The CEO's Abused Cover Girl

Ch. 7: Board Meeting

(Sean’s POV)

“Would it be possible for me to be excused for a minute to use the lady’s room?” Erin whispered to me before we got down to business. She was blushing something terrible, and I couldn’t help but find it cute. It’s not often these days you find a woman, or anyone really, who is so ‘private’ about personal things. Usually, people wanna put it all out there for the world to see and hear.

“Of course. Just don’t take too long, please”. I told her in a soft voice as I took my seat at the head of the long mahogany table. As I was opening the folder sitting in front of me, I heard her quietly say, “Excuse me”, before leaving the room.

“That one there is a keeper, Sean. She made us all feel very welcome and at ease. I like that”. Mr. Robinson said. He was smiling when I looked up at him, something that was rare for him to do. Normally, the man is about as formal as they come, but hearing him call me by my first name only kind of shocked me a little.

“Erin? She’s new here. She’s filling in for today”. I said, giving him a friendly smile in return. “I know it’s none of my business but that other woman you employ is… well, let’s just leave it at 'too formal'”. Mrs. Beckham said and when I looked over at her, she was also smiling as she stirred her tea.

Mrs. Beckham is very ‘old school’. She doesn’t give too many compliments, nor does she offer up many critiques. You must earn them, either way. “By ‘other woman’ I’m as*uming you mean Rochelle?” I’ll admit I’m a little confused. I’ve known these people for years, and they’ve never once acted like this before.

“Yes, that’s the one. The one that always just sits there like a bump on a log handing you things, and thinking about her next nail appointment.” Ms. Marshall said, and laughed, which had several of the others laughing as well.

I felt like I was back in high school for a second, listening to the girls at lunch talking about the new girl or something. This wasn’t just cr*zy, it was a side of these people I’ve never seen before.

“Rochelle certainly never bothered to learn our names or ask about our families and grandchildren. Not like Erin. You say she’s new here, but when we met her last week she was very friendly and now, today, she remembered all of us and asked about our families and our health with genuine interest, not a fake smile or a deaf ear. It’s refreshing”. Nathaniel Greyson said.

Nathaniel was our biggest stockholder, other than me. His son and I are good friends, actually, so I know Nate pretty well. So I know his smile is genuine, as are his words. I feel better knowing that Erin was able to placate everyone so well while I spoke with my mother.

“Now, are you gonna tell us what kept you so long?” Nate asked, and I lifted a brow, saying only, “I had something personal to take care of. I apologize for keeping everyone waiting, though. We can begin now, if you’re all ready?”

(Erin’s POV)

When I entered the room again, Mr. O’Dell was just asking if they were ready to begin the meeting, so I quietly took my place in the chair off to his right side and slightly behind him. Opening the first folder, I quickly skimmed over the report, then listened as Mr. O’Dell delivered the information it contained.

It was pretty routine stuff, but I took notes and jotted down everything any board member suggested, so Mr. O’Dell could follow up on it later. Next was his PowerPoint, showing the previous three quarters' growth or decline. It seemed like the company was pretty much holding steady with some growth in the last quarter that took the company above whatever temporary declines the company had suffered.

It wasn’t until we got to the financial reports that coincided with this PowerPoint that I frowned a little. I had only skimmed through it, but something didn’t seem completely right to me. I had to look at the numbers more closely for a minute before catching it. Leaning in close to Mr. O’Dell, I whispered in his ear. “Could we take a small break? Let everyone go use the facilities or something?”

He gave me an odd look, and let out a frustrated sigh before saying, “Before we continue, would anyone like to take a little break to use the facilities?”

“Actually, yes. That sounds like a good idea”. Mr. Cotman said as he began to get out of his chair.

“Very well. We’ll take ten minutes then”. He said with a small, pleasant smile as he gathered his files to neaten them up a little. When I didn’t move Mr. O’Dell turned to me expectantly, and I shook my head ever so slightly, then moved my eyes to the connecting door to his office.

