I counted to three, making sure he’d finished, then replied, “You won’t tell me what’s going on, so I have to do what I can to get us out of the situation. Don’t forget it’s my family company too.”

He snorted. “You’ve never been involved the way I have.”

“That’s not fair, Tom.” Just because I wasn’t interested in being the boss didn’t mean I didn’t care.

“I’ll tell you what’s not fair. You refusing to give me the benefit of the doubt. I’ve been working at this company since you were in middle school.”

I glanced at Sage, who offered a sympathetic smile. We’d been friends for as long as I could remember, so she was familiar with Tom’s temper tantrums.

He fell silent for a moment. “Of course, there is a potential upside to this,” he said, finally coming around.

“I’m glad you can see that.”

“You can use your access to gather information we could use against him. Perhaps get some of our clients back.”

I rolled my eyes. He said it as though I hadn’t suggested that exact thing earlier. Yes, I’d have to deal with the confidentiality agreement, but there would be ways around it. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Good. Let’s bring that asshole down from the inside.”

I winced. I didn’t want Ronan taking over Lennox Securities, but I didn’t necessarily want to damage his business either. He’d worked hard for it, especially after Dad’s death, when Tom had made it clear Ronan was no longer welcome at our firm.

“I’ll do what I can to protect Lennox Securities, but I’m not going after him personally. He doesn’t deserve that.”

He snorted. “You’re so naïve.”

I didn’t care what he called me. There were some lines I wouldn’t cross.

“Oh,” he added, “don’t bother coming in tomorrow. I’ll have someone pack your things and deliver them.”

I flinched. “Are you…firing me?”

He scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just speeding your plan along. The sooner your month is up, the sooner I can be sure King is off my back.”

Drawing in a slow breath through my nostrils, I tried to calm my racing heart. I couldn’t help but feel that he was punishing me for defying him. “What about the marketing campaign I was working on?”

“Someone else can finish it. You don’t need to worry. Just get me the inside scoop on King.”

Then he hung up.

“Nobody else knows what the campaign is,” I muttered to myself.

Perhaps I’d be able to keep my work laptop and continue the campaign during my free time.

Sage reached across and patted my hand. “Try to view this positively. You’ll be free of a work environment where you’re treated poorly and taken advantage of, and you’ll be near the guy you’ve always dreamed about. Perhaps this is the universe at work, giving you the good things you deserve, just not in the way you thought you’d get them.”

“Maybe.” I appreciated her looking on the bright side, but it wasn’t her life that had been turned upside down.