Page 4

“Maintenance door,” he said, holding up his keyring. “Your next question is why.” Her shrug said she didn’t care, but he didn't like that answer. “I own the place.”

“Is that code for you’ve come to throw your weight around, fire me, or consolidate operations?”

“None of the above,” he answered, motioning toward the customer service door. “Maybe we could discuss this in your office?”

“I doubt it will be any warmer in there, but sure,” she said, yanking the door handle so hard that he was shocked it didn’t come off in her hand.

He grabbed the door, held it as she walked in, then let it close behind him. They walked down a short hallway to her office. When he entered, she was already seated behind her desk. Her hands were folded in a prayer pose as she leaned forward, signaling she had the upper hand. If he didn’t know better, he’d mistake her for a business shark, but he knew better.

That said, he’d still be walking a tightrope over the Grand Canyon. If he didn’t get it just right, she would be the end of him.

“The board wants to know how Snowcap Ridge became the flagship among all the malls, including those in bigger cities. They also want to know how we can replicate it.”

Joy’s chin lifted. “I’m sure they do.”

He hated how defensive she sounded. Hated that he’d caused it. Hated that he lacked a clever retort to put her in her place. Then again, she was very much in her place. He was the outsider here. He’d do well to remember that.

“I’m not here to undermine you,” Kian said quietly.

Joy’s eyes brimmed with suspicion. “You’re the CEO now, Kian. You don’t have to undermine me. You can just fire me.”

You can just fire me. The first blow had landed right where she wanted it, in his gut.

“I’m not firing you. It’s obvious to all of us at headquarters that you’re the reason this mall is doing so well. Leadership starts at the top and flows downward. When you have the very best at the top, it shows.”

Joy didn’t look convinced. “Now I’m the very best? It didn’t seem that way six months ago, let alone sixteen years ago.”

His sigh echoed through the office. “Can we let bygones be bygones?”

The look on her face as she stood, leaning over the desk on her palms, told him it was definitely the wrong question. “GET. OUT.”

Standing, Kian leaned against the desk’s edge and held her gaze. “I’m not leaving. This is my business. I’m here to learn from you.”

“Then come back during business hours.”

Formidable. She was a well-trained opponent, and it wasn’t lost on him that he’d been the one to train her.

Retreat.

That’s what his brain said, so for the first time in his life, he chose to listen.

He stepped back and checked his Rolex, the final gift his mother ever gave him. “I’ll return at eleven a.m. Clear your schedule. We have a lot to discuss.”

“Wrong,” she said, making a fake buzzer sound. “Today is my day off, and I have a date with a plate of cookies and a book. You can return tomorrow at ten a.m., not a second earlier. Also, you’ll use the same entrance as the rest of the public. Do you want to learn why this mall is your top performer? That’s how you’ll learn.”

His lips quirked. She was spicy. Not that he didn’t expect it, but he couldn’t deny he was enjoying it. How weird was that? Did he let her win this round, or assert dominance? Could he do both? He had plenty to do at the estate today, so putting off another duel with the woman before him wasn’t the worst idea. But would that make it look like she’d won? A little voice in the back of his head told him the smartest move was to let her win, just this once. It might be the only way she would speak to him tomorrow without a forked tongue. He laughed internally. As if that would ever happen. But knowing what he knew, they had to figure out a way to work together.

“Fine,” he said, jabbing a finger down hard on her blotter. “But your schedule will be clear. You’re mine tomorrow, Joy, and I expect your full attention.”

Before she could answer, he spun on his heel, walked down the hall, and out the door. He understood she couldn’t clear her schedule entirely as the GM of a mall this large, but it was the only move he had left to assert dominance.

She’d won that round, but he’d be much better prepared for battle tomorrow.

4

#Operationbyebyebossman

Fuming, Joy stomped around her apartment. She should be baking cookies and enjoying a good book, but oh no! Not anymore. Even though it was her day off, she’d have to spend it at the office, gathering the information she needed to present to King Van Adler tomorrow.