Read Online Caught Up in the Touch by Laura Trentham - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Laura Trentham
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she’d gained other tools to deal with the urge to cut. Deep meditative breaths settled her stomach and loosened the clutch of her fingers on her hip.
In control, if not completely calm, she asked, “Can I use your phone, Lilliana?”
Unaware of Jessica’s internal turmoil, Lilliana held a mug between her hands and sipped coffee with her eyes closed. “Sure. On the charger.”
Jessica unplugged it and retreated to the living room. Punching in her father’s personal cell number, she waited, forcing her lungs to maintain a slow, steady rhythm. He answered as the first ring echoed in her ear.
“Who is this?”
“It’s Jessica.”
“Where the hell have you been? I called that damn hotel you booked, and you never checked in. I’ve been waiting for an update.”
The only reliable weapon against her father was sarcasm. “I’m fine, thanks. Not murdered or kidnapped or anything.”
“I thought you were a grown-ass adult who didn’t need worrying about. Isn’t that what you keeping harping on about? Have you gotten a signature on the contract?”
“Mr. Wilde is not interested in managing the Atlanta restaurant. He seems more inclined to consider an offer running the experimental kitchens.”
“Did you switch up the offer?”
“Told him I needed time.” She bit at her fingernail, drawing blood. “I promoted Roger Whittaker into that position less than six months ago.”
“Fire him.”
“He’s worked for Montgomery Industries almost twenty years. He’s excellent. Plus, he’s putting two kids through college.” Jessica had been the one who’d delivered the good news. Logan Wilde’s acceptance would mean her promotion and a good man’s firing.
“Fine. Demote him then. Logan Wilde is more important. If he wants the head job, it’s his. Roger will have to suck it up.”
A demotion was infinitely better than a firing, although she wasn’t sure Roger would see it that way. Her hand trembled around the phone as a conciliatory tone weakened her voice. “Mr. Wilde seems inclined to want to take his time. Plus, it will involve a substantial salary increase.”
A long beat of silence from the other end. Not good.
Her father’s voice was deceptively soothing. “Do I need to send someone else? Eric would love a shot at CFO. He’s got more experience than you do. Maybe this Wilde fellow would respect dealing with a man more.”
She took a deep breath. He was baiting her. That’s all. He wouldn’t give her job to butt-kisser Eric. “I told you, Mr. Wilde is interested. I’ll amend the contract—”
“Why haven’t you amended it already? I would expect you to pull an all-nighter if necessary.”
“Look, yesterday was crazy. My car had a coolant leak—”
“I told you not to buy that piece of crap car. My man at the dealership was ready to sell you a loaded Mercedes.”
“I’m not going through this again.” She rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. “My car’s being fixed at a local garage.”
“Here comes the Golden Boy now.” A click sounded on his end and ambient noise transmitted. “Come say hello to Jessica, Eric. She still hasn’t closed the deal.”
“Are the two of you at the office?” she asked.
“We’re golfing at the club.”
Of course, they were. “Take me off speakerphone. Now.”
He either didn’t hear her or decided to ignore her. “How would you approach the situation with Wilde, Eric? Share your wisdom with Jessica.”
She snorted. Wisdom? All the man possessed was misplaced confidence and unrivaled ambition.
“If I were Jessica, I’d get something real pretty and real short. Get him distracted then whisper promises of fame and fortune in his ear. He’d sign.” Too-loud male laughter forced her to take the phone away from her ear. “But since I’m a man, I’d take him out and show him my Porsche and tell him he could buy one like it flat out with the signing bonus I’d offer.”
“Great idea, son. What do you think about that,
In control, if not completely calm, she asked, “Can I use your phone, Lilliana?”
Unaware of Jessica’s internal turmoil, Lilliana held a mug between her hands and sipped coffee with her eyes closed. “Sure. On the charger.”
Jessica unplugged it and retreated to the living room. Punching in her father’s personal cell number, she waited, forcing her lungs to maintain a slow, steady rhythm. He answered as the first ring echoed in her ear.
“Who is this?”
“It’s Jessica.”
“Where the hell have you been? I called that damn hotel you booked, and you never checked in. I’ve been waiting for an update.”
The only reliable weapon against her father was sarcasm. “I’m fine, thanks. Not murdered or kidnapped or anything.”
“I thought you were a grown-ass adult who didn’t need worrying about. Isn’t that what you keeping harping on about? Have you gotten a signature on the contract?”
“Mr. Wilde is not interested in managing the Atlanta restaurant. He seems more inclined to consider an offer running the experimental kitchens.”
“Did you switch up the offer?”
“Told him I needed time.” She bit at her fingernail, drawing blood. “I promoted Roger Whittaker into that position less than six months ago.”
“Fire him.”
“He’s worked for Montgomery Industries almost twenty years. He’s excellent. Plus, he’s putting two kids through college.” Jessica had been the one who’d delivered the good news. Logan Wilde’s acceptance would mean her promotion and a good man’s firing.
“Fine. Demote him then. Logan Wilde is more important. If he wants the head job, it’s his. Roger will have to suck it up.”
A demotion was infinitely better than a firing, although she wasn’t sure Roger would see it that way. Her hand trembled around the phone as a conciliatory tone weakened her voice. “Mr. Wilde seems inclined to want to take his time. Plus, it will involve a substantial salary increase.”
A long beat of silence from the other end. Not good.
Her father’s voice was deceptively soothing. “Do I need to send someone else? Eric would love a shot at CFO. He’s got more experience than you do. Maybe this Wilde fellow would respect dealing with a man more.”
She took a deep breath. He was baiting her. That’s all. He wouldn’t give her job to butt-kisser Eric. “I told you, Mr. Wilde is interested. I’ll amend the contract—”
“Why haven’t you amended it already? I would expect you to pull an all-nighter if necessary.”
“Look, yesterday was crazy. My car had a coolant leak—”
“I told you not to buy that piece of crap car. My man at the dealership was ready to sell you a loaded Mercedes.”
“I’m not going through this again.” She rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. “My car’s being fixed at a local garage.”
“Here comes the Golden Boy now.” A click sounded on his end and ambient noise transmitted. “Come say hello to Jessica, Eric. She still hasn’t closed the deal.”
“Are the two of you at the office?” she asked.
“We’re golfing at the club.”
Of course, they were. “Take me off speakerphone. Now.”
He either didn’t hear her or decided to ignore her. “How would you approach the situation with Wilde, Eric? Share your wisdom with Jessica.”
She snorted. Wisdom? All the man possessed was misplaced confidence and unrivaled ambition.
“If I were Jessica, I’d get something real pretty and real short. Get him distracted then whisper promises of fame and fortune in his ear. He’d sign.” Too-loud male laughter forced her to take the phone away from her ear. “But since I’m a man, I’d take him out and show him my Porsche and tell him he could buy one like it flat out with the signing bonus I’d offer.”
“Great idea, son. What do you think about that,
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