“You were just a little confused,” she said.
He sighed and rapped his knuckles on the desk. “Unfortunately, now I need to take care of some housecleaning in the marketing department.”
“Are you going to fire her? Talia?”
Red stood up and buttoned his suit coat. “You bet your sweet ass.”
“I want to do it.” Nicole got up and swept her hair over to one shoulder and put her hands on her hips. “I’ve got a little score to settle with that bitch.”
Red’s eyes widened with surprise. “You’re serious? You want to fire her?”
“Do I have the authority?”
“Not really. But I’ll give it to you, if you want.”
“I do.”
“Well, then. By the power invested in me as founder and CEO of Jameson International, you—Nicole Masters—may go to the marketing department and fire that bitch.”
“Good.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be back in a jiff.”
She walked out of the office and went to the fourth floor, where the marketing department was located. Nicole hadn’t thought anything out—she just knew that this was something she wanted to do. Remembering how Talia had called her a hobo and humiliated her in the hallway not long ago—not to mention leaked those horrible stories—made Nicole want to fight.
And if she was going to fight, she damn sure well wanted to win.
The marketing department was fairly big and she walked down a few hallways before she finally saw the nameplate outside the door of one of the corner offices. Talia
Ferring.
The door was open already, and Nicole could see the beautiful blond at her computer, on her desk phone talking and laughing. “…I know. Did you see that awful picture though? The two of them? You’ve got to be kidding me…”
Nicole knocked on the door loudly, twice.
When Talia glanced up and saw who it was, her face went almost white. “I’m on the phone,” she said, covering the receiver with one hand. “Can you try back tomorrow?”
“No.” Nicole crossed her arms and stood there.
Talia sighed and took her hand off the receiver. “I’m sorry, something just came up,” she said into the phone. “Can I call you in a few?” And then she hung up.
Nicole entered the office and shut the door. “I’m going to need just a moment of your time,” she said.
Talia leaned back in her chair. “Do I know you?”
“I think you do.”
The woman snapped her fingers. “That’s right! You’re the wrinkly little hobo that was sleeping in the hallway outside our CEO’s office.”
“Right,” Nicole said, smiling back at her. “And you must be the idiot who leaked stories about me and Red to the tabloids.”
Talia’s face really did turn white now. “Excuse me?”
“I think you heard me.”
“Don’t accuse me of things in my office, you little twerp. Believe me, I’ll have you fired so fast your little head will spin.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” Nicole leaned back against the door. “In fact, I think I’m going to fire you instead.”
“Just get out. Get out before I call security. I’m vice president of marketing and you’re a little nobody. Just because Red’s sleeping with you, doesn’t give you the authority to fire me. You couldn’t fire our caterer.”
Nicole wanted to pull her hair and slap that bitchy look off her face. But then she got herself under control. Either way, Talia was out of a job. She didn’t have to believe Nicole—she’d find out soon enough.
“Enjoy your last day,” Nicole said, opening the door to leave.
“And you enjoy giving Red blowjobs in exchange for pocket money, hon,” the woman called after her.
Just then, Nicole saw two security guards heading her way. They didn’t look very happy, either. When they got to Talia’s office, they stopped.
“Thank god,” Talia said to them. “This girl’s disrupting my work and being incredibly rude and unprofessional. I want her escorted out of the building, please.”
“Ma’am, we have orders to escort you out,” one of them said.
“What?” Talia’s jaw dropped.
“You’re to take only your personal belongings. Please do not touch your computer, any files or items from your desk.”
“I don’t understand. Please call Red Jameson and let him know what’s going on. He’ll explain to you—“
“Red called us personally and told us, ma’am.” They moved into her office and stood over her, watching every movement she made.
“Good luck, Talia,” Nicole said. “I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting another job in advertising after this. You know Red, he’s a very forgiving guy.”
Talia was gathering her things and tears had begun streaming down her face.
That was enough revenge for one day, Nicole thought, leaving the scene.
***
That night, Red and Nicole were on the couch at their home in Connecticut. It felt strange to call it their home, but it was. And Nicole was starting to feel that—more importantly—Red was her home.