“God, I hope not.”
“Each person I spoke to has nothing but wonderful things to say about how you are running the company. But it is natural to question yourself and wonder if you’re doing the right thing.”
Rosslyn smiled. “I know one thing I did right, I hired your company. You’ve really delivered some exceptional people.”
“Thank you,” she replied. It was what she needed to hear. Just like Rosslyn, she’d been having her own doubts. “I’m glad they are all working out for you. I know Bobbi is young, but with the right guidance, she’s going to do great.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without Liz. Do you know she used to work for my uncle too?”
“No I didn’t.” She’d heard Mr. Grayson was one tough son-of-a-bitch. “It must’ve been interesting. I mean she’s…outspoken.”
Rosslyn laughed. ”She is now. When I first met her, she was like everyone else here, afraid to lose her job.”
“You have their respect without needing to instill fear. I’m not sure anyone else could fill your shoes,” Gianna said. “So what is it I can do to help you so you don’t feel so…”
“You’ve done it. But I could also use a few more temps,” Rosslyn stated.
That’s what she was afraid of. Gianna couldn’t send anyone average to Grayson Corp. There were only a few resumes that she received today that she was even willing to call in for an interview. “And when would you need them to start?”
“Would you mind giving me a week or two? I’m going to take your advice and talk to Charles. He’s been doing this a lot longer than I have.”
Whew. Thank you. “Take your time. In the meantime, you can email me a few of the job details and I’ll start matching up the right candidates for you.”
“That sounds good. But could you do me a favor?” she asked.
Gianna nodded. “Of course. What is it?”
“When you come over Saturday, maybe you don’t mention our conversation. Charles is so supportive, but I don’t want him to worry about me. And that is exactly what he’ll do if he knew we spoke.”
“Rosslyn, I assumed what you said was in confidence. Besides, Saturday isn’t going to be a business meeting.” At least I hope not.
“Absolutely not. We have rules. No talking business at gatherings. And trust me, it isn’t always easy to do when all the Lawson men get together. They all have eased up on that. Well almost all. There is one straggler that seems to be still stuck in the old ways.” Gianna held her breath hoping not to hear it, but Rosslyn said, “Jordan seems to work day and night right now. But hopefully he stops long enough to come to your party Saturday.”
Jordan? “I…I thought…I didn’t realize he was coming.” How did it go from Liz, Bobbi and her getting together to this?
“Don’t worry. It’ll just be the Lawson clan and whoever else you invite to the party,” Rosslyn stated.
All the Lawson family? She had no idea how she got herself into things like this. “Rosslyn, I hate you taking this on. Maybe we should just keep it at my place and just us girls.”
“We could, but I think it would be a great time for the others to meet you. You never know when you want to expand your business. I’m sure Lawson Steel could benefit from utilizing your staffing agency as well.”
“I thought you don’t talk business at those gatherings,” she reminded.
Rosslyn smiled. “We don’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t talk about how great you are.”
Great. You set the bar and now I have to live up to it. Gianna was grateful that Rosslyn was so pleased with her staffing ability. Overextending herself might just change that. But her greater fear was what Jordan might say when he saw her at a family party.
God, please don’t let him invite Marvin. I might as well close my doors now if he does.
She wasn’t foolish. Gianna knew if Marvin was looking for her, it wasn’t for anything she wanted to hear. She was done with his manipulating ass and any of his smooth talking friends. Unfortunately, she just realized that there was no blowing off Jordan for his offer for coffee. It was best to find out what he wanted before they had an audience.
When she left Gianna’s office she sent Jordan a text message.
COFFEE TOMORROW MORNING?
The response wasn’t what she expected.
HOW ABOUT DINNER TONIGHT?
She refused to turn the control over to him, but she was willing to meet in the middle. MARIA’S PIZZARIA. 6:30.
If he pushed back, then she would have the perfect reason to decline, and it would be on him. But his final text was accepting her suggestion.
With how crazy her day had gone so far, she wasn’t even going to waste one second trying to guess what tonight was all about.
Ha. Who am I kidding? I’m not going to get anything productive done till I find out.
There was something good about being the boss. You can alter your schedule as needed. And since her afternoon was pretty much shot anyway, she might as well use the remainder of the time accomplishing something. Like food shopping for a party that I’m not looking forward to either.
4
Jordan would’ve rather Gianna let him go and pick her up instead of meeting at the restaurant. Pushing it would’ve only resulted in her changing her mind. For some reason, she didn’t seem very happy to run into him earlier. That was one of the things he wanted to talk to her about. He understood her being angry with Marvin. His friend had been an asshole. Hell, he still was one. But why did she harbor ill feelings towards him?
He looked at his watch and it was pushing seven. This would be when Jordan normally got up and walked out. He didn’t wait for anyone. Mostly because he didn’t feel as though anyone was worth waiting for. It wasn’t as though Gianna was special in any way, but he was willing to cut her some slack.
The longer he sat waiting, the more he questioned why. All this was for her benefit, not his. Maybe she didn’t want his help. Years ago he’d voiced his opinion on how she and Marvin weren’t right for each other. She ignored him then. What made him think for one second that she’d value what he had to say now?
Maybe because I was hoping she was different.
Jordan wasn’t sitting there a minute more. He tossed a twenty on the table and walked out. But when he got outside he noticed Gianna was leaning against the wall looking at her watch. He chuckled and walked over to her.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been standing her waiting for me,” he said.
Gianna looked up at him and said, “I was just about to call it a night and go home. Were you in the restaurant all that time?” He nodded. “But I peeked in and didn’t see you. I guess I didn’t look as thoroughly as I thought.”
“I had asked for a table more…private. Want to try this again?” he asked. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
“Famished.”
He held the door for her and followed her back inside. The hostess smiled. “Back so soon?” She looked over her shoulder and said, “The table is still open if you want to try ordering this time.”