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“Hi, I’m Adam. I work in accounts.”
“Jessica.”
He waits for my job title, and I say politely. “I’m pleased to meet you, Adam. I started yesterday in fairyland.”
Adam raises his eyes. “Wow, a real-life fairy. Can I make a wish?”
Like Rory’s, his eyes reveal what he’s thinking, and I scowl. “Only if you want to be disappointed.”
“Oh, I doubt that. My success rate is quite high. I’ll take my chances.” He presses closer and Rory laughs out loud. “Back off Adam. Jessica isn’t as easy as your usual conquests.”
Adam presses even closer and his arm slides around my waist as he leers, “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Shrugging him off, I glare at him and say icily, “There are laws against sexual harassment in the workplace. I suggest you read up on them before you’re calculating your benefit entitlement instead.”
Adam laughs out loud. “A feisty one, even better.”
Rory appears a little worried and says to his credit. “I mean it, Adam, back off. You know what will happen if someone reports you.”
Adam shrugs. “I’m not at work now and if Mr Harvey was here, there’s not a lot he can do anyway outside of office hours.”
He grins but to my relief steps away and says slightly angrily, “Anyway, he could try, but I understand every entry on his balance sheet which would be gold for his competitors. If he ever tried to fire me, I would sell that information to the highest bidder and watch with great delight when his beloved grandfather’s store crashed and burned.”
He raises his glass and chucks down the contents in one greedy gulp and slams it on the bar with a loud, “Another one, Mike, when you’re ready.”
Rory shakes his head and offers me an apologetic smile.
“Tell me…” I address my question to both men.
“I get the impression the staff hates the owner. Is he really that bad?”
They share a look and Rory nods. “He wouldn’t win any popularity competitions. I mean, the turnover of staff is embarrassing, and that’s probably because we’re just about paid minimum wage and the hours he expects us to work are ridiculous.”
“It’s not as if he can’t afford it either.” Adam interrupts. “I’ve seen the profits, and it’s no wonder the man’s a billionaire.”
“You mean he earns billions from Harvey’s?” I’m astonished and Adam laughs out loud. “So, you don’t know then?”
“Know what?”
“Mr Harvey didn’t become a billionaire at Harvey’s. He was one before he came.”
“Then why work here? It doesn’t make sense?”
“Family loyalty, I suppose.” Rory shrugs. “His father was in charge before him and was loved by everyone. Then one day he was replaced with his son and the atmosphere changed overnight.”
“In what way?”
Adam scowls. “He started firing almost immediately. Each department lost a third of their staff and the rest were supposed to be grateful and take up the slack. New contracts were drawn up, holiday entitlement was slashed, and wages reduced.”
“How?”
I’m shocked and Rory sighs. “The rate stayed the same, but all bonus schemes were scrapped. Many relied on them to make ends meet and they disappeared overnight.”
Adam nods. “Suppliers were called in and expected to offer huge discounts if they wanted their products in the store. Christmas parties were banned alongside anything outside of the hourly rate. Overnight, Harvey’s went from being a great place to work to the workhouse and it was because of one man. The billionaire who decided to play shop.”
The bitterness in their eyes gives me two possible suspects but somehow, I doubt they would stoop to sending the CEO a threatening Christmas card but it’s obvious somebody has a huge grudge against the man in charge and now I know where I need to focus my efforts.
I excuse myself and despite the calls to stay, I head back through the crowds with more purpose than when I came in.
