I thought about asking him to put the desks back but didn’t want to push my luck. Lana and I stood out of the way while they exited. The place looked disheveled and almost like we’d been robbed. My hopes for a quiet ten minutes before the craziness of tax season crept up were dashed.
“What happened?” someone asked. “Did we get robbed?”
“No,” Lana said. “Saige is taking care of it.”
Oh, but Saige was not taking care of it. “Guys, let’s go in the conference room,” I announced. I hoped there was a conference room. I was sure that was next on the chopping block. He was going to put down some puppy pads and we would be sitting on the floor.
I made my way into the conference room and waited for everyone to follow. I knew they would. The buzz of conversation told me they were all nervous. I expected them to be.
“What’s going on?” someone asked.
I wanted to kick his ass for dropping this in my lap. He didn’t even have the decency to tell the people what he was doing. “Our new owner has decided the office would be more efficient if we had cubicles.”
“Cubicles?” Lana asked. “Like walls?”
“Yes, partitions around each desk. Consider it your own office.”
“Why cubicles?” someone asked.
“He thinks it will be better,” I said. I couldn’t tell them he thought they were chatting too much. “I know it is going to be different, but this is his company, and this is what he wants. The construction crew will be in here later today. We’re all cutting out early and giving them the space they need to do their job.”
“How early?”
“I told them to be back at three,” I said. “I can’t stop them. I’m going to do what I can to keep you guys in your jobs, but there are going to be changes. It will be easier for everyone if we just go with it. We can accept it and roll with the punches, or we kick, scream and fight. The second option does not end well for us.”
“Cubicles?” Lana said again. “That is so suffocating.”
“I know, but we just need to try and make this work. We’re a strong team. We can get through this. I know this is the worst possible time to have all this upheaval, but we just have to make it work. I’m asking everyone to please put your best foot forward. We’ll be okay.”
I could feel their discomfort and wanted to kick his ass for doing this to good people. I clapped my hands together. “All right, guys, we’re in the homestretch. Let’s get this season behind us.” If I had pompoms, I would have shaken them.
I left the conference room and headed for my office. I had just sat down when that annoying knock that wasn’t really a knock rang out. “Why do you do that?” I snapped.
Nash looked confused. “Do what?”
“Knock and come in without waiting for me to invite you in.”
He smiled and took a seat. It was what he always did. He was very presumptuous. “Let’s be honest. Would you invite me in?”
“I’ve heard you’re not supposed to invite the vampire in. Then again, I also heard if you didn’t invite them in, they couldn’t come in.”
“Is that from Twilight or something?” he asked with a laugh.
“I’m a little old for that,” I said dryly.
“True Blood?”
“It’s common knowledge,” I said with irritation. “Are you here to discuss vampire movies?”
“I thought it was a television show,” he countered.
He was going to drive me crazy. “What?” I finally snapped. “What do you want now? Do you want my office? My stapler? Is that too extravagant? Maybe you’d prefer I used the sunlight instead of the actual lights.”
He looked amused and that pissed me off. “Lights are fine. Where are my cubicles?”
“Your cubicles will be installed this evening.”
He folded his hands and crossed one leg over the other. “They were to be installed today.”
“Nash, do you want those people to work out there?”
“That’s why I ordered the installation of the cubicles,” he said.
“Have you ever tried to work with several drills buzzing around your head? How about men building walls around you? Nash, do you know the concentration it takes to fill out taxes? Do you know how difficult it is to do taxes? Oh, no, you don’t because you don’t actually know anything about taxes. You aren’t a CPA. They are. They need to be able to concentrate and focus on their work or you are going to have some very pissed off clients.”
“You won’t stop this,” he said.
“I told them to come back at three. I’ve let the staff know they are leaving at three.”
He scowled. “You did what?”
“Do you want your cubicles installed?”
“Yes and they will be,” he said.
“Yes, they will be, after three,” I said with a smile. “You can either get a full day’s work in or lose a full day. You will lose a full day of work if you bring those men back in here.”
“You can’t disagree with me,” he said.
I actually laughed. “Um, actually, I can. You might own this business, but you do not own me, and you do not own the constitution. I can disagree with you. I will disagree with you. I can almost guarantee that.”
I noticed the quirk of his lips. He was amused. A little pissed but amused. “I’ve never claimed to own anyone.”
“Your actions speak differently.”
“I am doing what is best for my company,” he said. “It’s unfortunate you don’t see that. You are someone that knows numbers. You know this company has been operating at half-capacity for years.”
“It has not,” I protested. “I really don’t think you understand what happens here. You can’t just make money happen.”
“No, but we can be more efficient and bring in more clients without bringing on more staff.”
I took a deep breath and licked my lips. It was hard to look at him and not remember what it was like to have his hands on me. I didn’t want to think about it, but damn, he was right there. He was looking at me like he remembered those moments as well. I wasn’t sure he did. I had convinced myself it was nothing more than a passing fancy. He didn’t want me. That was pretty damn clear when he married that woman.
“What do you want?” I asked him. I was exasperated. The day had not even started, and I was already over it.
“We’re going to lunch,” he announced.
I blinked several times. “What?” I asked. I sounded like Jace, but it was the only thing I could say.
“We need to talk, and we need to talk outside of this place. There is too much chaos here.”
“I’m fine,” I said. “Talk. What’s on your mind? I’m all ears. In fact, I stayed up half the night thinking about what wisdom you might impart on us today.”
“You are very sarcastic,” he said. “You know you are my employee. I own this place. I am your boss.”
“Yes, you are. How is your office coming along? I heard there were quite a few people in and out of there yesterday.”
“It’s coming along just fine. I need to meet with someone in an hour. I’ll be back here at eleven thirty to pick you up for lunch.”