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“Paige is going to accompany you on the road tomorrow,” Graham says.
Oliver nods. “I know. You told me.”
I deflate. “Oh, great. He told you.”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“No, he didn’t tell me.”
“Was I supposed to tell her?”
“No,” Graham says. “I’m sure it was my sleep-deprived mistake… and I’m very sorry,” he adds for me.
“It’s okay,” I say, holding my breath. “I think I can adjust my schedule a bit. How long is the trip?”
“Two weeks.”
“Two weeks?!”
“Five locations, two or three days each for audits and additional prep with the managers for the convention. The standard in-and-out. You’re better at that than anybody, Paige.”
Oliver smirks. “I will take good notes.”
Graham pats his shoulder. “That’s the spirit, Oli!”
I retreat even deeper into myself.
This cannot be happening.
Marla hangs up the phone. “Uh, Graham?”
“Yeah?” he asks her.
“That was Jen on the phone. She said to tell you that if you don’t get the bleep back upstairs right bleeping now, then she’s never going to...” she lowers her voice, “bleep your bleep ever again.”
Graham sighs. “Yeah, that sounds like my wife.”
“You should get up there,” Oliver says, amused. “It must be serious.”
“Going up.” He bows out of our circle toward the elevator. “I’ll be back down later for the party. It looks great, Paige.”
“But I…” My voice falls as I look at Oliver.
He smiles back at me with the same warmth as I remember. Thin lips. Prominent cheekbones. Icy-cool eyes that stare deep into my?—
“Graham—!” I shift on my toes. “Graham, hold on.” I rush to get behind him. “Are you sure it’s really necessary for me to go? I mean, you said it yourself, Oliver nailed his training. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to let him fly solo.”
Graham slaps the elevator call button. “No, it’s important for us to maintain complete normalcy leading up to the convention. No screw-ups. No surprises. A change in leadership always makes the shareholders nervous for a while, and I don’t want to mess up my first few weeks as CEO.”
The doors open and Graham steps on.
I linger outside with my hand on the doors to keep them open. “But?—”
“Oliver is prepared, but cocky,” he says over me. “If anyone can keep his ego in check, it’s you.”
“Okay, but isn’t there another?—”
“The fate of the company is in your hands, Paige,” he says. “I’m counting on you.”
