Read Online The Christmas Party by Carole Matthews - Free Book Online

anything, not just business matters. His concentration was terrible and she worried how he managed in board meetings. The move had gone ahead regardless of the upheaval. Knowing Fossil Oil, this time next year they’d have decided that they really had to be based in London after all and they’d relocate the same people all over again.
    ‘This party is costing a goddamn arm and a leg,’ Lance added. ‘I hope the staff appreciate it.’
    ‘I’m sure they will. Everyone enjoys the Christmas party.’
    ‘Some of them too much,’ he said sagely as he swigged his drink. ‘We don’t have to mix too much. You just sit there and look beautiful as you always do. After the meal I’ll say a few words of encouragement, rally the troops for the new year. We can bow out gracefully as soon as you’re ready.’
    ‘I wouldn’t like to think how many of these we’ve done together over the years, honey.’
    ‘Well, there’ll be less of it to contend with pretty soon, angel.’ Lance refilled his glass and then there was a meaningful pause before he said, ‘I spoke to Bud Harman today.’
    Melissa smoothed the tightly fitted skirt of her emerald silk gown over her thighs and raised an eyebrow. There was something in Lance’s tone of voice that she didn’t quite like. A barely detectable ripple, a quaver, a tightness, certainly a hesitation. ‘How so?’
    Lance twisted his cufflinks in his sleeves and continued to look straight ahead. ‘We’re going home. Back to the States.’
    Melissa dropped back into her plush leather seat, which let out a squeak in protest. ‘Well, there’s a turn-up for the books. When was this decided?’
    ‘Today. This morning.’ Lance drained his glass. ‘I’m going to head up a new project.’
    America? Home. She knew it would come at some time, but not just now. Not when she was finally enjoying herself in this rain-soaked country. She was shocked to her core.
    ‘A new project?’
    ‘Hmm.’ That cagey tone again.
    ‘That sounds suspiciously like you’re being sidelined.’ Melissa’s face felt as if it had been drained of blood. In the glass it looked paler than it had a moment ago, before Lance’s earthtilting announcement.
    ‘Staff Assessment Criteria and Key Employee Development programme. “SACKED” for short,’ he explained.
    ‘
Sacked?
You’re kidding me.’
    ‘Oh,’ Lance said, frowning. ‘I see what you mean.’
    ‘The first thing you have to do, Lance, is get that name changed.’
    He shrugged. ‘Well, whatever it’s called, the programme is a global restructuring of the company. This is a crucial role for me, honey.’
    ‘You mean you’re being made chief wielder of the hatchet?’ She hadn’t meant it to sound so disdainful. Lance would, no doubt, be pleased about this. He was always happy to do whatever was required of him by Fossil Oil. He was a corporate man through and through.
    Yet for once a weary look pinched Lance’s features. ‘It’s a chance to get off the corporate merry-go-round for a while, Melissa. Running Fossil Oil is a young man’s game now and … I would only ever admit this to you, but I’m tired. I’ve been with this company for so long, I’ve seen everything before and I’m jaded. I need my batteries recharging and this might give me some time to do it.’
    Anxiety was fluttering in her chest. She didn’t want to be dragged halfway around the world again. Not now. ‘What happens when you’ve finished with this “project”?’ Call it what you will, they both knew what it really was. Lance was going to be in charge of a firing squad. ‘What happens when your batteries are recharged and surging on full power again? Suppose there isn’t a pretty coloured horse left on the corporate merry-go-round for you to ride?’
    ‘We’ll cross that bridge when, and if, we come to it. Maybe then it will be time to ease back on the throttle.’
    Melissa felt her shoulders slump.
    ‘Perhaps that retirement home in Florida might not be so