Chapter Fourteen

Nick

Our company party was always held at the office—until this year. I’d been glad about that because it meant I could hang out awhile, eat some food, have a couple of drinks, and generally then make a break for it. With all the travel I’d had to do over the past several years, I hardly even knew anyone anymore, so I didn’t feel the need to stick around.

But this time, the powers that be deemed that we would be gathering in the bar on the first floor of our office building. It was convenient, at least, and also the first time when we were encouraged to bring a plus one. Another convenience since it was the first time in my tenure there where I had a plus one.

“You really don’t have to come if you don’t want to,” I told Bobby for the hundredth time when I met him outside the building. “We can just go out to dinner and forget the whole thing.”

“Don’t you have to be there?” he asked. “Won’t it look bad if you skip out?”

“I’d have said yes before, but I don’t actually care that much now. Since they chose not to give me the supervisor’s position, and I’m no longer allowing them to walk all over me, it’s a little tense in there.” We’d talked about all of this more than once, but remembering it made me feel that much less obligated to show up.

“In that case, we definitely should go.” He linked his arm with mine. “I spent time looking this good and everyone will be jealous.”

A chuckle burst out of me. Bobby never talked about himself that way. I loved that he did. Besides. “You do look spectacular. I’m just glad you realize it.” He wore black jeans, boots, and a black cashmere sweater under a deep-maroon blazer. None of it was new, but all of it looked incredible on him. “You even got your hair styled.”

“I had to put the effort in if I was going to match your splendor. I want to make you proud.”

“You always make me proud.” I kissed his cheek. “How could you ever think otherwise? Let’s go in there and make them all jealous.” I’d bought a new jacket for this, to go with my favorite pair of jeans that made me look better than I was and a long-sleeved T-shirt with a faint pattern of Christmas trees on it.

The party was in full swing when we entered, everyone drinking and laughing and making off-color jokes. So not our scene, but it was so nice to have Bobby at my side. He handled the whole thing like a pro, meeting everyone and making them feel comfortable right away. It reminded me of the night we met, when I observed him being the Little Drummer Boy, letting the littles bang on his drum but also making everyone he encountered smile.

It was the first thing I noticed about him, although not the last.

“Come over here, Nick. Have a drink with us.” That particular request came from the executives seated in a booth along the front wall of the bar and was quite a surprise. And not really a welcome one. “And bring your date.”

“You up for this?” I murmured. “I haven’t exchanged five words with any of those old guys in years… I didn’t think they’d even remember who I am.”

“Of course they do, Papa,” he whispered close to my ear. “You’re a real asset. Wasn’t that what the HR lady said when telling you you were screwed out of the job you earned?”

“Have I told you how awesome you are, lately?” I kissed him on the cheek. “Come meet the big shots.”

We approached the table and took a seat. A server zoomed right up and took our orders, which we had in front of us in about three point five seconds. Coworkers were lined up at the bar waiting for their drinks, but when you hung out with the bosses, the service was much better. I’d ordered a cranberry martini to sip, and Bobby had a holiday mojito, whatever that was, and the table was laden with a variety of appetizers.

“I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your hard work.” This came from the CEO. “It has come to our attention that the supervisor in your department was struggling, and you picked up the slack again and again.” His gaze lit on the CFO whose nephew he was talking about, before returning to me. “I have increased the raise you were given accordingly.”

Bobby sat beside me, quiet but alert. He linked hands with mine under the table, giving me a supportive squeeze. To someone who didn’t know the whole story, what I was being told would be amazing. And it wasn’t awful. But it still was not fulfilling the promise I’d been given. And I wasn’t sure what to do. More money was a good thing. And we were at a party. The smart thing to do would be make an appointment to meet with him later, since he did seem to know I was alive.

But somehow…it wasn’t happening. I’d been trying not to take on extra work since my review, with limited success. And I had resisted doing the supervisor’s job without the title—which left that job open and undone. Since its previous occupant had not left the department in good shape, that was a huge problem.

One I hadn’t done a thing to fix.

Before I could decide what to say next, the CEO beat me to it. “I also understand certain promises were made without being recorded in any way.”

“That’s correct.” My teeth were so clenched, my jaw throbbed.

“That’s not how our company operates. It is not our policy to treat loyal employees in a way that might have them choosing to leave us.”

“I-I have always tried to do my best here. But I was disappointed.” Bobby’s fingers stroking mine helped to keep me calm.

“As you should have been. I only hope it’s not too late for us to make it right.”

“Sir?” I didn’t want to assume anything at this point. I’d been lied to once. Really more because a sooner promotion to another department had been hinted at many times.

“If you want to take on the mess your former supervisor left behind, we’d like to offer you that position effective immediately. With whatever help you’ll need to clean up the mess.”

I felt like I won Secret Santa. How could this be happening? I’d envisioned myself quitting and going elsewhere as soon as possible. My brain was recalculating like the GPS on my car when I did something unexpected. Did I still want to stay? Could I believe what he said?

“I have a question before I answer yours,” I said.

“Go on then, ask.” The CEO was sixty but looked several years younger, probably because he had the money to make that happen. It also meant his face was a little less mobile and harder to read than most. “I’ll try to answer honestly.”

I should hope so.

“Who told you about what happened?”

“It was in your supervisor’s exit interview. He admitted to using you and keeping you hanging and swore that you were the right man for the job.”

“So why did it take so long to offer me this?”

He sighed. “Because it was coming from someone who was such a mess, we just had to dig in and research to be sure it was all true.”

I glanced at Bobby, who was still calm and quiet. Then I said, “Can I sleep on it?”

“Of course.” He nodded. “It’s always a good idea to consider a big decision. But I hope you will accept our offer.”

We talked a little more and then Bobby and I left the table. We mingled for an hour or so and then exited the bar and headed for my car.

“You are taking the job, right?” he asked once we were out of earshot of the company people.

“You bet. With almost no traveling, it means I’ll have a lot more time to spend with a certain person who is not only the sweetest boy but who was a rock for me when I needed him back there.”

“I’m glad, Papa, because you’ve been that for me.”

My heart swelled three sizes bigger with pride at hearing that from my boy.