Chapter 161

Liam’s POV

Over the next few days, things didn’t get any easier, trapped in the same office with Joanna. In fact, being in such constant close quarters, I’d begun to notice even more annoying things about her.

For one, she always made a slurping sound when she sipped her coffee.

Or, she’d brush her hair in the middle of the day and leave the strands all over the office. I even found some on my chair once, with no idea how they got there.

Worse still, when she answered the phone she would speak loudly, as if she hadn’t realized the phone would transport her voice through the wires and thought she needed to shout.

I’d already restocked my aspirin supply twice, but my headache seemed never-ending. It didn’t help that Markus was attacking our finances once more, leaving me to stay late with the accounting department, trying to sort out the mess.

I missed my family. And home cooked meals. And spending eight full hours in my bed.

Gradually, since this assault by Markus began, I’d been running out of steam. I knew his plan was to eventually wear me down, and I hated that it was working. I was still determined never to give him what he wanted, but I was also so very tired.

Thoughts of Aria and the kids helped me renew my focus. I needed to make everything work to maintain the club. That meant, I had to bear with this situation of Joanna as my roommate.

Even if I had started making daily check-ins with the construction foreman to see how the annex building was coming along.

I’d only just finished one such call when my phone rang on my desk.

“Yes?” I asked after answering.

“Liam,” my assistant said through the line. “Mr. Gunner is here to see you.”

It was strange, being able to hear her through the phone as well as outside of my door.

As part of this arrangement with Joanna, I’d insisted on always leaving the door open. I didn’t need Joanna – or anyone else – getting the wrong idea. Joanna had already cultivated too many incorrect rumors about the nature of our relationship. I wasn’t going to add more fuel to the fire.

“Tell him to come in,” I said.

Before I even finished hanging up the phone, Mr. Gunner was there, stepping over the threshold into the office I shared with Joanna.

Joanna smiled up at him. “Hello, Mr. Gunner.”

“Joanna,” he said, and continued toward me. “Liam.”

“Mr. Gunner,” I said and stood to shake his hand. “What can I do for you?”

“I thought you would like an update on my findings.”

“Please,” I said. I motioned for him to take a seat at the one chair opposite my desk. Its twin no longer fit in this space. This single chair alone was somewhat precarious, jammed up into the corner against two walls.

“I’ll stand,” Mr. Gunner said.

“Suit yourself,” I said and sat.

“I’ll get right into it,” Gunner said, and I appreciated his desire to not mince words. “Your decision to double-up the offices has not been particularly popular with your employees.”

I’d already known that. My assistant and HR were both spending a lot of their day fielding through the complaints. I apologized to my assistant, though she was gracious and promised she didn’t mind. As for HR, I was just happy they were doing something other than hiring new people.

Honestly, I wasn’t happy with the arrangement either. If I had a boss to complain to, I might have done so myself.

“However,” Mr. Gunner continued. “This does give all of your employees appropriate work spaces. Though they complain, they are now all given adequate room, even doubling up in the offices.”

“Good,” I said. “That had been the goal.”

I wondered how Aria and her new roommate were doing. I hadn’t had time to truly vet who she went with. I only hoped her resilience would see her through with any of the employees.

After all, anything had to be better than being stuck down in the boiler room.

“While I believe this decision should have been made far earlier,” Mr. Gunner said, “I do applaud you for taking the appropriate actions now. I am also impressed that you yourself have decided to take part in the merger of offices.”

Mr. Gunner glanced sideways at Joanna. She’d been blatantly listening the entire time, staring right at him. Mr. Gunner looked back at me with no change to his expression. Joanna’s frown deepened, however.

She didn’t like being ignored. Liam knew that first-hand.

“I don’t deserve special treatment just because I’m the boss,” I said. “If my employees have to share, then so should I. Fair’s fair.”

“A good attitude,” Mr. Gunner said. “If not an unusual one.” He hummed to himself. “Perhaps I judged you too harshly before.”

Relief flooded through me. Having Mr. Gunner on my side would help in the long run. I was pleased to make an ally against him. In the war against my father, I would need some unbiased voices on my side.

“You did judge him too harshly,” Joanna snapped. “I’m glad you are finally starting to realize it.”

“Joanna,” I said with warning, my annoyance rising. Mr. Gunner was on our side. Being rude to him now wasn’t going to help win him over.

“Yes, well,” Mr. Gunner glanced at Joanna again. “My opinion of you hasn’t changed, Joanna.”

Joanna lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of anything you might have to say about me.”

“It’s not me who is saying it, but reporting it. The employees have been quite candid about your more… vindictive tendencies.”

My eyes went wide. Wow. I wouldn’t have thought people would actually report it. From what I could tell, she had everyone scared out of their wits.

I also hadn’t thought she was overly vindictive with anyone but Aria. Had I had the blinders on this entire time? Was I missing critical details?

I’d been so busy lately, I felt like my whole life was passing by while I had my nose in reports and paperwork.

“Careful, Mr. Gunner,” Joanna said. “Not all of your opinions are welcome.”

“It’s not an opinion,” Mr. Gunner said. “These are reports gathered from your own employees. Soon, they will be included in my report.”

“I’m not afraid of your report.”

“Joanna,” I said, losing patience.

“If you won’t stand up for me, I’ll stand up for myself,” Joanna snapped at me. To Mr. Gunner, she said, “What you call vindictive tendencies, I call leadership. I refuse to be walked over and I lead with a heavy hand. This may be old-fashioned, but it is still effective. I don’t have to impress anyone.”

“That’s up for the shareholders and the public to decide,” Mr. Gunner said, unimpressed.

Joanna narrowed her eyes. Perhaps it had been some time since she’d found an enemy she couldn’t intimidate. Mr. Gunner seemed outright bored by her attempts.

The man had been in the business for a long time. He’d probably seen it all, including bosses much scarier than Joanna.

As the glared at each other, my headache pounded.

“Then tell me, Mr. Gunner,” Joanna said. “Have I actually done anything illegal?”