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I motioned to the chair. “Have a seat.”
“Is that an order?”
Attitude radiated off her like waves of heat.
“An offer.”
“I’d rather stand.”
I finally looked down and opened the folder in front of me. “Jennifer, I want to start with an apology.”
That was not something I said lightly. Dad had taught us to be careful, because apologies could be turned against us as a sign of weakness. But this merited an exception to his rule.
The smile left her face. “Yes, you do. Before you met me, you decided I wasn’t who you wanted for this job, and you set me up for failure.” Her tone conveyed even more anger than the words.
I shifted in my seat. I’d never had to sit and take backtalk of any kind from an employee before—hell, from anyone outside the family. If an employee had ever felt this strongly, they hadn’t had the guts to say it to my face.
Spitfirewas the word Talbot had used, and this was a firsthand taste of what he meant.
“You’re a bastard,” she continued. “You didn’t tell me what you expected of me, and then berated me for not knowing what you wanted. It wasn’t fair.”
I leaned forward. “You are right. I was entirely wrong about you and your capabilities. I treated you poorly, and for that I’m sorry.”
Her eyes thawed.
My words had hit home. “I’m not used to being this wrong, and I’m… I’m not very good at apologizing, but I’m truly sorry.”
Her eyes narrowed, but only momentarily before her face softened to a smile. “You do suck at it, but apology accepted.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding and took in the sight of her.
She broke the silence. “Cindy said you decided yesterday afternoon that you wanted to review my compensation.”
I’d have to thank Cindy later. It was just like her to change things around and give me more credit than I deserved.
I looked down at the personnel-change form I hadn’t filled out yet. “I’m giving you a fifteen-thousand-dollar raise, effective immediately.”
Her head cocked as if she was calculating. “Did you call me in here to insult me again?”
The words set me back. I’d never had someone react badly to getting a raise. “No. Not at all.” This girl had me completely off balance.
“I was offered fourteen to move to the Pasadena job, and you’re offering me fifteen? That’s insulting.” She huffed and turned.
I should have checked what Mark had had planned for her at Hydrocom before this discussion. I made a quick correction. “You’ve got it all wrong, Jennifer. I meant fifteen on top of the fourteen they offered.” I’d had no idea about the Pasadena job, but surely this would rescue the situation.
She turned back and this time decided to take the seat I’d offered, crossing her legs slowly.
My mind was playing tricks on me this morning. Everything she did looked like slow motion in a movie.
A stray hair fell forward across her cheek.
I wanted to tuck it behind her ear.
As if she’d read my thoughts, she swiped it to the side with a slow finger. “That will be acceptable, on one condition.”
“Yes?”
“You make it retroactive to the first of the month.”
