Page 31 of Without Apology
“If you’re afraid of something happening again, why don’t you keep the door open instead of plastering yourself up against it as if you need to create as many square inches between us as possible?”
Was I that transparent? “I’m not.”
“What do you need?”
Her cool greeting should’ve given me comfort that we were solely professional. But it didn’t. Instead, it made my stomach hurt.
“I wanted to be sure everything is going okay with Russ. Unfortunately, our regular auditor, Lyle, got sick.”
“Emma told me. And Russ is fine. Smart and catching onto everything quickly, especially given he was brought in at the last minute.”
I’d wanted to hear he was inept, so I had an excuse to fire him. “Good.”
“Anything else?” She appeared impatient to get back to work.
“Did your father get you the job here?”
Her eyes went round before the temper settled there.
Although there were a number of ways I could’ve gone about asking, I tended to go for the most direct hit in order to gauge a reaction. I’d become very adept at reading people over the years. Currently, my money was on her being pissed.
“Considering he died when I was fourteen, that would be impossible.”
I hadn’t expected her answer. Normal people would’ve offered an apology. I did not. “Then why is Jeff saying that George knowing your father got you the job?”
She started shutting down her laptop and putting her things into her bag, noticeably ready to leave. “Because he’s an asshole who is insecure enough about me getting the CFO position he’d feel the need to tell you that. A lot of people knew my father. He was the CFO of ExxonMobil, and yes, one of those people who knew him was George. But he didn’t discover the connection between my father and me until I’d already been working here for a year. If you don’t believe me or think I’ve had some sort of favoritism, then by all means ask George. I’m done with this conversation.”
I’d hit a nerve. One I hadn’t meant to. “Peyton, it wasn’t my intention to upset you.”
She shook her head before pinning me with a stare. “Then apologize.”
“I needed to dispel the rumor. The best way to do that is to go straight to the person it’s about.”
She walked up directly in front of me. So close I could smell a whiff of her perfume and could’ve dipped my head to her neck to have a taste of the soft skin I knew would greet me there.
“Not even close to an apology. Please move. I’m going home.”
I stepped aside and watched her stride out of her office without a backward glance. Regret coursed through me at my insensitivity. It wasn’t a familiar or pleasant emotion. I’d managed to drive her away even further. This should have made feel safer, but instead only left me feeling empty.