The CEO Buys In
Page 60
“Yes, but other—”
“Let me finish. Furthermore, he worked with a team. Those inventions weren’t just his; they were the result of lots of brains put together. Not to mention that without the equipment and the laboratory and the marketing support, your father couldn’t have turned his ideas into salable products. Kevin was a dreamer, a brilliant one in certain ways, but not a practical man. Lindell gave him a real-world structure to work in.”
Chloe sat back against the cushions as she tried to absorb this new perspective on her father. In all the hours she’d spent sitting on her favorite high stool, watching him tinker at his worktable, she’d never questioned his claim that Lindell had exploited his genius without proper compensation. Grandmillie was right about the bitterness; she’d drunk it in along with her father’s stories about the drama and excitement of creating a new product that sent the company’s profits soaring but didn’t budge his paycheck.
“But what about paying him a bonus when his idea made them money? Lots of companies do that,” Chloe said.
“He got bonuses, but he thought he deserved more.” Grandmillie fidgeted with her cane. “I wouldn’t say these things about my own son if I didn’t think you needed to hear them. Just because a corporation is large doesn’t make it evil. You shouldn’t limit your job hunt to those fly-by-night start-ups you always choose. Or work for some dishonest salesman. You’re better than that.”
But they needed the money now, and her other applications for permanent employment hadn’t borne fruit yet. As far as she could see, there was nothing wrong with Brandt Tech’s product; it was just Larry’s lies about its capabilities that were the problem.
She rubbed her fingers against her temples, trying to massage away the headache that had begun to hammer at her skull. She would make a few phone calls tomorrow to see if she could goose along the other prospective employers. Maybe Judith had some leads on permanent spots.
“Don’t look so upset, Chloe. Nothing I said takes away from what your father accomplished or how much he loved you.”
“No, of course not. It’s just . . . not the way I thought of him.”
“He was your hero, but he had his human frailties, like us all. He was still a good man.”
It rang true from her adult perspective, but Chloe wanted to cling to her old view of the world and her father. She’d believed in her father with a child’s wholehearted acceptance. After her mother’s death, he was everything to Chloe and his view of the world became hers. Now Grandmillie had pushed her axis off center, leaving her wobbly and uncertain.
Grandmillie’s gaze was concerned. “You’ve got enough to think about for one day. And I still haven’t heard about your date last night.”
Chloe was grateful for the change of subject. “Nathan wanted lobster, so we flew to Maine.” She was curious as to whether Grandmillie would be shocked.
Her grandmother thumped her cane on the floor again. “Ha! Now that’s the proper way to court my granddaughter.”
Chloe was putting the dinner dishes in the dishwasher when her cell phone rang, showing Judith’s number. Not a good sign.
“It’s Judith, my dear. You have a new assignment for tomorrow. Tallman and Hicks Accounting in Midtown. You’ll be helping with a major audit they’re doing. They need papers organized, copied, and filed.”
Disappointment thudded into Chloe like a jackhammer. “I’m not going back to Trainor Electronics?”
“No. HR called to say all their flu victims are well enough to come in tomorrow. I know it’s a pay cut from the executive suite, but I gave you the highest paying of the new job openings.”
“You’re the best,” Chloe said, trying to shake off the blow, and sound as grateful as she should be to her boss and friend. But all she could think about was not seeing Nathan tomorrow morning.
“Just to double-check, nothing awkward happened between you and Nathan Trainor, did it? I know you were finding it uncomfortable to work in his home.”
“Awkward?” Chloe heard the squeak in her voice and swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure what to tell Judith. Now that she wasn’t working for Nathan anymore, her personal life shouldn’t be relevant to Flexitemps. “No, we ended up getting along well enough.”
“Good. That’s a very nice account for me.”
“Um, speaking of accounts,” Chloe said, “I might want you to look for a permanent place for me.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but you know I don’t handle start-ups. There’s not enough money in them.”
“I’ve rethought my position on large corporations,” Chloe said. She lowered her voice so Grandmillie wouldn’t hear. “And I need the job security and the higher salary.”
“I’ll see what I can find. You have a great resumé, but the job market is tight, as you know.” Judith’s voice went from businesswoman to concerned friend. “What made you change your mind? Is your grandmother doing all right?”
“She’s going to need help when I’m not here. But it was some other things too.” Not just her grandmother’s revelations. Knowing Nathan had begun to undermine her negative attitude. How could she disapprove of a big company when the man she was having incredible sex with ran one?
“Update your resumé and send it to me tonight,” Judith said. “I’ll e-mail you the address and reporting info for Tallman and Hicks.”
