Winking, I took in a deep breath and let it out. I wasn’t the least bit worried. “Thanks, Marge. Come into my office in exactly three minutes.”
“Only three, huh? Took your father six.”
“This won’t take long, trust me.”
Opening the door to my office, a gentleman a few years older than me jumped up.
“Ms. Monroe, what do I owe this pleasure of meeting with you about?”
He went to sit as I rounded my desk.
“Don’t bother sitting down, Hapner. This is going to be quick. I’m sure you heard by now that Ms. Stark is now one of my executive assistants.”
He adjusted his tie. “Yes, I’m not going to lie; I wasn’t aware she was looking to move within the company.”
Lacy’s employee file sat on my desk. I glanced over to Lynn, who was sitting at the conference table. Focusing back on the file, I flipped it open and went through the papers quickly.
“How is that possible when she has put in for four promotions in the last … let’s see, two years?”
Hapner’s face went white.
“Ms. Stark wasn’t ready for those types of assignments.”
“Really?”
“I disagree with you. I think the reason she didn’t get the promotions was because you liked looking at her ass too much.”
“Excuse me?”
Standing, I placed my hands on my desk and leaned forward.
“I will not stand for this type of behavior in my company. If I so much as hear someone whisper that you’re looking at them the wrong way, I’ll have you out on your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
“Ms. Monroe, there must be some sort of misunderstanding. I respect Ms. Stark very much and would never treat her that way.”
“Good. Then you’ll feel the same way about your new administrative assistant.”
Turning back to Lynn, I raised a brow and she nodded.
“Right. Looks like he will be starting this afternoon.”
Hapner cleared his throat. “He?”
Lifting my eyes to meet his, I asked, “Is there a problem with that?”
After clearing his throat more times than needed, he shook his head. “No. No, of course not. It’s just I figured I’d be picking my own secretary … I mean … administrative assistant.”
Leaning back in my chair, I smiled. “I’m sure you will be very happy with who HR hired to fill Ms. Stark’s position.”
The door to my office opened, and instead of Marge standing there, it was Lacy.
Well played, Marge. Well played.
“Mrs. Middleton, your meeting is in ten minutes.”
With a smile plastered on my face, I reached my hand across my desk. “Was great meeting you, Mr. Hapner. We’ll be talking soon, I’m sure.”
The poor bastard. It was sort of painful watching him look between Lacy and me. He finally snapped out of it and shook my hand before turning on the heels of his dress shoes and walking out of my door. Lynn stood, gave me a knowing smile, and followed Hapner out the door.