gabe + chloe convo

"Chloe, my office, now!" Gabe's sharp voice didn't hide his annoyance through the intercom on my phone.  

My heart skipped a beat as I hurried to his office, closing the door behind me and bracing myself to get yelled at.  After being late and fucking up so much, I deserved it.  The lack of sleep had me struggling more than normal.

"Have a seat," my boss commanded, closing his laptop and sitting up straight, sizing me up.  I did as told, not breaking eye contact.  Gabe looked more amused than angry, half-smile with humor in his eyes.  "The next time you come in hungover, I'll have to get my rattan cane after you," he warned in a neutral tone, making it hard to decipher how serious he was.  "What's the story with Winters?"

I froze for half a second.  "It's been difficult getting in touch with him..."

He cut me off.  "Bullshit.  I saw him today and he hasn't received any message from you."  His fingers tapped on the desk in annoyance.  "So either you forgot or deliberately neglected to set up the appointment as I ordered."  He paused, perhaps hoping that I would throw myself under the bus, but it was easier to keep quiet.  I was too hungover and sleepy to think of how to con my Harvard-educated boss, and my silence appeared to impress him.  When he grew impatient, a lecture began.  "This is a high-profile firm, and sometimes our clients have a bad rep.  Regardless of your feelings towards them, I expect my orders to be obeyed.  Otherwise I can't imagine that our working together will last."

The sudden passion in his tone caused me to gulp.  "It won't happen again," I assured.

"Good."  He gathered papers on his desk and stacked them together.  "Don't believe the allegations in the news against Winters.  The leaked documents are a fraud, and once Violet is on the case, we'll get to the bottom of it."  Everything inside me stopped for a moment, nearly panicking but trying to focus on my boss.  He was now standing, buttoning his suit jacket.  "Go home, rest up, and come back at one-hundred percent tomorrow.  Got it?"

I cleared my throat.  "Yes, sir."