronger each time he was around her. Not fading away.
Darling watched as Jaxon ducked out of the room, leaving her with her new team. Everyone congratulated her, except Barbara, who practically ran from the room.
As soon as Jaxon finished speaking, after slapping Darling on the back and a quick handshake, Rodney left too.
Maybe the whole thing wouldn't be as bad as she'd originally thought. If Barbara could accept the changes and not provoke any problems, everything might just be okay. Feeling pretty good, Darling headed toward Rodney's office to ask a few questions. Some of her new team members hadn't had their travel schedules approved for the remainder of the year and that needed to be done if she was going to begin working on her end of year budget.
Darling stopped at the sound of voices coming from Rodney's office, their tones were hushed and angry
"Rodney, this is BS!" No mistaking Barbara's voice.
"Baby, calm down." There was a pause. "We'll figure this out together."
"This is your fault," she raged. "She comes in from nowhere and suddenly, I'm reporting to her. No way in hell!"
"Baby, she does have a lot of experience. The two departments should be together. It makes a lot of sense."
"Then why doesn't she report to me?" Barbara demanded.
"Her department is doing better—"
"I don't care," she interrupted. "I've been here longer."
"Mr. Slater reviewed the numbers and made the final decision. Shit, Barbara, the economy is bad. We could've lost jobs, but we didn't."
"I don't care. I'm not reporting to her."
The voices stopped and Darling attempted to flatten herself against the wall behind her.
Barbara stormed from the office, and bolted down the hallway.
As she watched the angry figure stomp down the hall, she knew Barbara would soon become a bigger pain in the butt. She didn't have anything against the woman, but clearly, Barbara wasn't going to just accept the new structure. If the woman searched around enough who knew what she'd find. If the night she and Jaxon spent together was discovered, it could hurt his company—him.
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