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Olivia sat her laptop on the side table. “I know. It needs to be done. Go ahead and make sure you tell Mrs. Timmonds thanks. We’ll have to make her a cake or something.”
“Melanie can. I suck at baking.”
Olivia laughed as Jade hauled the two sacks across the driveway toward the elderly lady’s house. Glancing back to her laptop, Olivia stared at the e-mails, but reached over and closed out the screen. She grabbed her phone and went to the notes section. There were some minor repairs she needed to do to the house before she could sell it. There wasn’t much reason for her to keep it since she didn’t plan on staying in Haven. Even if she and Jackson came to some agreement on the plans for the airport, she had no intention of living here.
Olivia quickly typed in the issues she knew needed to be addressed. The living room and kitchen needed fresh coats of paint, the master bedroom carpet needed to be replaced, the floor in the kitchen needed to be changed out. The more Olivia added, the more she realized this was going to take a while to get done.
She’d need to call someone to come measure and give her a price on new flooring. Not exactly what she wanted to spend some of her savings on, but she’d get a return back once the house sold. There was no way she could put it on the market in the state it was now. With the town thriving, people would expect the homes to be up to the same standards.
As she was reading through her list, her cell rang. The number on the screen had her heart kicking up.
“Tom,” Olivia greeted. “Good morning.”
“Morning. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
“No, this is perfect.” As if she’d tell the CEO any different. Why was he calling? The endless possibilities made her stomach churn. “I trust you saw the marketing plan I laid out for the VanKirk Agency.”
“That’s why I’m calling. I have given that account over to Steve for the time being.”
She’d busted her ass for this company. Her accounting degree was only a sliver of the talent she gave to this place. She’d always thought she was valued no matter what corporate hat she wore.
Olivia’s heart sank, her breath caught in her throat. She came to her feet just as Jade came back around the side of the house. Whatever her friend saw in her eyes had Jade coming up the steps and standing right by Olivia.
“May I ask why?”
“I have something else in mind for you, and it’s something I only trust you with.”
A little part of Olivia eased, but how could the largest account just be taken from her like that? Did this mean he thought Steve was better for the job or did Tom believe Olivia was the best and he was giving her an even bigger account? Too many questions and she was in no position to second-guess her boss.
“I’m honored you trust me,” she stated. “Is this a new account or an already established client?”
“I’m going to e-mail you the details shortly,” Tom told her. “I wanted to let you know about the VanKirk Agency first before you followed up with them or had any more contact. I’m putting you on a delicate would-be clientele. We’re hoping to sway them our way and if you can manage that, it will be the biggest project you’ve ever had.”
Olivia rubbed her forehead, a little worried over what was to come, but excited at the prospect of pulling in the largest account they’d ever had. Surely that would ensure her position as COO . . . right? There was no way to know what her boss was thinking, but with the promotion on the line, Olivia would do what was asked of her.
“I look forward to seeing more details,” she told him honestly. “Thank you for trusting me.”
“No thanks necessary,” Tom replied. “On a personal note, how is the packing coming along?”
Olivia had simply told her boss she needed to settle her father’s things and pack up the house before coming back. He’d been amazing by telling her to take her time because he’d lost his grandmother a year ago and had done the same.
“A little slower than expected, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“I never had any doubt,” he stated, a smile to his voice. “Take all the time you need. So long as you’re working, I’m fine with you not being in the office for now.”
She knew he was sincere with that, but at the same time, she wanted to be back. She didn’t know if Steve would try something sneaky with her gone and she didn’t want to give him the opportunity, either.
“I hope to be back within a couple weeks. I’m working on cleaning out the house, and then there are some minor repairs that need to be done before I can list it.”
“Well, like I said, if you need more time, just let me know. I’ll send that e-mail within the hour.”
Olivia disconnected the call and sank back into the chair. Her mind raced in all directions and she couldn’t wait to get that ping from her phone and open the e-mail.
“I can’t decide if you’re panicking or if you’re fine.” Jade sat down on the porch swing on the other side of the chair. “Was that your boss?”
Olivia nodded. “I’m fine, but panicking. He’s pulled me from one account and has something else for me. He claims it’s even bigger than what I was working on. I’m waiting on the details now.”
“Does that mean you’re out of commission until you hear from him?”
