Blend by Georgia Beers

Author:Georgia Beers [Beers, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781635551907
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2018-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“I feel like we need to tell them.” Ian’s suit was perfectly tailored to fit him, the jacket accentuating his broad shoulders, the lines clean, the red tie adding a nice splash of color to the black ensemble. He always looked fantastic, the consummate professional. Today, though, his hair was disheveled, and Piper imagined the cause was Ian agitatedly running his fingers through it in frustration. His face was marred by worry and stress. She wondered if she gave off a similar vibe.

“I know,” Piper said on a sigh. “But we can’t.”

“No,” Ian said, holding up a finger. “We’re not supposed to. It was suggested that we don’t. That’s different than being forbidden.”

“Splitting hairs, Ian. There was a directive. We could be fired.”

He scratched at his forehead. “I know.”

They sat in Piper’s office, silent, for a long moment.

“Wouldn’t you want someone to warn you?” Ian asked, finally. His voice was very quiet and he continued to gaze out the window as he spoke. “Wouldn’t you want to at least be prepared for the worst?”

“Of course I would, but…” Piper didn’t look at him either.

“I know you’re not friends with your people, but I am with some.” He didn’t say it in anything other than a factual capacity, but Piper still felt a little accusatory sting at the words. He was right. She made it a point not to make friends with her staff. They got together often, met for Happy Hour or gathered at someone’s house. Piper was always invited, but she always bowed out gracefully. She just didn’t think it was the boss’s place to fraternize with her subordinates, not to mention, it was safer. Something her father had taught her. Ian went on. “I can’t imagine one of them getting laid off and then finding out that I knew it was probably going to happen. What kind of a friend does that make me?”

You’re not their friend. You’re their supervisor. Big difference. Piper could hear her father’s voice as clearly as if he were standing in the room with them. “Look, Ian, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I understand that.”

Ian’s face registered disappointment, defeat. “But you’re going to sit tight.”

Piper swallowed, took a second or two before answering. “I feel like I have to. You read the same thing I did. Leaking any information about the upcoming merger can and will result in termination.”

“Yeah, I read it.” Ian blew out a huge breath, pushed himself out of the chair and looked just this side of disgusted. “I don’t agree with you, Piper.”

“I know.”

“But we’ve known each other a long time, and I respect you.”

“I appreciate that. I respect you as well.” It was true. Ian was a good guy. He and Piper had moved up the ranks together. But he was a lot softer than she was. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a difference between them.

“Good. Well.” He nodded at her and left, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

Piper sat back in her chair.

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