Julian idly reached out and toyed with a leaf from a planter. “How about marketing? Heard that department’s the chillest.”
Serena didn’t actually want him anywhere near the company, let alone in a decent role, but she couldn’t find a clean excuse to shut him down. Right then someone knocked and walked in after two quick taps.
Serena’s face went hard—who the hell barged in?—until she saw Charles, and her expression instantly froze.
Charles beamed that grandfatherly smile. “Sorry to interrupt, Serena. Got a moment for Julian?”
She hated it, but Charles was one of the old guard—an aide to the former chairman, someone who’d watched Ashford grow from the ground up. So she gave him a little face. “Of course, come in. What do you need? Want me to give you the room?”
Charles waved her off. “N
