Nights with My CEO novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Whose Call

Reed did not sit down, so none of us did.

He stood behind Merrill's big desk with his hands flat on the wood, looking at Colby.

"Delete the post."

"It's a firm channel, sir. It's already."

"Delete it. Now. In front of me."

Colby took out his phone and did it.

His thumbs were not quite steady.

"A hundred and forty people have my face and hers in their pockets," Reed said. "I'd say that's a firing offense on its own. I haven't decided."

"I only thought the staff deserved."

"You thought you'd win something." Reed's voice stayed level. "Where did you get a hotel's security footage by seven-fifteen this morning?"

"A friend at the hotel."

"What friend?"

Colby's smile twitched.

"I'd have to check."

The door opened without a knock.

Merrill came in in his shirtsleeves, pink in the face, and shut it behind him.

"Reed," he said. "A word. This cannot go on. There is a woman on thirty-three who is, forgive me, entangled with the chief executive, and who stood on a chair this morning and called my Head of Research a liar to his face. For the integrity of the sale, she has to go. Paid, of course. Generously."

"She's not going anywhere," Reed said.

"The board."

"I'll speak to my board."

"If she remains, you'll be accused of."

"Of what?" Reed said, and his voice did something terrible, soft and flat. "Say it, Merrill. Of what?"

Merrill's mouth closed.

I stepped forward.

"Excuse me," I said.

All three men looked at me.

"Thank you, Reed," I said. "I don't need you to keep me. If you put a rule on this building that says I'm an exception, then everything I say turns into something you gave me."

"Jacqueline."

"I'm not an exception. I'm a witness." I looked at Merrill. "Mr. Dunwoody wants me removed before Thursday. Mr. Sargent is scheduled to present the Calder purchase to the investment committee on Thursday. Gwen Sattler sits on that committee. I'd like to attend as the author of the material."

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