The Promise (The 'Burg #5)(186)

Travis and him. The big boss, my boss, and me?

This was a surprise and it took a lot to stop my eyes from going to the camera.

“Sure,” I replied, rolling back my chair and grabbing my cell.

“Nothing to worry about,” Lloyd said. “Travis and I just want to talk to you about your plans to move to Chicago.”

Here it was. They’d made their decision.

I hoped this was good news part two of the day, but whatever it was, it was an important question about my future that needed an answer and I was about to get it.

I nodded to Lloyd and he got out of my way so I could precede him.

“We’re meeting in Travis’s office,” he told me as he fell in step beside me.

“Lloyd,” Heath called, and Lloyd and I looked his way. “After you talk with Frankie, you got a minute?”

“Of course, Heath. It shouldn’t take long with Frankie,” Lloyd answered.

Heath nodded and, avoiding Sandy’s eyes, went back to his office.

I went with Lloyd to Travis’s office.

As I walked in, I saw that Travis Berger was a man who did not have to prove how busy and important he was. He was not on the phone, his computer, reading a file, or scribbling notes when we approached. He watched us, eyes on me, face blank. There was something about this that made me respect him more. He needed my time, and somehow, him watching me come into his office for an impromptu meeting communicated that this meeting was important, I was important, and he wanted me to have his attention.

Greetings were exchanged. A seat was offered. I took it. Lloyd seated himself in the chair beside me in front of Travis’s desk, then Travis asked, “Would you like Penny to get you some coffee?”

I hadn’t been to the pot yet today and could use a shot of joe, but I still shook my head no.

Travis leaned back, laced his fingers, and put them to his flat midriff. His eyes did not move to Lloyd. They remained on me.

Then he started talking.

“Lloyd has told me you have something happening in your life and that means you wish to move back to Chicago.”

I nodded and confirmed, “Yes.”

He studied me a moment and his voice was quieter when he said, “Our choice to hire you was excellent and we’ve in no way regretted it, even after your delay in starting with us.”

I did not think a reminder of that boded well.

He went on.

“Your supervisor respects you. The staff likes you. Your reps perform for you. However, even if it’s our policy to allow employees to work at home and do this regularly, it’s not our policy to allow employees to work from remote offices.”

Bad news.

Shit.

“Of course,” I said softly.

“I’ve seen your numbers myself, Frankie, and Lloyd speaks highly of you,” Travis went on. “We would be sorry to lose you. Is there any way your significant other would move to Indy?”

“He runs a family pizzeria. He’s the second generation. It’s been in operation for forty years.” When I saw the boredom seeping into Berger’s features as I told him stuff he didn’t give a shit about, I got to the point, “What I’m sayin’ is, no. The family business is important and I wouldn’t ask him to make that move.”

Berger nodded once before he stated, “At this juncture, I feel the need to point out that there’s a great deal of opportunity at Wyler, Frankie. Especially for excellent performers. Thirty-five percent of our executive and management staff is female. It’s obviously none of my concern, but in my position, it’s part of my job to retain talent, to keep a team that’s excelling intact, and sometimes to do that, I must take a position as advisor. In this position, I’d hate to see you waste those opportunities because your significant other doesn’t understand the importance of your career.”

I stared at him, then I glanced down at his hand and saw his wedding band. It was not wide and shiny.

Seeing it, I wondered, with all the times I came in before eight and he was already there, looking like he’d been there awhile, and the other times I left after six and he was still there, looking like he wasn’t even close to leaving, what his wife thought of him prioritizing his career over his “significant other.”

Then again, no doubt he made six figures, so maybe she made herself feel better about her husband not being around by going out and buying scads of shoes.

“I intend to spend the rest of my life with him,” I replied, even though that was none of his business. I added for good measure, “And I just got news my sister is having a baby. She’s in Chicago. My family is growing and my plan is to build my own family with Benny. I can’t be there for my sister or do that with Benny in Indy. At least, not easily.”

He looked confused for a moment, as if being there for my sister or being close to my “significant other” in order to build a life together was a foreign concept to him, and I suddenly felt bad for his unknown wife.

Then he stated, “Life isn’t easy, Frankie.”

“With respect, Travis, I’ve recovered from a gunshot wound. I know that. Because of that, among other things, I also know what’s important.”

He studied me and he did it for a while.

Then he looked to Lloyd and asked, “Lloyd, can you give us a minute?”

I looked Lloyd’s way and saw he didn’t want to give us a minute. He was protective of his staff. But this was the executive vice president. He had no choice.