It took him a solid minute to get what I was trying to convey, but when he did, he simply stood up and left the room with me following behind him, my files still in my hands. “This better be good, Erin.”

“I know, and I'm sorry. But I think it is, Mr. O’Dell. I didn’t want one of them seeing this, but look, these numbers don’t add up right. They look pretty innocuous but if you run them they’re off. Looks like a few dollars here, a few dollars there. But it adds up. And it’s only when the company reports a loss that it happens”.

I was showing him as I was explaining, and he followed along with everything I was saying pretty quickly. “You… you just… noticed this?” He seemed incredulous that someone could just notice something like that, and I suddenly felt very self-conscious, so I shrugged and just sort of mumbled, “Sorry. I’ve just always been really good with numbers. They kind of just pop out to me”.

“Well, we can’t put these numbers in front of the board this way. We’re going to have to just gloss over it until we figure out what’s going on. Take that report down to Marlene in accounting. Pull her aside and tell her I want her to work on this exclusively until she knows where that money went, and it is to be done with the utmost secrecy. I don’t want anyone to know about this but us three. Understand?”

I nodded and hurried from the room to go do as he asked, then hurried back. By the time I returned, he had moved on to the next portion of the meeting, and I was back to taking notes. When everything was over, I went around collecting everything from the board members while Mr. O’Dell shook their hands and did a little schmoozing.

I was happy to talk with some of them, though our conversations were more personal since I didn’t know much about the business aspects yet. “You did very well, my dear. Especially for being new around here”. Mr. Greyson told me as he put his arm around my shoulders in a friendly embrace and repeatedly tugged me against his side as though we were old friends. “I hope to be seeing more of you around here”.

“I’m sure you will, sir. It was so nice getting to know everyone a little. I hope you enjoy your vacation. I’m a little jealous, though. I’d love to go to Paris someday”. I told him as we approached Mr. O’Dell and Mr. Greyson released me so he could embrace Mr. O’Dell as well. “Sean. Don’t be a stranger. I know Maggie would love for you to come by for dinner some night”.

“I’ll certainly try, Uncle Nate. Mom sends her love too.” There was a sadness that mixed with another emotion that flickered in Mr. O’Dell’s eyes when he spoke of his mother. I hope she’s alright. She seemed pretty upset before. I felt so bad for her seeing her like that and knew I needed to get her to her son as quickly as possible.

I’m not normally the type to get involved in people’s private affairs, but she just looked so genuinely sad that it broke my heart seeing her like that. I didn’t wanna bring up the fact that Rochelle knew his mother was out there and just left her sitting there. It kind of p*ssed me off, too.

Thankfully, I didn’t go off on her about it, though. I’m sure with her being Mr. O’Dell’s personal as*istant, and all, it wouldn’t have gone well for me. And I need this job. H*ll, I love this job! I do NOT wanna do anything that’ll jeopardize my employment status here. Especially not making the boss mad.

“Erin, I’d like to see you in my office please. Now.” Mr. O’Dell said and I gulped nervously. Maybe I did make him mad after all? God, I hope not. I just got this job today. If I get fired today, that's gotta be some kind of world record or something. Right?

“Sit down, Erin”. He said, and I obediently went to sit in one of his guest chairs facing his large desk. “You know, while I was away I’d gotten a few comments about you from Janet and Amanda, but I have to say you’re better than they told me. The board seemed pretty impressed with you. How are you at making coffee?”

He asked that as if it was some sort of inside joke. But I had no clue what he meant by it, so I just smiled a little and answered, “I don’t think I’ve poisoned anyone yet, if that’s what you’re asking”. He chuckled at my comment as he hung up his suit jacket, then finally came to sit down, rolling up his sleeves. “What I’m getting at is that I’m in need of a new Personal As*istant. And I’m thinking, with a little training, that just might be you. What do you think?”

I blinked at him in shock for a solid minute, maybe longer, my jaw going slack to hang down to my chest as I lost all ability to actually speak. When I did finally find it in me to form words, I asked, “I’m sorry. Could you repeat that?”