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“Yes. He went into some detail about liquidity-to-asset ratio and so on.”
“And you’re sure it was Hamel? Not Colbert?”
“One hundred percent. He didn’t give us his name, but we searched his number online, found an old CV with his name and number listed.”
After a long pause, I finally say, “This isn’t what I expected.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll deal with this today. At least this circus is ending. Thanks, Jake.”
“No problem.”
After we hang up, I grip the wheel tighter, pressing the gas pedal and speeding through the city, my mind stuck somewhere between numbness and anger. Why would my mentor turn against me?
I summon Justin in my office the second I arrive and cut to the chase as soon as he sits in front of me.
“I received a phone call from Jake Wensworth today. The name ring a bell?”
Justin nods, his expression betraying nothing, setting me even more on edge.
“He had some rather disturbing news for me. It appears you called him to report the company is in trouble.”
A vein twitches in his temple. “That’s not true.”
“I only told this to a few people.”
“One of the others must have—”
“Cut the crap. Your phone number is listed online. It was you. Just like the leaked photos to the tabloids. Why?”
Tired of doing this the polite way, I rise to my feet, pace the space behind the desk, stopping in front of the window. Justin’s narrowed eyes follow my every move. I can practically hear him calculating the chances of convincing me that someone else is to blame.
“I trusted you. You’ve been with me since I started this company—”
“Yes, all that trust and the hard work didn’t keep you from promoting others over me, did it?” he sputters between gritted teeth.
“What?”
“You built this company with my help. I hired Marcel, and you promoted him over me. You even promoted that bitch, Honor—”
“Don’t call her—“
“I don’t give two shits about what you want.”
He rises to his feet, and I cross the room until I’m right in front of him. “This is exactly why I didn’t promote you. Your leadership skills are nonexistent. You can’t lead or give feedback. You make at least one person uncomfortable during our weekly meetings.”
“I know how to do my job. I don’t need pretty rich boys talking about leadership skills, feedback loops, and all those fancy words you learn in business school.”
I stare at him. He was my first employee. Sometimes high-maintenance, sometimes even rude, but I learned a lot from him, except for said leadership skills.
“So, this is all out of spite?”
He juts his chin forward, jamming a hand on the desk. “The extra money wasn’t bad either.”
“I could’ve given you more money. All you had to do was ask.”
“Someone had to take you down a notch or two from your high horse. I figured a few lawsuits would do the trick. But people like you always come out on top, right? All that Ivy League education and money shooting out your ass, all those connections.”
