Shadowed Flame

by RJ Blain

  For my next trick, I handed the tech my laptop. “I want a full, unmodified copy of his system put on this, if it fits. I want the actual computer locked up. No one is to touch it. Preserve the system. If you need a replacement desktop, send me a purchase order for it and I’ll take care of it myself. I also want access to his emails and full collection of passwords.”

  The tech took my laptop and nodded. “Shouldn’t be long to copy, ma’am.”

  “I’ll be in my office.” I left the workers to their job, and on the way, I gestured to Mr. Harthel’s assistant, who got up from her desk. The poor woman didn’t look too stable on her feet as she followed me down the hallway.

  Annamarie was at her desk, her eyes widening as I swept through the door with Mr. Harthel’s assistant at my heels. “Miss Evans?”

  “I’d like you two to work together. I need Mr. Harthel’s full schedule for the next month merged with my calendar. Tech is loading his data onto my laptop, so hopefully I’ll be able to salvage at least some of his work. Laura—your name is Laura, right?” I blinked at Mr. Harthel’s assistant; she wasn’t much older than me, and if memory served, she had been with the company for less than three months.

  “Yes, ma’am. Laura Madison, ma’am.”

  “Okay, Laura. I know this is sudden, but you’re going to be working beneath Annamarie. Annamarie, figure out an equivalent or better position for her, would you?”

  “Why not as your personal assistant, Miss Evans? You could use your own instead of waiting until you think your father doesn’t need me.”

  My mouth dropped open, and I blinked several times.

  Having my own assistant hadn’t crossed my mind since Annamarie planned everything. Then again, my father and I had so much overlap in our schedules it wasn’t that much extra work to keep both of us in line. “Next you’re going to tell me I need my own office.”

  “There’s the empty corner office on the other end of the floor.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “This is a set up, isn’t it?”

  “There’s even a reception office attached to it, just like this one. Empty, lonely, and needing someone to fill it.”

  I knew the office. Most of the time, I forgot it was even there. Once upon a time, it had served as a glorified playpen to keep me contained when I had been too little to attend meetings with Dad. Once I had outgrown it, I had forgotten all about it.

  “Someone really hasn’t claimed it?”

  “No one has claimed it. I’m not even sure when someone was last in the office or its reception.”

  I turned to Laura. “How do you feel about cleaning if it comes with a job promotion?”

  “I’m not being fired?” the woman squeaked.

  I snorted. “Why would I fire you? You haven’t done anything wrong that I’m aware of. Print your resume, bring it over, and see what it’ll take to make that office habitable. Are you allergic to dust?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Matia, please. You take care of those offices and leave the rest to me.”

  Laura’s eyes widened so much I feared they’d pop out of her head. Whether she was afraid I’d change my mind or used to someone who demanded immediate obedience, the woman fled.

  She returned in the time it took her to walk to her desk and back with the resume, handing it to me with shaking hands. She ran down the hallway, slowing long enough to close the reception door behind her.

  I blinked, staring at the single sheet of paper in my hand. “Am I that scary, Annamarie?”

  “Miss Evans, until today, half the company has been convinced you’re mute or just really, really shy. Today, you’re talking more than your father, and trust me, that’s an accomplishment.”

  “Just because I don’t like to talk doesn’t mean I can’t,” I protested.

  “No, you just don’t waste words. There’s nothing wrong with that. Still, you should let your voice rest. You sound terrible.”

  I did, but at least I wasn’t wheezing. I pulled out a cough drop and popped it into my mouth. “Dad’s going to whine, isn’t he?”

  Annamarie giggled. “Between you and me, Miss Evans, he’ll mope for at least a week and probably invade your office until you kick him out. Don’t worry about him. You deserve your own space—and your own assistant, too. Laura’s a hard worker.”

  “A hard worker who was going to be looking for a new job.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you have a new job for her, isn’t it?”

  Chapter Seven

  When I finally made my way back to my shared office, Dad was sound asleep on the couch. One of his legs was stretched out on the cushion while the other hadn’t quite made it up before he had decided to doze off, using the arm rest as an impromptu pillow.

