nevertheless~

part 03

Tessa's POV

I'm just getting done with my work when Jonathan calls me in his office. It's late now, almost 7 PM. I usually am home by this time but I wanna impress my boss before I politely dismiss the France trip. Even if I am not going there, I will have to work better in these upcoming days, so that they can sanction my denial.

"Sir, you had called for me?", I stand in the doorway of his cabin and push the door wide open when he nods for me to come in.

"Yes, Tessa. Landon came by a couple of minutes ago and told me you're not interested in coming to France with us, for the libraries expansion"

"No, sir. I am, it's just there are a few things, that I need to deal with at the moment, and I won't be able to give my 100% contribution to my team, so I asked Landon if it's okay that I don't come. I have interest, it's a very big thing for us, we get to open a branch of our bookstore internationally but can't fully give myself here"

"Then drop all other things?", the 50-year-old man says catching me off guard.

"Sir, what do you mean, I drop everything?"

"I mean, you just focus on the expansion. You work

"I mean, you just focus on the expansion. You work in the production division, right? So just keep working about the production in France, don't do anything for the division here"

"Sir, I can't just do that. Who would work for the rest of the branches? I mean, I work regarding the production units of America, I can't just leave the whole countries production on my division, that'll be too much work for them.", I try to explain to the man in salt and pepper hair, who puts two and two together and suggests me the worst idea of all time.

"Then...perhaps. You take Hardin under your wing. I know he already works for you, but you both work in the same position, correct?"

"Correct sir", I say, and my stomach is already in knots about this. How do you work with a guy, who you have been crushing on, visibly since day one?

"Well, since both you guys are on the same division, same position and are coming to France, maybe a little bit of overtime will be just the thing you need. So do a little overtime, catch up on the work and I'll give the week before coming to France off to deal with your family"

"But, sir

"Tessa, look. We need you there. You are our production division's representative. Has there ever been a day, where we had complaints from your division? No! and that just proves how much we need you around in France and it's a new set up and we need you with hands-on the deck".

And it's when he says shit like that, what does it for me! Fucking hell, man, he has a point! I can't say I won't come, because I'm the head of the division, so is Hardin but he manages to produce the covers, I'm looking at the books here. If there are no books what will they even sell in France?

"Sir, I'll see what I can do"

"No, no. You don't need to worry. All you need to do is, pack your bag for France and the rest is on me. Landon told me about your dad and his fight with the tumours, Theresa, I know you can pull through. Besides, I'm giving you a week off, right?"

"Okay, sir. But I will need more people than Hardin to work for me. 2 are not enough, we are talking about all of the production in America here"

"There's this new boy Hardin was showing around today, maybe talk to him okay. His name is, Ichor he works on the left-wing. Look he doesn't have much work experience and no knowledge either really, he's an intern, maybe he'll do it for you"

"Thank you, sir", no thank you though, because why the fuck do I get to work with an intern! 2 heads of the production division will now have to teach an intern on how to work with them, how is that in any way helping any of us?