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“That’s not the point,” I reply. “I’d have issues with any employee of mine talking to another in that way.”
“Fair enough,” she says softly.
“You’ve given him a verbal warning,” Helen says. “I suggest we invite him into the office after Christmas for a meeting. He would be able to bring in a support person, and maybe just you and I should be there, Kip, so he didn’t feel as if we were ganging up on him. We also need to keep a record of every interaction we have with him until this is settled.”
“And if he won’t come?” I ask. “Or he comes and refuses to back down?”
“We follow it up with a written warning. If he were to continue to be difficult, we would suspend him, and then finally terminate his employment on the grounds of incompatibility. He’s smart, though, and he’s within his rights to sue us for wrongful dismissal. I don’t think he’d win, but…” She shrugs.
Damon clears his throat. “Okay, we’ll leave it there. Thanks, Helen. We’ll get back to you.”
She nods, picks up her laptop, and she and Marama head out, closing the door behind them.
I stretch out my legs, look up at the ceiling, and blow out a breath. “Fuck.”
“I’m sorry.”
I stare at the light for a moment, then lower my head. “I just want him gone. I’m so angry with him.”
“I know.”
“He’s made a fortune out of us over the years,” I say bitterly. “And I feel as if he’s stabbed me in the back.”
“I know, I feel the same. I’m disappointed in his behavior. He’s let us down, and for what? A woman?” His disgust is palpable. I try not to smile. “But there are a couple of reasons we need to be careful,” he says. “One of them is legal.”
“And the other?”
He tips his head to the side. “He’s your friend, and I know you. If you fire him now, you’re going to be eaten up with guilt at the thought of what’s going to happen to Chloe and the kid. You’re going to feel the need to control this, but maybe everyone just needs a few days or weeks to calm down.”
“You really think he can return to work here after what he said?”
Damon taps his pen on the table. “I know he’s hurt your feelings. Professionally, though, he’s an excellent engineer, and an asset to the company. Maybe we should consider trying to work through this?”
I get up and shove my chair under the table with a bang. “Over my dead body.”
“Kip—”
“I don’t want him to set foot in this building again.”
“If you don’t want to meet with him and Helen, I’ll do it. But it’s got to be done. We have to go through the steps. Helen will run the meeting. Hopefully Craig will shoot himself in the foot without us having to do anything. Then she can give him the written warning.”
I grit my teeth. It’s the last thing I want to do, but I know he’s right.
“You want me to organize it?” he asks.
“No, I’ll do it.”
“All right.” He gets to his feet. “I know this is tough, and he’s hurt your feelings. And you’re not going to want to appear as if you’re backing down. But give him a few days to stew. Maybe he’ll come to his senses over Christmas, when he realizes he might lose his wife and kid. Give him the chance to make amends.”
I want to say ‘Fuck him.’ And it annoys me that Damon, who’s usually the hot-headed one, is having to say it to me. But he’s right.
I give a short nod, and he walks out. Gritting my teeth, I pick up my stuff and head out to Marion’s office to get her to book a meeting.
*
Later that day
“Bro,” I say. “For God’s sake, come on.”