  It was common enough for one of us to take a nap after hours, although I hadn’t seen him pass out so early in the day in ages. I covered him with a blanket and headed to my desk, looking over the things I’d have to move.

  It wasn’t much. Annamarie handled everything with a paper trail, filing the sheets away and removing them so it wouldn’t clutter our frantic lives. My desk had seen better days, likely searched during my time in the hospital.

  It’d fill a box with room to spare.

  It was tempting to swipe everything off onto the floor to deal with later, but I tidied into unorganized piles and reviewed Laura’s resume. The woman was a fresh college graduate, which meant she was likely twenty-one or twenty-two. Unlike many in the office, instead of the standard business degree, she had opted for an English major.

  Before becoming Harthel’s assistant, she had worked at a coffee shop as a barista. I narrowed my eyes, wondering why Harthel had hired her. Taking the resume to the reception, I dropped the sheet on Annamarie’s desk. “Your thoughts?”

  Annamarie picked up Laura’s resume, and her eyes widened. “This is it?”

  “I want a background check done on her. Find out where he found her and why he hired her. I’ll keep her as long as she’s competent.”

  It wasn’t Laura’s fault Harthel had hired her when she wasn’t qualified for the job. Why had he kept her for three months, though? Unless she had relevant experience hiding somewhere I wasn’t aware of, she would’ve been flying blind from her first day of work.

  “Of course. Anything else?”

  “Does Dad have anything scheduled for the next few hours?”

  Annamarie shook her head. “Not until four. I thought it’d be wise to keep his schedule light today.”

  “He’s asleep on the couch. Don’t let anyone disturb him, not unless it’s an emergency. Even if it is, route everyone to me first.”

  “He’s so worn out,” our assistant whispered, glancing behind me at the office’s open door.

  It wasn’t my fault, yet it was. I sighed. “I know. He needs the normality, and so do I.”

  “You feeling okay?”

  “Tolerable. Not a fan of this whole wheezing thing,” I admitted, wrinkling my nose. “Not a fan of the inhalers, either.”

  “Don’t you even think of trying to move things out of your office on your own, Miss Evans. I will have security take you and Ralph home if you try.”

  Annamarie would, and we both knew it. I surrendered, holding my hands up in acceptance of the ultimatum. “Understood.”

  “Good. I’ve pulled up Mr. Harthel’s calendar. There’s something you need to see.”

  The first thing to catch my attention was the five o’clock meeting with the company we had been scheduled to visit in London. I sucked in a breath, pointing at her monitor. “Does Dad know about this?”

  “No. I didn’t know about it.”

  “Call them and reschedule the time and location. Work with them. You said Dad had a four o’clock?”

  “Yes.”

  “See if they’ll move it to four. I’ll handle it myself.”

  “Ambitious. I’ll pretend I know nothing of your four o’clock, then. The meeting location is a restaurant. How do you want me to handle
it?”

  “Give them a call and see how they want to deal with the time shift. Pick a different restaurant, too. I’m going to look at this empty office. When the tech comes back with my laptop, guard it for me, okay?”

  “Will do. I’ll let you know as soon as I can get a hold of the meeting contact.”

  The cleaning crews hadn’t been to the reception and the corner office on the other side of the executive floor in a long time; there was a sense of abandonment to the place, which was partnered by a thin layer of dust on the hardwood floors. The glass was clouded, and I grimaced at the thought of the effort required to restore its clarity.

  It’d probably be easier to shatter the windows and replace them with something newer.

  Every office between the corner and reception was likewise empty, and I wondered about the waste of space. I could think of plenty of good men and women who deserved an office upgrade.

  At least the lack of employees gave me a chance to work without an audience.

  “Miss Matia,” Laura blurted, staring up at me with wide eyes. She was on her knees on the floor cleaning up a puddle of sudsy water.

