by Jill Snow
She was so caught up in her work, she didn’t realize how much time had passed when suddenly her buzzer rang. Dan wasn’t on duty. Instead, the new guy told her that she had a gentleman caller. Expecting Jason, she came down to greet him only to find Conor staring back at her, a look of fury in his eyes.
“Conor, I…” she stuttered, her mind going completely blank. “I mean I—”
“We need to talk. Can we go upstairs?”
Chapter 18
She nodded, following him as he took the stairs. He held his body so straight she could sense his anger coming off him in waves. Yet she wasn’t afraid of him. He stood back to let her open her door and waited until she was inside before closing it behind him.
“What on earth are you playing at? Why did you agree to coffee and lunch if all you intended on doing was backstabbing me?”
If she’d known him better, she would have thought he was hurt as well as angry. “Conor, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what? When you were being recorded? Come on, Emily.”
“Yes, it was but I swear I didn’t agree to calling you out at the end. In fact, I told my staff it was a bad idea.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Give me one good reason.”
“Because it’s the truth. I swear to you, Conor. I didn’t authorize the video’s release, and I certainly didn’t record the video to end that way. Jason edited it, he must have changed it.”
“Have you spoken to him?”
“No, I can’t get him on his cell. It seems to be switched off, but it is Sunday. I was going to speak to him first thing in the morning. I tried to contact you but your number didn’t come up on my cell and I called Sunny Studios, but they were closed.”
“So you just left it? The internet is going nuts. My reputation, something I value, is in the toilet but you can’t reach your staff on their cells so all is wonderful in the life of Emily Williams?”
His sarcasm rocked her.
“Actually, I was working on an apology. I took some ideas from our conversation yesterday and was in the middle of scripting something to post.”
“Sure, you were.”
She shook her head, aware that he didn’t really have any reason to believe her. “I’ll show you.”
She went to the bedroom and returned with her laptop and her notes. “I was playing that last game Sunny Studios released and working out what good things I should highlight.”
“I see you didn’t get very far.”
“The thing is…and don’t get even more annoyed, but I can’t find anything I enjoy. Well, apart from the multiplayer aspect and some of the graphics are quite cool. But the rest—well, it’s boring.”
“You mean too violent.”
“No, I mean boring. The first few levels are good. But the basic concept of the game is boring. In fact, I would hazard a guess that the recent internet fury caused by those who hate the foundation may have buoyed up the popularity of the game.”
“Are you serious? You slag me off on the internet and now you justify yourself by telling me that any publicity is good publicity? I’ve heard enough. You’ll be hearing from my solicitor or attorney or…whatever you want to call him in the morning.”
“Conor, wait. Why don’t you try playing it? You never have, right? You can see for yourself if what I said was true.”
He stood, a hesitant look mixing with the one of disgust on his face.
“I swear, I will apologize. I can’t imagine how you feel, but I feel awful. I didn’t plan this. Any of it, I promise.”
The look he gave her hit straight into her heart. She had hurt him. The real him, not the business persona but the man underneath. She hated hurting anyone. It reminded her too much of how she felt back in high school.
“I am sorry,” she whispered, praying he would believe her.
“So how do I start playing?”
She sat beside him and showed him how the basic controls worked. Then she sat back and let him take over. He wasn’t too bad for a beginner. He worked through a couple of levels, then shut the laptop.
She looked up from the speech she had gone back to working on. She had decided not to discuss the latest offering, but to pick a well-known game instead. One she could do justice to.
“Do you want to watch while I film the apology?”
“Do you want me to? Or will it make you nervous?” He didn’t seem as angry as before. The fact he even asked was a good thing.
“I’ll be nervous either way, but I think I would like you to stay.”
He remained silent as she set things up and then watched her as she spoke. She looked directly at him when she wasn’t consulting her notes. She seemed sincere, but he wasn’t sure quite what to believe. This whole weekend had been as far from his comfort zone as possible. He felt like he’d been transported back in time to school and was caught up in some horrible nightmare. The cool kids hated him, calling him a geek. He had pretended he didn’t care, that he was just as good as everyone else in his posh school. In fact, on their measuring scales, he was better than some as his father earned more money. Until the news broke about his father. Then it had gotten much worse.
“Conor?”
He started as he realized she was finished. The laptop was closed.
“Sorry, what?”
“Was that okay? Did it help any?”
“Sure. It was fine.” What was he saying? He had no idea what she had said.
“Would you like a drink? I have some wine in the fridge.”
“A beer would be better. Do you have any?”
She nodded. Soon she was back with a glass of wine in one hand and a beer in the other.
“What do you think the reaction will be?” he asked.
“To my speech?” She shrugged. “Maybe we should check.”
She sat beside him as she opened the laptop. The traffic was up with the comments flooding in. He read a couple of them as she scrolled through.
“Emily, shut it off. I didn’t realize there were so many scumbags out there.”
