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I wonder what I’ve done to piss her off now.
I scan the files. “I’m sure you’ll give me a reason to be.”
Am I imagining the blush on her face?
“I checked, rechecked, did interviews, heard sob stories, and got threatened.” She waved her hands as if the rest of the list was pointless, ignoring the way I stiffen at the last part, and continues, “It seems you were on to something. I’ve started typing out letters of dismissal.”
She scowls as if I’m personally responsible for all those people failing to do their job properly.
However, I have something else on my mind. “Who threatened you?”
She gapes. “What?”
This time, I speak slowly, “Who. Threatened. You?”
“Carson. His usual blubbering crap, but it’s not important.” She shrugs it off as if to say, ‘it’s part of the job,’ but I’m not so easily deterred. Neither is Lucas it seems.
“What did he say?” the lawyer asks gravely, his handsome features twisted into a frown.
Lana appears unsettled at suddenly being the sole focus of two very intimidating men. Then, she tilts her head, a shutter drawing across her pretty face. “It was a private conversation.”
So, Miss Lana Hill doesn’t like to be protected?
I reach out, yanking Carson’s file from the heap on my desk. His name was sticking out, so it’s easier to identify.
“I’d like to fire Mr. Carson myself,” I say pleasantly, a sadistic part of me enjoying the flash of outrage on Lana’s face.
“That’s not your—” the head of HR hisses, but Lucas cuts her off.
“I’d like to sit in that interview, if you don’t mind.”
His features are carefully arranged into a neutral expression, but I see the bloodthirsty shark behind his light green eyes.
“If you insist.” I incline my head in acknowledgement.
Lana struggles to gain control of the situation. “That is not within your right, Mr. Thornton, and you know it. And don’t take his side, Lucas!”
The familiar way in which she addresses the lawyer has me narrowing my eyes for reasons I don’t comprehend. It annoys me.
Lucas gives her an inscrutable smile. “It’s just a conversation, Lana. Look at it this way, we’ll save you half your work on Mr. Carson.”
“My ass,” she mutters, and I tilt my head in her direction.
“I beg your pardon?” Innocently, I blink. “I didn’t quite catch that.”
The tops of her ears burn as those stormy sea-green eyes that resemble ocean depths focus on me. However, to my delight, she doesn’t retreat.
“Why?” she demands, taking a step closer to my desk. “Why him? If you want to fire them personally, why not fire them all yourself?”
She has boxed me into a corner.
I can come out and say I want to have a few words with Mr. Carson, another high-level executive, because he threatened my head of HR, but that will make it seem personal. And I don’t want it to.
“Sure,” I say, gritting my teeth while keeping my expression calm. “But if I do, don’t march into my office after I rip them to pieces over their shitty performances over the past few years.”
She stiffens. I’m surprised to find myself on my feet now, not willing to back down.
Lucas watches us curiously.