  “I’m pretty sure we have mops somewhere in this building. We have a janitorial staff, too. I didn’t think it needed so much work.” I grinned at her, grabbed a towel from her collection of them, and tossed it on the puddle before going to work with my foot to help clean up the mess. “Do I want to know how the main office looks?”

  “No. I don’t think anyone has been in there in years. There’s dust everywhere.”

  “Anything to move out?”

  “No, nothing at all. It’s empty.”

  “Okay, I’ll have a look inside to see what sort of space I have to work with.” While I was pretty certain the office was actually larger than the one I shared with Dad, I wanted to confirm my memories matched the reality of the situation. “You’re going to need a bigger desk, a better chair, and other odds and ends. Once we have the reception floor dried, go hunt someone down in HR and have them put you in touch with the best folks for a renovation and new office furniture. Annamarie can help you set up a purchase order if you haven’t done one before.”

  “I haven’t,” the woman mumbled; she stared down at the soapy puddle in front of her.

  “I learned everything I know by sitting down and doing it, Laura. If you don’t understand something, ask questions. If you’re worried you won’t remember, take notes. If you need a good binder to help you track your notes, I’ll buy one for you. If you don’t have a cell phone capable of organizing everything, the company will provide one for you. I’m not going to lie to you. You’re going to have a difficult job. The hours are long, and I might end up calling you at four in the morning because I need to be across the country by noon the next day for an unexpected meeting.”

  “I don’t have a cell phone. I can’t afford one.” The hopelessness in her voice made me pause.

  I didn’t know every employee’s salary, but Laura was my responsibility. “How much is your salary?”

  “My contract has me on hourly wages, ma’am.”

  “How much?”

  The number she gave me wasn’t much over minimum wage. In New York, in the heart of Lower Manhattan, minimum wage was a death sentence for someone’s finances. Long hours and overtime weren’t enough to make up for that.

  Rage rooted me in place, and I was glad Dad had fired Harthel. If the man had been anywhere in the building, I would have hunted him down and shoved my foot so far up his ass he would’ve started singing soprano. I drew several deep breaths.

  “Change of plans. We’re going to Human Resources. Leave everything where it is.”

  Laura squeaked and surged to her feet. Her skirt was damp, and her top had water stains on it. I took off my sweater and handed it to her, straightening my blouse while she wiggled her way into it. “Am I in trouble?”

  “No, you’re not in trouble. I’d say step lively, but I am sticking to a leisurely stroll. I have a few stops to make first.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” my new assistant whispered.

  My first stop was Annamarie’s desk. She took a look at me and then at Laura, and her eyes focused on the fact the woman was wearing my sweater. “What’s going on?”

  “I need a few favors, Annamarie.”

  Dad’s assistant grabbed a pen and a pad of paper. “Ready.”

  “I need the corner office totally cleaned out, top to bottom. Dust bunnies have made a nest in there, and it’s uninhabitable. The windows for the reception are opaque. They’ll need replaced. I’ll also need every office not in use in that wing cleaned out and resupplied. New desks, new chairs, the works. I want it done by Friday. If the windows will take longer, get me an estimate. Send me the purchase orders, and I’ll review and sign off on them.”

  “Okay. What else?”

  “Laura will need a company cell phone and a full plan for it, as well as a personal-use allowance.”

  “I can have it by the end of the day.”

  If my guess was right, Laura couldn’t afford an internet connection, and while she likely had a computer, it wouldn’t do everything I’d need. “Next up, she’ll need a company laptop and desktop for home use, plus all accessories. I want it set up so both machines can access the internet through wireless tethering.”

  “I’ll get a hold of the tech team and get an ETA on when they’ll be ready.”

  “Thank you. Also, I’ll need a new cell, too.”

  “The order was already placed, ma’am. You should have yours in a couple of hours.”

  “Thanks, Annamarie. Come along, Laura. We have a lot to do and little time to do it in.”

  “Don’t forget to use your inhaler if you need it, Miss Evans. Laura, consider watching her your top priority.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Laura replied, straightening.

