Page 110 of Feel It in the Air

29

GUS

“No.”

Carl’s voice is firm. Borderline cold, matching his features. Like he’s scolding a child rather than answering a counterpart his same age. One who technically outranks him.

“I brought you all the evidence,” I argue, pushing my luck.

His eyes go wide, sitting straight up in his chair. “No, Willa did. You were on administrative leave, remember?”

I wave off his correction, putting my hands on the back of the guest chair across from him and leaning forward. We both know it’s a technicality that Willa brought him the findings that acted as the catalyst for this meeting. It took a full four days, but we did it.

If anything, it was all Margeaux. She was the one who knew where to look, what files to pull, and then translated most of the legalese into regular-people speak.

Sure, I could help when it came to the tax ID and pointing Willa in the direction of the correct contact in accounting, but that’s it. Margeaux’s the reason we discovered it all. She and that seriously fucking sexy brain of hers.

“Details.” I shrug.

“Rather important ones.”

“I want to sit in on this,” I say, as if my desires were somehow unclear. Carl doesn’t budge though.

“No.”

“Don’t I have the right to face my accuser?”

Throwing up his hands in exasperation, Carl mutters something under his breath, and deep down I know the only reason he hasn’t kicked me out of his office is because we’ve been friends since the second grade. Doesn’t mean I’m going to back down. Nope. Not a chance.

We’re Tom Petty-ing this shit.

“This isn’t a court of law, Gus. This is follow-up to an employee complaint in a privately held company. The same rules do not apply.”

“It’s my company; I’ll just change the rules,” I throw out. One last-ditch effort.

Although, to be fair, that’s a pretty lame one. Because I’m pretty sure I don’t have those powers.

“Unless something has changed in the last few hours, pretty sure it’s still your daddy’s company,” he lobs back, giving me a look that only an old friend can. “And no, you can’t change this rule. It’s a state law. Forgive me for trying to prevent us from getting sued.”

That’s fair. I really, really don’t want to be sued. And as both an employer and friend, I greatly appreciate that Carl is looking out for that, and everything he’s done to help over the last week. I know he’s not only had Hayes’s best interest at heart, but mine and Margeaux’s as well. This whole situation put him in an awkward spot, and he’s done a damn good job at remaining professional through the whole thing.

“Georgia’s a right to work state.”

“You mean ‘at will’?” he asks, the two lines between his brow deepening in confusion. “Because not being required to join a union has nothing to do with this situation.”

Shit…

“Yes, at will. Whatever.”

“When all of this is done, we’re going to have a nice review of employment law and HR terminology.”

I flip him the bird. He knew what I meant; no need to be a smart-ass. He sends a single-finger salute right back to me, and I laugh. Thank goodness for old friends.

“Regardless of what it’s called, the important part is that we don’t need a reason to terminate.”

“True, we don’t,” he sighs. “However, as I have stated many times, this is America, and just because we don’t have to have a reason doesn’t mean they can’t sue. And termination isn’t the guaranteed outcome of this meeting.”

What?!