Conflict of Interest (Employee Relations Book 1) by Teresa Michaels Read Free Book Online

Never in my career have I been taken off guard and deemed speechless by a coworker.
    Frankly, I’m still in shock. Who the hell treats someone that way when they’ve just met? One minute he was actively engaged in conversation, the next he basically called me worthless. But Lucas ignoring me isn’t the biggest problem. It wasn’t just his words that threw me off kilter; it was the way I reacted to his presence. The things you read about first encounters, feeling the person before laying eyes on them? It happened then and it continues to happen every time he’s near.
    Wearing my emotions on my sleeve isn’t something I’ve struggled with before. Yet the way he’s avoided me makes me wonder if my attraction was transparent. If that’s the case and I’ve made him uncomfortable, I’m not sure how to recover from that other than distance. And right now that’s not an option. This is why I’m outwardly on my best behavior, determined to win him over, or at the very least, kill him with kindness.
    At 11AM I grab my untouched breakfast from my desk and head to Jack’s weekly staff meeting. If I’m going to be forced to sit across a table from him for the next two hours, carbs will be necessary.
    Upon entering the room, I’m immediately thankful for my foresight. Low and behold, the only seat available is on the far side of the room, right next to him . Taking my seat, I allow myself to study his profile while he focuses only on his phone. I thought he was attractive before, but being this close only magnifies his chiseled jaw line, distinguished nose and long lashes. He’s gorgeous…like front cover of GQ gorgeous…and whatever cologne he wears is unfairly intoxicating, drawing a physical response from me that is completely wrong and excites me at the same time.
    Co-worker equals off-limits.
    Reminding myself of this when he’s in the same vicinity could be it’s own full-time job. So could replaying Jack’s words to me about Lucas before he started. He’s the future of this company, Gabby. Helping him be successful needs to be your priority.
    Ugh.
    While Jack sets up, and a few others finish their sidebar conversations, I decide to bite the bullet and break the ice.
    “Hey,” I say warmly, as if he hadn’t recently slammed a door in my face. “Almost through your first week. How’s it going?”
    He stills, waiting for a few beats before acknowledging me, as if he has to brace himself to be kind.
    “Gabriella,” he replies, curtly. “It’s going.”
    “Gabby,” I correct, though it falls on deaf ears.
    “Alright, everyone. Let’s get started.” Jack calls the meeting to order and scans the room. His eyes land on Lucas. “By now I’m sure you’ve all had a chance to meet Lucas.”
    Some people nod, others give a blank look and shrug. Jack doesn’t seem to notice either way and moves on to business. “Okay. I’m not one for beating around the bush. Our European sales have been down since the end of the fourth quarter of last year and Q1 wasn’t any better. Our annual trajectory is way off. Long story short, we’ve tried everything from incenting the sales force to sponsoring major customer events. The market share is too low in comparison to what the company has invested. I’m leaving for the UK tomorrow to meet with potential buyers.”
    Everyone sits forward. “It’s only the beginning of the second quarter,” Stan, the head of Product Management admonishes, followed by gasps around the room. Jack calls the meeting back to order.
    “We’re seriously divesting?” Lucas asks, seeming genuinely concerned.
    “Potentially. If we can secure a buyer. It’s either that or a miracle.”
    Lucas makes a “humph” sound and takes notes.
    Jack continues walking the team through our numbers. Slides of bar charts and other graphical representations of just how bad business is in the European market.
    “Could you go back a slide for a moment?” Lucas asks of Jack around slide six.
    The rest of