Arriving early to the office, Grace’s mind was on Jonathan’s situation with Dewberry and his father when her assistant Warren held up a document.
“Handle whatever it is. I have a situation to deal with,” she walked by his desk.
“I think you will want to handle this personally,” He said as he followed her into her office.
“I’m sure you will do just fine with it.”
“Not this time,” Warren stood next to her desk.
Grace gave him an exasperated look, as she snatched the document from his hand. “Argh.”
“Don’t give me that look, or your sass. You’re going to love this.”
“A reference request?” She frowned.
He pointed to a line on the document. “Look who it is for.” He stepped back and smiled.
Grace could not believe what she was holding in her hand. “You have got to be kidding,” she chuckled.
“It’s right there in black and white. I even printed it out so you could hold it, feel it between your little fingers,” he laughed.
Grace sat down, “Well look at that. Elaine Jacobson has a new position at Whitfield Financial Consultants.” Grace held the document down to look at Warren who was now seated in front of her desk. “Elaine will be working for Savannah Whitfield. Two women scorned by Dunning men.”
“Isn’t that special,” Warren smirked. “What I cannot understand is why Savannah Whitfield would request a reference from us. She has to know Elaine Jacobson was fired.”
“No, we gave her a retirement package. As far as the financial world is concerned, she simply retired.”
“Quite noble of Myles, I would say.”
“Yes, it was. Let’s hope it does not come back to bite us in the arse.”
“Oh, we are using London terminology now?” He raised an eyebrow.
Grace smiled. “A mere slip of the tongue.”
“More of Mr. Michael rubbing off on you. You actually seem nicer.”
“Is that good or bad?” She frowned.
“Good for your employees, bad for business. How do you want to handle that request?”
“Pull her exit package,” Grace said as she placed the document on her desk. “If it were anyone else I would say hell no don’t hire her. But with Savannah in the mix, it could be a trap to see how we respond. I don’t need an ethics violation against us.”
Warren stood, “Will do. Mr. Long has requested a little help with setting up his new department…”
Grace cut him off, “Get him all the help he needs. Check with AnnieMarie to see if Phillip can help.”
“I’ll probably pull Pam in as well. Do you think Gina will be helpful?”
“Gina Price, Chrystina’s sister?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m pretty sure she will be heading it up.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” Grace nodded. “She and Preston seem to be quite close.”
“Oh…I hadn’t noticed.”
Grace glanced up. “I know that tone,” she laughed. “Haven’t been able to hit that one yet…hunh?” She raised an eyebrow.
“No one is immune to my charm.”
“I am.”
“You don’t count. You were a bigger whore than I am.”
“Was, is the operative word. I got the man I want. And believe me when I say he satisfies every corner of my desires and more.”
Warren held up his hand to stop her. “Say no more. That is too much information for me to handle.”
“Hey, Warren,” Grace called back to him.
“Yes,” he stuck his head back into her office. She was silent as she stared at him. “You do realize you called me back, but you’re not saying anything.”
Grace sat backing thinking. “Back during the takeover was Elaine ever connected with Phase International?”
Warren leaned against the doorjamb. “I remember her name mentioned in connection with Jonathan in one of the Board meeting transcripts.”
Grace jumped to her feet. “That’s who it is?” She rushed out the door past Warren.
“That’s who…what is?’ He called out.
“That bitch is at it again,” Grace rushed out the entrance.
Less than a minute later, she walked into the reception area of Jonathan’s office. “Is he free?”
Sydney nodded as Grace burst by her. “Yes,” she said to the woman’s back.
“It’s Elaine Jacobson.”
Grace and Jonathan said simultaneously, then laughed.
“What tipped you off?” Jonathan asked.
“She had the connection between you and Phase,” Sydney said from the doorway.
Grace looked back over her shoulder at Sydney. “Exactly,” she turned to Jonathan. “Now, how can we prove it.”
“I have checked,” Sydney said. “There is no communication between Elaine and Dewberry.”
“Then they have an intermediary,” Jonathan added.
“Clearly,” Grace agreed. “But who?”
“Brentwood Micheal.” Sydney smirked.
“Spot on, Sydney,” Jonathan nodded. “Check with Gary. Get the account number he has for Brentwood. See if we can get a tracker on him.”
“On it,” Sydney hurried out the office.
“I may have an in with Elaine,” Grace added. “I’ll follow up on that.”
“One more thing,” Jonathan stopped her before she walked out the door. “Contact the Board members at Phase. I have a feeling they are unaware of Dewberry’s covert actions.”
“They are going to want proof, Jonathan,” Grace shook her head. “I will contact them when we have evidence of whatever they are up to.”