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The corner of his mouth lifted. "Give her hell."
"She's my boss. That would be a career-limiting move."
"Didn't you say you don't play by the rules, Meredith?"
I didn't usually. But I wanted to keep my job, not antagonize my boss.
I honestly couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I’ll talk to my assistant,” Cade said. “He’ll contact you with meeting options.”
“You’re considering this?”
“Why not? We’re always looking to grow our business.”
I didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that he was considering it.
“It was good seeing you tonight.”
“You’re leaving already?” I asked him.
“Do I detect a bit of regret?”
“You’re not a terrible conversation partner,” I teased. “When you’re not mocking my work ethic.”
He laughed, arranging his tie. “Colton texted me that he wants to go out for a drink. He’s been locked in his lab for almost a year, so I can’t pass up this opportunity. Knowing him, he’d probably just go back to work.”
Oh, that warmed my heart. The Whitley brothers had always been close, and I was happy to see things hadn't changed.
“Go have fun with your brother.” Probably for the best anyway. I needed to figure out what the heck was going on with Sonya and my job.
After he left, I scoured the room for my boss. She was at the bar, alone, watching me as I approached.
“The champagne is really good,” she said. “Do you want a glass?”
I might not want to antagonize her, but I didn't want to tiptoe around her either. "No, thank you. I wanted to talk to you about the potential sale of the company."
"Oh yes, I thought you seemed a bit surprised."
I decided to be honest with her—after all, that was how we'd always worked in the past. “To be frank, Sonya, I was blindsided. You didn't mention any plans to sell when you promoted me."
Sonya shrugged. "Would you have taken the job?"
"No," I admitted. It would look bad on my résumé if I was promoted to a position of leadership only to lose it in a couple months. And she obviously knew that. So much for our stellar working relationship. Like Dad always said, business was business.
"See? That's why I didn't disclose it. I needed someone very good at marketing who could make sure we stayed in this competition for as long as possible. And I knew you were just that person."
"Do you have a timeline for the sale?"
"As soon as possible.” Her quick response bothered me, and I was sure she could tell. “I want to retire, girl. I've worked hard for forty years. I’m tired. I want to take whatever money they're willing to give me and enjoy myself. I've had my eye on one of those around-the-world cruises for quite some time.” My jaw was practically on the floor. She obviously noticed. “Meredith, I know this is a surprise. Just see me through this competition. Besides, you never know if the sale will work out or not."
"What if it doesn't?" I asked. "Do you have a contingency plan?"
She sighed, taking a sip of champagne. I was completely unnerved, waiting for her answer as I watched her swallow. I felt like she was searching for the right words and buying herself time before she responded. "I could try taking longer breaks, more vacations or long weekend getaways as long as I find someone trustworthy to lead the company while I'm gone." She looked at me speculatively. "You’re a candidate."
"Me?" I was stunned now. Was this just Sonya buttering me up, or was she really considering me for this level of responsibility?
"Yes, you have what it takes to be CEO. I could become an advisor or something. It would require less of my time and give me an opportunity to enjoy life a bit more."
