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“You ready?” Greg glared over a stack of folders.
“Yes. I have everything we need right here.” Skye held up a thumb drive. She had downloaded the presentation last night as well as backed it up on her hard drive and a remote server. She was nothing if not thorough.
“Good. I’ll let you handle all the talking points on the zoo.” Greg sifted through the pastries on the center of the table until his fingers settled on a strawberry donut. “I’ve got enough on my plate with the rest of this shit.”
Skye eyed him. The usually cocky executive looked shaken. “Everything ok, Greg?”
“Oh sure. I’m only handling the biggest account we’ve ever had and I just got another client dumped on my desk yesterday. No problem.”
Skye plugged her laptop into the projection system. “Are you not happy with the accounts you have?” She wasn’t about to pipe in on how lackluster sun protection was.
He mumbled something under his breath. “It’s not like I’m sticking around. I just needed a big account to get the New York job.”
Skye looked up, the lights from the projector in her face. “What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. This was a means to an end for me. I didn’t expect it to be so much fucking work.” He clutched a second donut. “But, don’t say anything. I haven’t given my notice.”
“You expect me to keep quiet about this after you took the entire tourism account from me?”
“I gave you the zoo file.”
“Is that like hush money or something?”
Greg smirked. “You could call it that.”
Skye thought of a few choice four-letter words to throw across the conference room, but CEO Stan Preston walked through the door.
“Greg, how’s it going? Skye, so glad Greg brought you in on this account. He’s a smart guy.” Stan nodded at each of them before taking a seat at the head of the table.
“Good morning, Stan.” Skye busied herself with starting the first graphic, making sure the lighting and colors were right. Greg had just handed her the biggest piece of ammo if she wanted to get the account back, but right now it wasn’t her focus. The members of the tourism board would be walking in the room any minute. It was not the time to start a coup.
“Can’t wait to see what you have to show us, Greg. The board is extremely happy with how you’ve handled this account.” Stan stretched in his seat. “You know it’s only a matter of time before you’re sitting right here.” He patted the tabletop.
Skye rolled her eyes. Greg had weaseled his way into the account just to get a rung under his foot for the next step.
“Looks like our guests a
re here. Skye, are you ready to start?” Greg wiped the sugar from his hands.
“Absolutely.” She pulled her shoulders back and smiled as the tourism board filed in the conference room.
“This is unbelievable. Greg told you that?” Kari still hadn’t closed her mouth since Skye shared the news.
“Yes, he was even bragging about it. I would say rubbing it in my face that he got a new job and the tourism spot is now beneath him. What an ass. He knows what it meant to me.”
“I think it could be a good thing. You can take it back.” Kari shifted in her seat.
“You know what? I don’t think I want it back.” Skye took a bite of salad. Her shoes were strewn under the desk.
“How could you not want it back?” Kari unveiled a chicken salad in a Styrofoam container.
“Hold that thought.” Skye retrieved her ringing phone. “Ben, hey is everything ok?” She held her breath, waiting for him to explain how her mother was on the roof, or he lost her at the park.
“Yeah, everything is great. Patty and I were just checking to see if you needed anything at the grocery store.”
“Grocery store?”
“Mmm…hmm. Your mom wants to cook dinner for you tonight. I told her I’d take her to the closest market. Need us to pick up anything for you?”
