Chapter 0212
“You should be someone who believes in me and my talents and abilities. Haven’t I proven myself time and time again?”
“You passed out!”
“I just need something to eat!” I said, raising my voice to match his. Though technically, I supposed I started it. “It doesn’t make me incompetent!”
Furious, I hopped to my feet. Immediately, the world started spinning again.
In a flash, Logan switched from annoyed to concerned. He closed the distance between us, catching me under the arms.
I
At the same time, my own anger dimmed. In its place, just felt tired.
“We wouldn’t have to worry about my health, if these new production standards weren’t so exhausting.” I said.
Logan’s gaze fell away from me, so I pushed harder.
“You have to talk to the board, Logan. Or your grandfather. Or both. You are the only one who can get them to reconsider this course of action.”
“We’re done talking about this,” he said firmly.
“We aren’t,” I replied. “Because it’s not just an in–house issue anymore. The unrest is creating gossip that extends beyond our company. The clients themselves are asking me about it.”
“Tell them the company line,” Logan said.
“I’ve tried. But these are people who have been with us for years. They know when they are being bullshitted. Logan, they said they are watching. Even if the health of your employees isn’t enough to convince you – which it should be, frankly. But since it isn’t, the company’s reputation and profits are in danger too.”
“Our reputation will hold,” Logan said. “And our profits will increase when we replace the employees who have walked out on us with people more capable.”
He couldn’t believe that. And with the way he had said the words to the carpet, not to my face, convinced me that these were not his own words, but something parroted.
“Is that what your grandfather said?” I asked.
His gaze snapped to mine now, the fire sparking in his eyes again. “It is the truth.”
Not a denial, then, Which meant that they were his grandfather’s words. At least that meant that Logan had tried to talk to him, even if it had ended in obvious failure.
“So money is more important to you than anything else?” I demanded. “Including the happiness of your own employees and the morale of the company.”
“Money makes the world go round, Hazel, How can’t you see that?”
“Do I have to tell you what I told your grandfather? Your employees are the backbone of this company. If
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Chapter 0212
you don’t show them some respect, you are going to lose them. And who is going to replace them? Who would actually want to work in a place that is so heartless, so soulless?”
It was silly having such an intense conversation when I was shaky on my feet, with Logan basically holding me upright.
We should have spoken of softer things, maybe, as close as we were.
Instead we traded barbs, both too stubborn for our own good.
But I wasn’t going to back down on this. Maria’s words struck me to my core. I had to stay true to myself, and that meant never forgetting that, even married to a member of high society, I belonged to the working class through and through.
Logan narrowed his eyes and he lifted his chin a little, defiantly.
I knew what he was going to say before he said it, and braced myself.
“You will quit this job for your health, and that’s final.”
I pushed him away. It wasn’t the most energetic shove, but he still moved, maybe surprised by my attempt to stand on my own. I was still shaky, but I held my own.
I couldn’t show weakness here, not with what I was about to say.
“Go fuck yourself,” I told him and stormed out of his office.