Love to Hate You by Anna Premoli Read Free Book Online Page A

really counts is how you present it to him. He’s a man who's used to always getting his own way, and he expects to continue getting his own way. If he proposes something, it means that he wants to realise it, and he doesn’t want other suggestions. You must never put the idea that
he
is the one who comes up with the most efficient solution in doubt.”
    I study him, trying to work out if he really believes what he's saying. His deep blue eyes tell me that this time he is serious.
    â€œIn that case, I don’t understand what he's paying us for. If he can do everything by himself—” I say quietly, articulating the words calmly.
    As usual, Ian loses his calm immediately. “Don’t be silly, you know perfectly how these things work. The secret lies in suggesting things for him to then propose back to us, as if they were his ideas. We just have to put a flea in his ear.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right? I have no intention of pandering to some ridiculous old snob’s delusions of grandeur!” I exclaim with annoyance.
    Ian snorts accusingly. “Always the same old story with you, isn’t it? It's all about class, as far as you're concerned!”
    I violently flick away a rebellious curl which keeps falling onto my face.
    â€œIt’s nothing to do with class, it’s to do with logic: if you pay an expert, it’s because you want their opinion. If you can solve the problem yourself, you don’t go looking for help!” I explain vehemently.
    â€œOk, here's what we’ll do. I propose observing him for a while before taking any decisions. We'll carefully evaluate Beverly and his way of thinking for a certain period of time, after which we'll discuss this fundamental issue again. Because no solution we come up with will have any value if we can’t present it to him in the most attractive way possible.”
    â€œI hope you're not suggesting that I don't know how to do my job!” I warn him.
    â€œI’m not suggesting anything, but the fact is that you’re about as sensitive as a bloody rhino!”
    â€œMe? And what about you? The personification of sensitivity and perspicacity!” I reply as I lean towards him threateningly.
    â€œWell I'm nowhere near as bad as you! It's as though you weren’t born, you were carved out of granite!”
    â€œEnvious of my character, Ian? You could have just admitted it—”
    And we'd have gone on happily insulting each other forever, if Colin hadn't entered the meeting room. Just in time.
    â€œFor the record, I did knock before coming in. But then, how could you have heard me if you were shouting like that?”
    Colin is livid – you can tell by the way his nostrils are trembling. There’s electricity in the air, and it's not just coming from Ian and me.
    â€œYou've got two minutes to calm down and come to my office. I want to see you both looking happy and smiling. And by ‘smiling’ I mean I want to be able to see your bloody wisdom teeth as you walk down the corridor,” he says in a menacing voice.
    That said he walks out and slams the door behind him.
    â€œOops—” This time we’re in trouble.
    â€œYes—” nods Ian. We gather our stuff quickly and follow him as fast as we can.
    Everybody is hanging about the corridor waiting for us. They've obviously been eavesdropping and have heard everything. We try and smile as we walk quickly towards Colin’s office. Ian opens the door and gestures for me to enter first, and for once I obey without arguing. He follows me in.
    Silently, we sit down on two chairs in front of Colin, who, still fuming, is writing something on his computer. After a minute of deadly silence, he finally decides to look up at us.
    â€œI thought I was working with grown ups, but apparently we’re in a kindergarten, so I will have to treat you like children. From now on, you will meet
after
work. You will go out at six