“Yes, sir.” Elisa rushed to do just that.
“What? Was she supposed to play goalie and block me from coming in here?”
Jacob sat aside his golf club as he admitted, “She was at least supposed to give me a heads-up.”
“Very funny.” Sofia folded her arms. “Just like I find it hilarious that Ramell Jordan seems to be under the illusion that he’s my boss.”
“Oh good Lord.” Jacob headed over to his desk and removed the bottle of Tums he kept in the bottom drawer.
“Want to tell me what that crap is all about?”
“Well, I guess technically he is sort of…kind of, your boss. Technically speaking.”
“Come again?” she asked, cupping her ear. Sofia wanted to make sure that she heard her uncle correctly before she snapped, crackled and popped off all up in his office.
“Sofia, just listen. Now, I know that you’re upset.”
“Try pissed. In fact, I think I’ve just discovered a whole new level of pissed off. I’ve been busting my butt for years now trying to make full partner, or even take over the family business, and now you go and throw a monkey wrench like this at me. That man out there now has more pull and say in my own father’s company than I do! How could you?” She stomped her foot, feeling a tantrum coming on, which was completely unlike her. Sofia prided herself for always being calm, cool and collected, but today’s surprises were making that impossible.
“Calm down, Sofia. When I retire, I fully intend to turn the presidency over to you. Ramell knows that and he knows that he will remain vice president.”
“But until then…”
“Until then…well, yeah, I guess technically—”
“There you go with that technically stuff again.” She tossed up her hands. “This isn’t going to work. It’s just not going to work,” she said as hysteria started creeping into her voice. She had worked too hard to cut Ramell Jordan out of her life only for her uncle to undermine all of her efforts now.
“Sofia, what’s the big deal? Ramell is a fine businessman with a lot of good and creative ideas to help take this company to the next level. We’ve known his family for years. They’re good people.”
“Ha!” She rolled her eyes.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Emmett and Ramell Jordan are not to be trusted. I know that for a fact. They have always had their eye out for this company and now you’ve just handed it over to them on a silver platter without so much as a fight.”
“Yes. Emmett Jordan has always expressed an interest in merging our two companies together. And there has always been an interest on our end to do so.”
“Not by my father.”
“I think I’m a little more qualified to know what my brother wanted and what he didn’t want,” Jacob charged back. “I did, after all, start this company with him. I’m also the one who kept the business afloat long before putting you on the payroll.”
“Why do I keep getting the distinct impression that you’re trying to force me out of the company?”
“Because you’re too stressed out and it’s making you paranoid.” He marched over, turned her around by her shoulders and directed her back toward the door. “This discussion is over. Just trust me on this one. Now get back to work, and try not to stress yourself out too much.”
“But—”
“No buts. Just do me a favor and try to get along with Ramell.”
“I don’t know if—”
“That’s all. Thanks,” he said, pushing her out the door and then closing it behind her.
“How rude.” Sofia huffed and stormed off toward her office.
Sarah glanced up from her desk and caught the look on Sofia’s face. Instantly she was on her feet, anticipating a list of duties to be rattled off to her.
“In my office,” Sofia barked, breezing past her assistant so fast that a small gust of wind ruffled the stacks of papers on Sarah’s desk.
“Yes, ma’am. Right away.” Sarah grabbed her iPad and rushed in right behind her boss. When they entered the office Sofia seemed content to just pace in a circle. It wasn’t just a regular oh, I’m trying to think kind of pace. No. Sofia Wellesley looked more like a dangerous wild animal plotting her next attack.
“Is everything all right?” Sarah asked, backing up. If Sofia was going to pounce she didn’t want to get too close.
Suddenly, uncharacteristically, Sofia stopped pacing and began to smile. “Sarah!”
“Yes, ma’am?” Sarah asked, taking another cautionary step backward.
With her smile still abnormally wide, Sofia walked over to her assistant and linked her arm through hers. “How do you feel about taking a vacation?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I want you to leave. Take the rest of the month off.”
“A month?” Frowning, her assistant’s brows started to stitch together.
“Yes, a month.” Sofia insisted as she brightened. “You deserve it. How long have you been working for me?”
Sarah shrugged and stammered, “Um—five years.”
“Five years,” Sofia repeated. “And you get what—two weeks vacation a year?”
“Well, actually I haven’t actually had a vacation in three years.”
“Three years?”
“We both haven’t,” she reminded Sofia.
“Humph.” She frowned at that for a moment. “Well there’s no time like the present, don’t you think?” Sofia started out, directing Sarah back to her desk. “Now you grab your things and I’ll just see you next month.”
“What? You mean leave right now?” Sarah double-checked.
“Absolutely.”
Sarah stopped and dug her heels in. “Okay,” she said tentatively. “Am I being fired? Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” Sofia reassured her. “It just occurred to me that I’ve been working you too hard. Your family lives in New York, right?”
“Y-yes. But—”
“Then it’s a perfect time for you to go drop in for a visit.” Back out at Sarah’s desk, Sofia helped the girl by grabbing her purse and leather laptop bags. “Oh, and I need to change your computer pass code.” Sofia rushed around to her assistant’s computer and started keying in numbers.
Sarah’s eyes glossed over. “Are you sure I’m not being fired? Whatever I did wrong, I can fix it.”
“You’re not being fired. You have my word on that.” Sofia popped back up and started escorting her toward the door. “Go. Have a good time. I want you nice and refreshed when you come back.”
“Um. Okay,” Sarah said. What else could she say? But Sofia didn’t just walk her to the door, she walked her all the way to her Honda Hybrid and even stood in the parking lot and waved goodbye.
When Sofia returned to her office, she couldn’t help but dance around her office like she’d just scored the final touchdown in a Super Bowl game. Hips shaking and arms waving, she couldn’t wait to see the look on Ram’s face when she told him that Sarah wouldn’t be available to compile