She glances down at her clothes. “Is there something wrong with it?”
What am I supposed to say to that? There’s really nothing objectively bad about it. The top isn’t low-cut, and the skirt hits at an office-appropriate length. It’s the color that reminds me of peeling that red dress from her body and leaving it on the floor of the hotel room.
On the fly, I say, “The color isn’t exactly professional now, is it?”
Her eyes drop to my red tie, and she lifts an eyebrow but doesn’t comment on my hypocrisy. “Okay, so I guess I’ll just wear the blue one every day?” It’s more of a question than a statement.
I sigh and run a hand over the top of my head. “Don’t you have a black one? Gray? Even a forest green?”
Her lips turn down at the corners. “I only have two. This one and the blue one.”
“Then buy a new one,” I order.
Mindy stares at me for a long moment before shooting out of her chair, sending her red hair flying. There’s a fierceness in her eyes that has me taking a step back.
“I would if I had the money, Mr. Hale. Do you think I enjoy wearing the same damn two suits every day?”
“Oh bullshit,” I shoot back. “Are you forgetting I know what you make?”
“Yeah, and that would be super if I hadactually gotten a paycheck.”
I wait for her to say something else, but she doesn’t. I shake my head because this doesn’t make any sense. I do the calculation in my head. “You’ve been here for… going on four weeks, and you’re telling me you haven’t been paid?”
“That’s what I’m telling you,” she says definitively, propping a hand on one curvy hip.
I’m stunned. “Why?”
“You tell me. It’s your company, andyou’rethe boss,” she says saucily.
“Have you talked to payroll?”
She tilts her head like that’s the dumbest question in the world. “Of course I have. Several times. They don’t know what’s going on either.”
I sigh and pull at the back of my neck. Do I want to make her quit? Absolutely. But do I want her to quit because she’s shown up and been a stellar employee for almost a month, and my goddamn company hasn’t paid her a penny? A million times no. Not even I am that big of an asshole.
Meeting her gaze, I say, “I’m sorry, Mindy. That’s not how we treatour employees, and you have every right to be angry. I’ll get to the bottom of this, okay? Today.”
She gives me a mollified nod and a soft, “Thank you, Mr. Hale.”
I make my way down a couple floors to the HR and payroll office and pull open the frosted glass door. The receptionist’s eyes widen comically.
“Mr. Hale.”
I check her nametag. “Good morning, Alise. Could I speak with Sharon, please?”
“Of course. Come on back, and I’ll show you to her office.” Alise lifts the hinged counter to let me through and then leads me through a maze of hallways until we reach the payroll director’s office.
Sharon Morgan stands as soon as she sees me, holding out her hand. “Mr. Hale, what can I help you with today?”
I shake her hand and gesture for her to sit down, taking the uncomfortable metal chair across from her desk. “I’m hoping you can tell me why my assistant has been here for almost a month and hasn’t been paid.”
Her face droops. “Oh, you’re talking about Mindy Espinoza. That poor, sweet dear has been so patient with me. I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Hale. I’ve never encountered this problem before. I’ve sent the money to her bank by direct deposit several times, and they reject it every time.”
“That makes no sense, Sharon.”
“I agree.” She lowers her voice and tucks a gray curl behind her ear. “You see, Mindy is going through a divorce right now. She filed the paperwork to have her name changed back to her maiden name, and that went through. She also had it changed on her driver’s license, but she hasn’t gotten her copy of the license in the mail yet. You know how the DMV can be.” Her eyes roll dramatically.
“I’m aware. I’m in the process of getting mine redone now that I’m living back in Texas. But what does that have to do with Ms. Espinoza not getting paid?”