  Assistants. Couldn’t live with them, couldn’t live without them.

  There was something satisfying about storming into Human Resources on a warpath. The elevator ride four floors down was in silence, which Laura spent fidgeting while pale gray smoke swirled around her.

  Sometimes, my eyes played tricks on me, but the insight into the woman’s state of mind intrigued me. It wasn’t the inky maliciousness of Harthel’s presence, but a darkening of her spirits. I guessed it was brought on by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

  I’d be anxious, too, if my entire career was turned upside down in the matter of a few hours. Trips to Human Resources meant trouble in most people’s minds, and Laura hadn’t been in the company long enough to know how Pallodia Industries operated.

  If the new equipment hadn’t been enough to tip Laura off she was about to have a very good day, I’d make sure to catch her if she dropped into a dead faint when I settled on her new salary.

  HR’s receptionist gaped at me as she rose from her chair. “Miss Evans?”

  “I need someone to pull out Laura’s file and make some adjustments.”

  The receptionist sat back down, picked up the phone, and made a call. A minute and a half later, she directed me to Abby Thatcher’s office, the head of HR. Laura swallowed and clasped her hands in front of her.

  “It’s fine, Laura. Abby is pretty laid back, and you’re not in trouble.”

  Well, Abby was normally laid back, but I had tossed a pitcher of ice and water all over her and most of the other members of the board not too long ago. With luck, I hadn’t fallen too far out of the executive’s good graces.

  “Miss Evans.” Instead of staying seated, Abby got up, circled her desk, and clasped my hand in a firm shake. Then, with a soft laugh, she pulled me into a hug. “Today was the most fun I’ve ever had in a board meeting.”

  My face burned. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m stealing Harthel’s assistant, but there are a few issues I need to discuss with you.”

  “I have someone pulling her file right now. It won’t be long. Sit, sit. You look exhausted.”

  I was, although I hadn’t noticed it unt
il she had mentioned it. I flopped onto the chair, kicked off my shoes, and stretched my legs.

  “If you want to prop your feet up on my desk, I don’t mind.”

  I laughed, which birthed several painful coughs. Once I recovered, I propped my feet up and groaned as I got a chance to really stretch out. “Laura disclosed her wages to me, and they’re unacceptable, so we’re going to fix it.”

  Laura collapsed onto the chair beside me and clutched the arms as though she was ready to fall to the floor. “It’s really not necess—”

  “Bull-fucking-shit it’s not necessary. Cents over minimum wage is unacceptable for a member of this company. Abby, how the hell did this happen?”

  Abby’s eyes widened. “Who set up your file, Miss Madison?”

  “Mr. Harthel took care of everything, ma’am.”

  “Miss Madison, we do not hire anyone at minimum wage in our company—or anywhere near it, for that matter. While specific employee payment rates are confidential, all salaried employees are paid at least five dollars over the minimum wage per hour, plus bonuses.”

  “I’m paid hourly.”

  Abby’s eyes narrowed. “Who was handling your timesheet?”

  “Mr. Harthel, ma’am.”

  Abby picked up the phone, smashed two numbers, and made a low sound in her throat, resembling a dog growling. “Margret, I need a full copy of Mr. Harthel’s expense reports, including authorization of employee bonuses, authorized expenses, and payouts. I also require all accounting information for Laura Madison, his assistant. How long do you think it’ll take for Miss Madison’s information? Okay. Call me back.”

  Hanging up, Abby sat straight in her chair, flexing her hands. “I apologize, Miss Madison. As the head of HR, it’s my responsibility to make sure these situations do not occur.”

  Laura stammered something, so nervous I couldn’t understand a word she was trying to say.

  While I wouldn’t blame her if she cracked under the pressure, I wanted to turn the attention away from her and back to me. “The only one to blame is Mr. Harthel. The damage has been done, so instead of beating ourselves up over it, let’s fix it. Can we issue a bonus to bring her wages on par with the average for the rest of our entry-level secretarial staff, Abby?”