“Let me finish. Furthermore, he worked with a team. Those inventions weren’t just his; they were the result of lots of brains put together. Not to mention that without the equipment and the laboratory and the marketing support, your father couldn’t have turned his ideas into salable products. Kevin was a dreamer, a brilliant one in certain ways, but not a practical man. Lindell gave him a real-world structure to work in.”
Chloe sat back against the cushions as she tried to absorb this new perspective on her father. In all the hours she’d spent sitting on her favorite high stool, watching him tinker at his worktable, she’d never questioned his claim that Lindell had exploited his genius without proper compensation. Grandmillie was right about the bitterness; she’d drunk it in along with her father’s stories about the drama and excitement of creating a new product that sent the company’s profits soaring but didn’t budge his paycheck.
“But what about paying him a bonus when his idea made them money? Lots of companies do that,” Chloe said.
“He got bonuses, but he thought he deserved more.” Grandmillie fidgeted with her cane. “I wouldn’t say these things about my own son if I didn’t think you needed to hear them. Just because a corporation is large doesn’t make it evil. You shouldn’t limit your job hunt to those fly-by-night start-ups you always choose. Or work for some dishonest salesman. You’re better than that.”
But they needed the money now, and her other applications for permanent employment hadn’t borne fruit yet. As far as she could see, there was nothing wrong with Brandt Tech’s product; it was just Larry’s lies about its capabilities that were the problem.
She rubbed her fingers against her temples, trying to massage away the headache that had begun to hammer at her skull. She would make a few phone calls tomorrow to see if she could goose along the other prospective employers. Maybe Judith had some leads on permanent spots.
“Don’t look so upset, Chloe. Nothing I said takes away from what your father accomplished or how much he loved you.”
“No, of course not. It’s just . . . not the way I thought of him.”
“He was your hero, but he had his human frailties, like us all. He was still a good man.”
It rang true from her adult perspective, but Chloe wanted to cling to her old view of the world and her father. She’d believed in her father with a child’s wholehearted acceptance. After her mother’s death, he was everything to Chloe and his view of the world became hers. Now Grandmillie had pushed her axis off center, leaving her wobbly and uncertain.
Grandmillie’s gaze was concerned. “You’ve got enough to think about for one day. And I still haven’t heard about your date last night.”
Chloe was grateful for the change of subject. “Nathan wanted lobster, so we flew to Maine.” She was curious as to whether Grandmillie would be shocked.
Her grandmother thumped her cane on the floor again. “Ha! Now that’s the proper way to court my granddaughter.”
Chloe was putting the dinner dishes in the dishwasher when her cell phone rang, showing Judith’s number. Not a good sign.
“It’s Judith, my dear. You have a new assignment for tomorrow. Tallman and Hicks Accounting in Midtown. You’ll be helping with a major audit they’re doing. They need papers organized, copied, and filed.”
Disappointment thudded into Chloe like a jackhammer. “I’m not going back to Trainor Electronics?”
“No. HR called to say all their flu victims are well enough to come in tomorrow. I know it’s a pay cut from the executive suite, but I gave you the highest paying of the new job openings.”
“You’re the best,” Chloe said, trying to shake off the blow, and sound as grateful as she should be to her boss and friend. But all she could think about was not seeing Nathan tomorrow morning.
“Just to double-check, nothing awkward happened between you and Nathan Trainor, did it? I know you were finding it uncomfortable to work in his home.”
“Awkward?” Chloe heard the squeak in her voice and swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure what to tell Judith. Now that she wasn’t working for Nathan anymore, her personal life shouldn’t be relevant to Flexitemps. “No, we ended up getting along well enough.”
“Good. That’s a very nice account for me.”
“Um, speaking of accounts,” Chloe said, “I might want you to look for a permanent place for me.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but you know I don’t handle start-ups. There’s not enough money in them.”
“I’ve rethought my position on large corporations,” Chloe said. She lowered her voice so Grandmillie wouldn’t hear. “And I need the job security and the higher salary.”
“I’ll see what I can find. You have a great resumé, but the job market is tight, as you know.” Judith’s voice went from businesswoman to concerned friend. “What made you change your mind? Is your grandmother doing all right?”
“She’s going to need help when I’m not here. But it was some other things too.” Not just her grandmother’s revelations. Knowing Nathan had begun to undermine her negative attitude. How could she disapprove of a big company when the man she was having incredible sex with ran one?
“Update your resumé and send it to me tonight,” Judith said. “I’ll e-mail you the address and reporting info for Tallman and Hicks.”
