Free Because This Is Forever by Lena Hart Page B

consulting firms
in the nation, which had grown ever since he’d taken charge, but Rhodes was
fast becoming a liability. He had been with MMC for quite some time, slowly
working his way up the ladder, yet since his recent promotion, his incompetence
had become glaring. Nate was annoyed it had taken them this long to realize Stephen
Rhodes wasn’t cut out for the job.
    With
this knowledge obvious to them now, Nate wouldn’t risk the company’s reputation
or losing one of their top clients. In order to win back their clients trust, Nate
had to get rid of the problem. That afternoon, he did exactly that.
    “McArthur,
you can’t do this,” Stephen said, leaning forward in his seat. “I just closed
on my new house and I just bought my wife a new car.”
    Nate stared
at the older man. His obviously expensive suit said he’d been enjoying the
financial perks his recent promotion allotted.
      “Stephen, your mistake is about to cost us the
Bakersfield account. You of all people should know how important that account
is to the company. That’s not something we’re prepared to take lightly.”
    Stephen
ran his hand through his thinning gray hair in agitation. “It’s not my fault.
I’ve been giving Tracy more responsibility and—”
    “Stop,”
Nate interrupted, disgusted with the man. He had done his checking before he’d
called Stephen into his office and based on his discovery, the fault had been
completely his. Yet instead of owning his mistake, the bastard was trying to
pass off the blame. “I’m giving you a chance to put in your resignation and
walk away from this with some dignity.”
    Stephen
glared at him, his thick brows furrowing deeply. “Do you have a family,
McArthur? Do you understand what you’re doing is not only going to affect me
but my girls too?”
    Nate
fixed him with a level stare as Stephen threw him a disgusted glare.
    “Of course
you don’t,” he continued. “I can see in your eyes you don’t give a damn that I
have a wife and three girls who depend on me!”
    Nate
continued staring at him, his temper and impatience mounting but he didn’t let it
show. “This is your doing, Stephen. Not mine,” Nate said coolly. “If you refuse
to put in your resignation, so be it. Either way, you’re no longer employed at
McArthur, Murphy and Company. ”
    A
short while later, an angry and disgruntled Stephen was escorted out of the
building.
    Nate
hated this part of the job but it couldn’t be avoided. He spent the last five
years working at the helm of the company, first as Director and now as CEO. His
father had eventually retired and it was now Nate’s responsibility to see to
the growth and prosperity of the company. He had implemented a few changes,
which had resulted in a few department shakeups, layoffs, new hires and a
growing client list. MMC was proving to be formidable in the industry and Nate couldn’t
afford any weak links in his chain.
    Now that
Stephen Rhodes was gone, he could concentrate on repairing his business
relationship with their unhappy client.
    But
not tonight. Tonight, he would be concentrating on repairing another kind of
relationship.
    Nate
picked up his cellphone. He wondered if she had already made it into the city. It
was now after five on a Friday and the office was deserted with everyone taking
advantage of the new summer hours. He wasn’t working on anything pressing and didn’t
look forward to going to his own quiet condo.
    He found
Mia’s number and hit the send button, listening intently to the ringing. Maybe
if she was already here, he could take her out to dinner. The polite thing for
him to do would be to let her get settled in, maybe suggest they meet for lunch
tomorrow. Nate rejected the thought. He didn’t know what had brought her back
to Chicago, but he’d waited five years and wouldn’t wait another night.
    “Yes?
Hello?”
    Nate started
at the young, high-pitched voice that came through the line. For a second, he
thought he had dialed