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“Hellooooo. Charlie,” Shelby calls, waving her hands in front of my face. “Are you even listening to me?”
I blink several times. I didn’t even realize she was standing there, and based on her glare, she is not pleased.
“I’m sorry. What?”
“You can’t be serious,” she snaps. “You heard none of that?”
“Shelby, I’m exhausted.”
“You’re still drunk,” she barks, crossing her arms over her chest, looking down at me like I’m sure my mother would if she were still alive.
“Please don’t start,” I beg, rubbing at my throbbing temple. “Yesterday was very much a disaster.”
“I don’t doubt it was, but you have a damn phone. You should’ve called.”
Her lecture isn’t doing anything for my building headache. She stands in the same place for several seconds, glaring down at me and breathing heavily in and out of her nose, until she finally sighs and sits down.
“She sat here all night waiting because you couldn’t simply call with an update.”
“I didn’t know she would do that.”
She laughs. A short, derisive laugh that comes out more like a snort than anything else. She whips her dirty blonde hair over her shoulder and stares at me. Her blue eyes are unblinking, and if she were standing, there’s no doubt she’d be tapping her foot, waiting for me to speak. I want to tell her to calm down, but I have a feeling that wouldn’t go over too well.
“I’m sorry?” It comes out as a question, and Shelby’s eyes narrow to slits.
“You aren’t sorry. You’re hungover and stinking up the place,” she barks. “Go home. Shower. Sleep,” she says, not leaving room for arguments. “Pull yourself together, and then get your stupid ass back here tomorrow so we can fill these vacancies and keep this company rising to the top.”
I’ve been schooled by my assistant.
“I can’t. There’s too much to do.”
“And you’re in the proper shape to actually do it?”
She makes a valid point. Between my headache and wayward thoughts of Raven, I’m damn near useless.
“You’re right,” I admit, my head lolling back on my shoulders. “I’ll head home and come back tomorrow.”
She sits back, watching me warily for several tense seconds. “What happened in London, Charles?”
I blow out a harsh breath, groaning in response. This is the last thing I want to get into right now. Shelby has been a godsend to this company and me, but I’m not ready to hear her advice that is overly loud, invasive, and unfortunately, right.
“There are all sorts of rumors circulating. I think it’s best if we make a statement before it causes issues.”
“What rumors?” I say with a deep sigh.
“That you were called home to take control of the London office.”
I nod. No use in denying it. Her eyes widen.
“Seriously? It’s all true?”
“It is, but I’m not doing it.”
She seems to soften at this. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m relieved. This place wouldn’t work without you.”
“That doesn’t mean that bastard won’t press the subject,” I say, growing more tired by the minute.
“And that’s what had you drunk as a skunk last night and running off one of the best new hires we’ve had since opening?”
