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As staff numbers were declining, it became easier to find a spare chair to sit on. I plonked myself between Amy and Janice, to avoid the empty seat beside Pete.
Amy leant to my ear and murmured. “Don’t cause a scene this time. I can’t survive this place without you.”
I smirked and lifted my gaze to the front of the room and met Adam’s intense blue eyes. Grayson followed his brother’s gaze and his jaw twitched.
After the last staff member hurried in, Adam patted his brother on the back and moved to close the door. Grayson lifted his gaze to meet my deathly stare, but remained expressionless.
“Well, congratulations on surviving round one,” Adam announced.
Wow. Really?
“Over the next few months, we will continue to review and assess what, and who, is needed in the continuing success of this business. This is not the time to become complacent in your jobs. You will need to prove to us you belong here every single day.”
Gasps echoed through the room.
“If you’re wondering who will be picking up the extra workload, well, this will be you. All of you will be taking on more responsibility. If you have a problem with this, please speak to William. He’ll endeavour to work on a more suitable arrangement for you.” He smirked at his brother, and Grayson nodded.
“We will be meeting with each of you individually over the next week to discuss your roles and expectations at Maude. I look forward to getting to know you all better.” His eyes found mine as he finished his last sentence and I cringed. Well, that was sleazy.
I kept my eyes lowered and rushed out of the room to avoid any more unwanted eye contact. As the conference door closed, a muffled argument arose from behind. Adam and Grayson were clearly disagreeing over something, but it was impossible to make out the words as I made my way to my office. I glanced across at Amy and she shrugged, clearly hearing it too.
Grayson stormed back into his office, but paused in front of the new leafy addition on his desk. He tapped his finger beside the pot, obviously contemplating what to do with it. With a sigh, he continued around to his chair and began hammering away on his keyboard.
* * *
“They’re ready to see you now,” Linda said from my doorway, smiling tightly.
Trying to slow my erratic heart, I followed her to the room at the end of the hallway. Marlene’s old office, Adam’s new torture chamber. Not many people had come out unscathed.
She knocked twice and opened the door. Adam sat behind a large mahogany desk, while Grayson paced the room behind him. I sent Linda a ‘don’t leave me’ glance and she offered me a sympathetic nod as she closed the door, leaving me alone with the Harlow brothers.
“Please sit,” Adam said, motioning to the chair in front.
Hesitantly, I perched on the edge of the visitor’s chair and took another deep breath.
“You can relax,” he said finally. “We won’t bite…muc—”
“Josie, we’re happy with your output so far, but we think you can take on a bit more.” Grayson cut him off and Adam’s grin faded.
I blinked a few times. Is he joking? I’m already doing two jobs.
“We want you to cover the New York music scene. Concerts, reviews and the like. Marlene said you were more than capable.”
My eyes went round. “But isn’t that Susan’s—”
“She’s moved on,” Grayson answered abruptly. “Do you have a problem with the extra workload?”
I swallowed and shook my head, but didn’t meet his eyes. “No.”
Susan had worked off site. She attended gigs most nights and slept through the day, meaning she worked different hours to the rest of us. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it work, but I would have to.
“I’ll have Linda handover all of Susan’s files by the end of the day. You’ll need to be up to scratch by Monday.”
There goes my plans for the weekend. If I had any.
“Will there be anything else?” I asked.
Adam’s grin returned. “Well, now that you mention—”