“Oh, these are mild compared to some I get. I don’t pay them any attention.”
“Really?”
He thought she looked a bit rattled but maybe she was telling the truth.
“Cheers,” she said as she took a drink.
“I’m sorry, Emily. About before. I really went off on one.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I was horrified to see the video, and I was the one starring in it. I’ll have to have a serious talk with Jason tomorrow. He can’t do this sort of thing.”
“Are you going to sack him?” Interesting. His question made her blush. Why? Was Jason a lover or something? Conor racked his brains. He couldn’t remember being introduced to Jason at the fundraising event. Had that only been on Friday night? His whole world seemed to have been turned topsy turvy and it was all due to this woman.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he probed. He really shouldn’t. He would hate it if someone came in and told him how to treat his staff. Although, if someone had gone out on a limb like this in his business, he would have been given his cards. No question about that.
“Because he’s Jason. We’ve known each other since high school. He’s very protective of me and sometimes he goes too far. But I will speak to him, I promise. Nothing like this will happen again.”
“Take my cell number just in case.”
He finished his beer. It was time to go. Before he did something stupid, like kiss her.
“Thanks for doing the update. I guess we’ll see what the fallout is tomorrow with the stock prices.”
She blanched and he kicked himself. Why did he have to mention that? He could afford to take a hit and although he wasn’t about to admit it now, he was going to have words with his own staff as to how his new business worked. He didn’t want to be associated with anyone or anything producing the type of rubbish she ha
d outlined they developed.
“Goodnight, Emily,” he said. There was so much more he could have said but they both needed some time to get to know each other.
Chapter 19
The next morning, he was in the office early, but Jude still beat him to it.
“About time you showed up. Have you seen the stock prices? I drew up the papers. We’re going to sue the b—”
“Put away the papers. We aren’t suing anyone.”
“Conor, you can’t be serious. If you let this Emily whatever-her-name-is get away with this type of stuff, you’re inviting every Tom, Dick and Harriet out there to have a go too. You have to make an example of her.”
Ignoring his lawyer, Conor buzzed Crystal to come into his office.
“Crystal, please come in and close the door behind you.”
He waited until Crystal was standing in front of him. “You have two adult sons, right?”
“You know I do, Conor.”
“Do either of them play Sunny Studio games? The recent one, for example?”
“Who cares whether Crystal’s sons play the game or not? What has that got to do with anything?”
“Shut up, Jude. Well?”
“No, they don’t. If they did, I would smack them. They know better than to play that filth in my house.”
“Crystal. It’s a game,” Jude said dismissively. “Come on, Conor. You aren’t going to listen to a secretary, are you?”
Conor looked at Crystal, wondering how the woman remained impassive. If he were her, he would find it hard not to hit Jude. Did the man have any idea of how smug he was being?
“Jude, enough. I asked Crystal for her opinion. And I happen to share it. I tried playing our newest so-called game last night. I never saw such rubbish before in my life. I want it gone.”
Jude paled in front of him. “What do you mean ‘gone’? You can’t just remove it.”
“Why not?” Conor snapped. He didn’t like people challenging his decisions so dogmatically. He was open to argument and would admit when he was wrong, but he didn’t like being told what to do. Jude was crossing the line.
“Because people have bought it.”
“So, give them a refund. Stop the support on the game. Customers will complain and ask for their money back. Give it to them, no questions asked.”
Jude sat down, his facial expression a mixture of disbelief and dismay. “Have you any idea how much that would cost?”
“I don’t know. I don’t care. Get rid of it. It’s not only insulting to women, but to the majority of our paying customers. I want it gone, Jude. By the end of today.”
“That just isn’t possible. Conor, be reasonable. I know you’re upset. I’ll have a retraction from the foundation by the end of business today. Emily Williams will rue the day she was born.” The smug look was back on Jude’s face. Conor balled his fists, fighting the impulse to knock it off. He walked slowly over to Jude and, bending down so they were on the same level, said, “You listen to me. I pay your bills. I want that game gone. Leave Emily Williams and her foundation out of this. Now, can you do as you are asked, or do I need a new lawyer?”
He was so close he could almost see the sweat break out on Jude’s neck. Sure, the guy was rich, but a lot of his assets were backed by secured loans. He could get another job, but those offers may be withdrawn if word leaked that Conor Dunne had terminated his contract. He needed the job and they both knew it.
“Conor, how could you say that? We’ve worked together for years. I have made you a lot of money.”
“Yes, we have. And you’ve done very well out of it but this deal sucks. You know it, I know it. Heck, even Crystal knows it. I should never have touched Sunny Studios,” Conor growled, kneading the back of his own neck trying to release the tension.
“But it was such a bargain. You’ve already made over two million gross on the share price.” Jude looked at Crystal before looking back at Conor. It was clear his lawyer was completely mystified as to where the problem lay. Was he so conditioned to seeing dollar signs, he ignored everything else? Is that what people thought of him? Did they see Jude Ryan and think Conor Dunne was the same? He certainly hoped not.
