“Who in the office would have called Karen Spencer?” I ask.
Karen had wanted me to help her get her finances in order for the future, and I’d set her portfolio up, but since we were fucking, I’d passed the torch to Jeff to handle her money so there wouldn’t be a conflict of interest.
“No one that I know of, Mr. Rhoades.”
My eyes narrow with her use of my surname.
“Is this because I wouldn’t sleep with you?” I stage whisper.
She starts to resemble a blackbird with her beady little eyes. “Even though I think you could do better, I have more integrity and respect for this company and my job to do something like that.”
I don’t know if she’s talking about Karen or Sam and don’t care to. I don’t want to be pissed off if she thinks Sam isn’t good enough for me.
“So no one called any of the clients that missed the meeting?”
Her face turns smug. “You should talk to your girlfriend. I personally gave her the list of contacts for the Sorry We Missed you letter that went out to all the clients that didn’t attend the event.”
I chew on that, not believing Sam would’ve called Karen. It doesn’t make sense, unless she doesn’t trust me. That thought rolls off me, as I don’t believe for one minute she would call Karen.
My day is made worse when I get called into Dad’s office.
“Close the door, Ben, and frost the glass.”
It’s unusual for him to request this. But I do as I am told.
Dad stands older but very much looking like the imposing man he was when I was a kid. I suddenly start to rethink my day and what I might have done wrong. He holds out his hand towards the small sofa and chair he has in his office. I sit on the sofa knowing Dad likes the high backed chair.
His chest rises and falls with aching slowness. “I got the statements from accounting and the bottom line is we didn’t make budget and we haven’t the last couple of quarters. I had high hopes you would do your part and bring in more high net worth clients from your days at JP Morgan Chase. Unless the real reason you left was due to performance.”
Caught by surprise, I think my jaw hangs there As the jab hits its mark. It doesn’t take a leap to see I haven’t lived up to his expectations.
“Despite that, we aren’t out of business. However our fee income continues to decline after the real estate bust a few years ago. The economy may have recovered, but not enough.”
Guilt weighs on me knowing I haven’t brought in the business I should have.
“So why did we just spend all that money on the employee event? We could have saved that.”
Dad sits forward, resting his arms on his knees while he clasps his hands. “This is a lesson you need to learn.”
“What’s that?” I ask, knowing better but feeling petulant.
“People and perception. If we appear weak, we will be eaten by the sharks. Not to mention all the employees who could jump ship. It’s an event we have every year and something the employees remember fondly. That’s the case Samantha brought up when talking over the budget in our follow up call.”
She’s impressed my father. Good for her.
“So what’s the plan?” I ask, the heavy burden of his words hanging in the air.
“Quarterly bonuses will be smaller and there will be grumbles about that. We need new business if we are to make the budget this quarter. I don’t want people like Mark and Jeff looking for new jobs.”
I leave his office after telling him not to give me a bonus. He’d planned to suggest it had I not done so on my own as he’d decided he wouldn’t take one either. It wouldn’t totally make up the difference in the reduction, but it would make the sting less for some. I work late coming up with proposals for the list of contacts I kept when I left the city.
When I get home in the middle of the night I miss Sam like I’ve never missed a woman in my bed until now. Selfishly, I text her.
Me: Dinner, tonight? I’ll cook.
I don’t expect an answer thinking she’ll see it in the morning. But my phone dings.
Sam: Love to. What time?
Me: Anytime. My place.
Sam: Now
Me: I wish. Tomorrow? Eight?
Sam: Eight it is.
I lay back getting ready to sleep with a picture of her in my head and my dick in my hand.
Monday at work is insane. Nick acts like an ass towards me. I guess he’s still pissed at me for staying in Ben’s room. What makes me even angrier is that Martin himself deemed the Rhoades Investment Team function a resounding success. Nick should be happy about that, but when I let him know the great news, all he does is pout.
“It’s time to clear the air, Nick. Get whatever it is that’s bothering you off your chest.”
His scowl speaks louder than his tone. “Okay, fine. This thing you have going with Ben Rhoades … he’s a douche and you shouldn’t be involved with him.”