Chapter 5 Lexie's POV

Chapter 4

Lexie's POV

The tension in the conference room was palpable. I'm pretty sure if I was given a knife then I would be able to cut through it. Ethan's gaze was fixated on Susan, who stood with a mix of defiance and dread, her posture rigid as if bracing for an impending storm she knew was to come.

A part of me will delight in this because I and Susan were never friends and there was also the fact that she body shamed me whenever I walked past her. Not that it did anything to me though. It wasn't my fault I had enough ass and she just did not have any on her.

"Did you send the notification to all department heads?" Ethan repeated, his voice low but edged with irritation. He leaned forward, his blue-grey eyes narrowing as he awaited an answer.

"Yes, sir," Susan replied, but there was a tremor in her voice. "I sent it to all the distinguished departments. Her department is still under-"

"Under what?" Ethan interrupted, his tone sharp. "Under what exactly? You're implying that because her department is a subdivision, it doesn't warrant the same respect as the others? That's not how this works."

"Sir," Susan said, her composure slipping just a little, "I was following protocol. The heads of the main departments were the priority."

"Protocol?" Ethan's voice rose, and the tension in the room thickened. "What about the protocol of communication? What good is a protocol if it leaves out significant team members? Do you think I hired you to play favorites? Because that's what it sounds like."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I did say I would enjoy this a little but I wasn't so sure now. Ethan looked like he was out for blood. He was a stark contrast to the person I had met that night at the club. This person was different and I knew he wasn't going to let Susan get away with this but I had a feeling Susan was also not one to back down easily, and I could see the gears turning in her head as she tried to come up with a response.

"Sir, I didn't mean to overlook Lexie's team," she said, her voice taking on a defensive edge. "But you have to understand that her role is temporary. It's not standard procedure to hold meetings with temporary positions."

"Temporary?" Ethan's voice was a deep rumble of irritation, and I could almost see the heat radiating from him.

I held in a breath. Everybody knew my position was temporary it seemed. Then how was it that I had missed it when I was given the job? How?

"And who exactly made her position or her team temporary?" He asked Susan with a perfectly raised eyebrow.

It was obvious that Ethan was angry. The air in the room had become chill and everywhere was filled with tension. I spared a look at the other occupants of the room and noticed I was not the only one feeling the effects of this change in Ethan.

Susan's tongue darted out to lick her lips. "Sir, it's a well known fact."

Ethan turned to Amber. "Did you know her position was temporary?" He asked her.

Amber adjusted before replying to him. "No sir. We were not aware."

"How about you?" Ethan asked the other person and he also shook his head saying no.

"Then who told you, how did you find out?" Ethan turned his glare on Susan.

"Ethan, I only meant-" Susan started, but Ethan cut her off again.

"Ethan?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow as he died non existent dirt from his suit. "It's been a few hours since I walked into this office and I just met you, are we friends?" He asked her.

"No sir." Susan said to him as she swallowed nervously.

She had made a mistake especially by addressing him with his given name. She should have known not to do that from the beginning.

"Are you my superior?"

"No sir."

"No. You are my secretary and I expect you to address me with respect."

"I'm sorry sir. It was a mistake. I was only trying to..."

"I don't care what you were trying to do. I expect you to do your job, Susan. And part of that job is ensuring that all relevant parties are informed. If you can't manage that simple task, then maybe we need to reconsider your position here. Part of that job also ensures you to address people with respect."

I could see the anger simmering beneath Susan's composed exterior. I had a feeling this was the first time her authority had been questioned. But why the anger? She was the one at fault right? She should face the consequences.

"The thing I hate most about people I expect to work with me is incompetence." Ethan said.

I knew he was no longer speaking to just Susan but every person in the room.

"I will not tolerate even a little of it. I expect you all to do your jobs and to do it well. There is a reason why you all were employed by this company whether it's a temporary position or not, there is a reason why you are here. And I expect that if I give instructions, it should be followed. There is a reason you all are here and there is also a reason I am here. You will not do things just because of a little gossip when it's not supposed to be done." He told us.

I knew he was exerting his power as CEO. I should be annoyed at the way he ignored me and placed me on hot seat from the moment I walked into the conference room but I also could not deny the fact that right now, seeing him like this, speaking and filled with power made my thighs clench.

"This is your last warning Susan, you are dismissed." He said to her.

"Thank you sir." Susan said as she left the conference room but not before giving me the stink eye.

That made me chuckle. I had done absolutely nothing to get that move from her. She was being ridiculous.

"Now that that's settled, let's get to the reason why I called you all here."