Page 41 of Trust Me
He nods.
I explain how those departments performed well under his leadership, but their turnover grew yearly.
“Trimming the fat,” he says before popping another portion of his roll into his mouth.
“Could be,” I state flippantly. “Or there’s a bigger issue.”
He narrows his eyes on me.
I cock my head to the side. “Are you always so cold to your employees?”
He doesn’t even pretend to be offended. “I’m not here to make friends.”
“Right.” I nod. “But you are here to make money. Or at least, to ensure the success of Townsend Industries, correct?”
When he nods in the affirmative, I go in for the kill.
“Do you know why Sam Waterson’s staff is so loyal to him?”
He doesn’t ask, but he looks at me expectantly.
“Because he’s shown that he cares about them. As people. I interviewed employees from assistants to VPs. They all say the same thing; Sam cares about them, and they’re afraid they won’t get that same level of care at Townsend.”
“We’re not in the business of babysitting.”
“No one is asking you to be.” I shake my head, feeling flustered. Rubbing my fingers across my forehead, I try to push out the tightness forming behind my eyes. Between Dean Walsh hounding me almost daily for answers and Kyle’s bullheadedness, I’m surprised I haven’t had a full-blown migraine attack yet.
“We pay our employees above market rate.”
“That’s a start,” I concede. “That works toward Townsend’s favor, but people need more than just money.”
“You’re implying that an increased benefits package would boost employee morale and reduce turnover? That’s your bright plan, Ms. Consultant?”
“I’m going to ignore the mocking censure in that question and get directly to my point.”
“Please do.”
“You suck as a manager.”
That garners his full attention. The chopsticks in his hand stop halfway to his mouth.
“The employees at Townsend are nervous about keeping their jobs. They want to hear from the new COO, and you’ve been locked in your office for days. If you want this merger to go smoothly, you’ll take your head out of your ass and get down to a level your employees can relate to. Not as the son of the CEO, but as their colleague.”
Kyle’s eyes narrow on me. “I did not get this job because I’m my father’s son.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I goad. Kyle keeps a brick wall up around him and anyone else. But his façade slips slightly whenever the mere mention that he got to where he is because of his last name is brought up.
“You’re skating on thin ice, Riley.”
My thighs clench.
“What fun is skating if you only remain in the safe part of the rink?”
Something sparks in his eyes. An electric bolt shoots through my body, startling me. I look down to find Kyle’s fingers gently caressing my hand. I doubt he even realizes he’s doing it since his eyes remain locked on my face.
“What is it, Kyle, that made you so tightly wound?” I don’t mean to ask the question out loud.
“Do you want to know?” he asks.