Conor took a minute to calm down and walked back to his desk. Taking a seat, he stared at his computer screen.
“No doubt that figure will be revised downwards after today. Get onto it now, Jude.” He looked to where Crystal was patiently standing, waiting for him. He thought he saw an expression of approval in her eyes. Was he going soft? Since when did he care what people thought? In a more cordial tone, he addressed Crystal.
“Crystal, I want to call a company-wide meeting. I want every member of staff in here from those who fill the coffee machines right up to the top designers. Tomorrow morning. Nine a.m. sharp.”
“Yes, Mr. Dunne.”
Conor smiled, acknowledging Crystal’s use of his formal title. She was sending a message to Jude that Conor was the boss. Unfortunately, Jude seemed beyond capable of listening.
“Jude, make sure you are at the meeting tomorrow morning. I want an update on how things are progressing beforehand.”
“But I have—”
“Whatever it is, cancel it.” Conor looked him in the eye. “I mean it. I’ll see you tomorrow at eight a.m. with news I want to hear. Now get out.”
Jude left quietly until the door on the outer office slammed.
“Crystal, I am sorry you had to witness that.”
“I’m not. About time that stuffed shirt got a taste of his own medicine.”
Conor couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
“Anything else you want me to do, sir?’
“Crystal, are your sons gamers? I mean seriously?”
“If by serious you mean one of them requires surgery to get the game controller out of his hand, then yes.”
“Would he mind coming into the office to talk to me? I need a dummies guide to gaming. I am the dummy.”
“Sure thing. When do you want him to come in?”
“Now?”
Crystal laughed. “He’s at work at the moment, but I can check if he’s free this evening.”
“Thanks, Crystal. That would be great.”
“You really going to clean up this outfit?”
“Yes.”
“Good for you. About time someone did. Some of the images I see make me want to bleach my brain.”
Conor laughed as his secretary walked back to her own office. He should have reminded her to clear his schedule but, given how efficient she was, she had probably done that already.
He looked at the pile of papers on his desk. He had plenty to do but all he could think of was Emily. How was she doing? He picked up the phone to call her but then put it down again. He had to get his facts straight for tomorrow.
“Crystal, can you get me a—”
“On your email.”
“You didn’t even let me finish.”
“You want a list of current employees with their personnel files.”
“Yes, ma’am. While you’re reading minds, can you find out who is the best designer in the company?”
“That’s easy. The company favorite is John Mitchell, but the best is a young man by the name of Gary Hill. Sending his resume over to you now.”
“Crystal, how do you know all you do?”
“Usually I don’t tell my secrets but seeing as you asked, I like gaming, too.”
Conor nearly fell off his seat. His secretary was fifty if she was a day.
“You still there? Don’t you know by now appearances can be deceptive? Gary Hill was involved in the design of The Wizard’s Quest. It’s the number ten ranking game at the moment. Sunny Studios poached him from the company he’d been working at for five years. They promised him the moon. Well, not really, but he was supposed to be able to launch his own version of a similar game. Only…”
“Let me guess, he’s making the coffee?”
“Not quite that bad, but close.”
&nb
sp; “Thanks for the files. Can you get Mr. Hill to come see me at three p.m.”
“Yes, sir. I will book Sarah Grafton in for four.”
“Who is she?”
“Your personnel manager. Well, technically she’s the assistant but she’ll know more about each member of your team than anyone else.”
“Crystal, what would I do without you? You deserve a bonus.”
“Not going to argue with you over that issue. Should I bring in your checkbook or would you prefer I call the bank manager and arrange a cash delivery?”
“Thanks, Crystal.” Conor was laughing as he hung up. Crystal had been the secretary to the boss of the third company he took over. He had immediately seen her value. For one thing, she wasn’t afraid of him and would speak her mind. For another, she had an uncanny knack for reading his mind. And also, she knew everyone. She was worth every cent of her generous remuneration scheme and much more.
Chapter 20
Emily sat opposite Jason and Carrie. Everyone was upset, her most of all.
“I don’t see what the big deal is? You hate that game just as much as everyone else, if not more. He’s the owner of the company, the only one who can do something about it. It should be a good thing if he’s upset, shouldn’t it?”
“Wrong, Jason. He is upset but it’s not good for him or for us. There are other ways of doing business. I specifically said I didn’t want you to call him out.”
“I didn’t.”
“No, you made it look like I did.”
“Jason was wrong to do it, but it seems like it might have worked.”
Emily looked at Carrie, wondering if her friend had been listening at all.
“News on the wire is he’s called a big meeting over at Sunny Studios tomorrow morning at nine. Everyone from the coffee guy to the top executives are invited. Well, maybe invited is the wrong word, more like summoned.”
Emily wondered if Conor was serious about changing the company, but she didn’t want to think about that now. She had to straighten out the issues in her own backyard.
