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“Can you suggest an overall explanation for your conclusions?”
She smiled, trying not to be smug. “There’s a rampant dissatisfaction and general cynicism in this company. Such attitudes always start at the top, the very top.” She made her point without an ounce of guile, though she looked straight at the Chief Executive Officer, her eyes fixed with a stare it was difficult to imagine from those stunning green eyes. There was a breathless silence until it was so uncomfortable that several middle managers were squirming. Only Jocelyn and Reggie seemed perfectly complacent in the otherwise prickly moment.
“Of course I’d like a copy of the report for my review,” Reggie finally said, still showing no emotion.
“Of course.”
“Then we’ll discuss and implement the changes. In the meantime, I’d like a meeting with you in my office, Miss Killian. I sense there are a few matters that you’ve not mentioned here.
“There certainly are,” Jocelyn agreed.
No one had a clue what they were talking about, though their exchange left everyone assuming Jocelyn had specific comments to make regarding individual employees.
***
There was a soft breeze of fresh air bathing the high-rise office—a special air filtration system Reggie had installed in his office to make it easier to work in the airtight in building. Jocelyn could feel the air tickle her neck. If she closed her eyes, she could have imagined herself outside in spring, and at the moment, that would have been a delightful alternative to what she was doing.
“I wonder how personal feelings might have influenced your findings, Miss Killian,” Reggie asked her, breaking into her pleasant reverie with the question.
“Why would you think that?” she replied. She sat in front of Reggie, in the same icy stare down they’d been having for two weeks – since Tahoe. It was just an hour after she’d made her initial report to his executive staff.
“A gut feeling,” he said.
“My, how nouveau of you to suggest you run this company on gut feelings.”
“Your sarcasm is uncalled for,” Reggie said.
“Anything I say could be uncalled for,” she replied.
Reggie pushed away from his desk, and rose, walking toward the enormous windows that made up one wall of his elegant office. Staring out at the city, he was far too high up in the office building to see anything but tiny cars, and tinier people down below. Most of his view was of other gray and glass buildings; though on a less foggy day, he could see the Lake between the skyscrapers, and ships and even sailors and the
clear blue sky beyond.
“I would hope that your study wasn’t clouded by a few moments in Tahoe,” he said, not bothering to look at her.
“I know my work, Mr. Harold. I’ve been in dozens of companies. You hired me because you knew something was amiss in yours. Whether I succeed with my work, and the company progresses from this point, is in direct proportion to the self-honesty of those in the highest levels of management. I’m sorry that you’re the highest in this company, but that is a fact that is painfully apparent. It starts with you.”
“This company is not suffering, Miss Killian. We’ve had the best year we’ve ever had, this last year.”
“But you’re not satisfied. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be paying me the big bucks.”
“I’ll take a look at your findings, and let you know how I want to proceed from there,” he said brusquely, as he returned to his desk. “I don’t see any further need for your services until I’ve made my own conclusions.”
Jocelyn stared at the devastatingly handsome face wondering how he could be so unfeeling.
“You’ve paid me for my work, I would suggest that you let me do it, and not let your ego get in the way.”
“You think it’s ego? I think it’s prudence. I’m not going to initiate sweeping changes with little thought, especially when profits have been good.”
“You want more than good.”
“I doubt you know what I want,” he said.
Jocelyn stared at the man for some moments, trying to think of some way to crack the ice.
“You know, Reggie, you are by far, the coldest mother fucking bastard I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. I wonder that you could have a company here at all.”
Reggie looked up at her, startled by the unexpected reproach.
