Fortunately at that moment, an official looking executive came in, and even Prince Michael sat back and paid attention.
“Good—you’re all here. I have a hell of a day today, and I don’t have time for any...oh, Michael.” The suit looked surprised to see him there. “I wasn’t aware you’d be sitting in today.”
Michael crossed one leg over the other—a gesture that in most circles would be considered professional, but that he just made seem naughty. “I’ll be here every Thursday until the merger is complete.” He flashed me a wink. “Need to keep track of my people.”
The executive stammered for a moment, before dropping his eyes to his papers. “Well, it’s always a pleasure to have you here.”
“Even if it’s only twice a year,” an employee sitting next to me muttered under his breath.
I cast him a sideways glance, and he rolled his eyes with a grin.
“Guy only comes in for the Christmas and New Year’s parties. I’m surprised he even knew where the conference room was...”
My eyes strayed again to Michael as I absorbed this. Judging by everything I’d read about him, that seemed to fit.
“Anyway, as I was saying, we have a lot to do.” The suit looked back up from his stack of documents and his eyes hardened once more. “Pia—where are we at with the mock-ups?”
A regal looking woman leaned forward in her seat. “Jamie sent over the first plans five days ago, but I’ve yet to hear anything from our sister office. I’ve tried to get a hold of Zhang since Monday, but our translator is still out sick—”
“She’s fired,” the executive said shortly.
I blinked in mild shock and leaned forward a bit so I could see the name cc’d on his papers. Mr. Trask. Third note to self, don’t ever tell Mr. Trask if you get bronchitis...
“Can I do that?”
He turned to a man and a woman seated on his left. They seemed to move in tandem. One cocked their head; the other mirrored the motion the other way. At first I thought they had to be some sort of ‘twins separated at birth’ situation, but the only physical traits they had in common was the lethal fire blazing in their eyes...
“We can do that.” The man spoke softly, but his voice carried an authority around the room. I sat up with a shiver as the woman took over.
“Have Jamie send me her files—I’m sure I can find something to justify the termination.”
“I don’t envy this Jamie,” I whispered to the man who’d spoken to me before. “Those two look like they could dislodge their jaws and swallow you whole...”
He chuckled quietly. “That’s Kiev and Mariska. They’re supposed to look like that; they’re head of the legal division—Larchwood’s chief counsel.” He shifted sideways in his seat and offered me a discreet hand. “And I’m Jamie.”
My cheeks flushed as I shook with an apologetic smile. “Jenna. Just transferred in from California.”
His brow creased with a little frown. “What happened to Katie?”
All the blood drained out of my face, but just as I was about to reply, Trask took over the meeting once more.
“Good. What’s next?”
Patti Macer stood up. Although she was the only one to do so, none of the others seemed to think this was at all odd—they rather seemed to expect it from her. “I’ve received the addition I requested from the west coast and my team is in place. We’ll begin work on the formal draft and get something to you by Wednesday.”
“Make it Tuesday,” Trask instructed, scanning down one of his endless lists. “We’re all going to have to pull together on this one.” His colorless eyes flashed up and scanned around the room—reminding me of some sort of blind fish, probing the dark. “You say we have a new member? Where is she?”
Jamie nudged me with his elbow. “You’re on, Katie.”
I paled even more, but pushed to my feet and tried for a confident smile. “Jenna Harks, sir. Ms. Macer got me up to speed in the elevator, and I’m ready to start when you are.”
Trask’s fish eyes scanned me again, and I could see Michael doing the same thing from his corner. “Good. That’s the kind of attitude we’re going to need around here—especially now.” He picked up the remaining papers and shoved them into his briefcase. “Well, that’s all I have for today. I’m considering putting in a request to PR to send over a specialist, but I’m not sure we’re there just yet—we’ll visit it again next week.”