The Villa

meeting with Margaret."
    The little tug of guilt had him shifting in his chair. "I was supposed to meet with her myself last night; had to postpone. I haven't been able to get in touch with her today."
    "She should be up on six."
    "Oh well." Hell. "Mind if I use your phone?"
    Sophia gestured and stepped out to ask her assistant to get some coffee.
    "She's not there," Ty said when Sophia came back in. "Missed two morning meetings."
    "That's not like Margaret. Let's try her at home again," she began, then switched gears as P.J. and Trace came to her door.
    "Come on in. Sit." She gestured, then quietly closed the door. "I need you to know," she said as she crossed back to her desk, "that I've had to let Kris go."
    P.J. and Trace exchanged quick, sidelong looks.
    "Which I see comes as no surprise to either of you." When there was no response, Sophia decided to lay her cards on the table. "I'm going to say I hope both of you know how much I value you, hope you know how important you are to this department and to the company and to me personally. I understand there may be some continued dissatisfaction over the changes made late last year, and if either of you has specific problems or comments, I'm open to discussion."
    "How about a question?" Trace said.
    "Questions, then."
    "Who's taking over for Kris?"
    "No one."
    "You don't intend to bring in someone to fill her position?"
    "I'd prefer if the two of you share her work, her title and her authority."
    "Dibs on her office," P.J. announced.
    "Damn it." Trace hissed out a breath.
    "Okay, let's backtrack." Sophia moved to the door, opening it at her assistant's knock so the coffee could be passed around. "Not only not surprised by the recent turn of events, but unless I miss my mark, not particularly upset or disappointed."
    "It's rude to speak of the recently terminated." P.J. studied her coffee, then gazed at Sophia. "But… you're not in the office every day. Never have been because that's not how you work. You do a lot of the travel, the outside meetings. And since December, you work at home at least three days a week. We're here."
    "And?"
    "What Peej is trying to say without risking a trip to hell for bitchiness is that Kris is hard to work with. Harder to work for," Trace added. "Which is how she saw things when you weren't around. She figured she was in charge and we, along with everybody else in the department, were her minions. I was getting pretty sick of being a minion. I've been looking around for another job."
    "You could have talked to me. Damn it, Trace."
    "I was going to. Before I made any decision. Now, well, problem solved. Except I think P.J. and I should flip for Kris's office."
    "I called dibs. Snooze, lose. Sophia, she's been trying to work people up around here. Kind of a corporate mutiny or whatever. She might have gotten some supporters. You may lose some good people when she goes."
    "All right. I'll set up a full staff meeting this afternoon. Do damage control. I'm sorry I haven't been on top of this. When it all shakes down, I'd like recommendations. People you think should be considered for promotion or reassignment. As of now, you're co-managers. I'll put through the paperwork."
    "Cool." P.J. leaped up. "I'm going to go draw up how I'll rearrange my new office." She turned to Ty. "I'd just like to say that being the strong, silent type doesn't make you pussy-whipped. It makes you interesting. Kris was really steamed that you didn't try to muscle your way in and end up falling on your ass. Instead you don't say anything unless you've got something to say. And when you do, it makes sense."
    "Suck up," Trace said under his breath.
    "I don't have to suck up, I've got the big office." With a flutter of her lashes, she walked out.
    "I like working here. I like working with you. I'd've been bummed if things had worked out differently." With that said he walked out whistling.
    "Feel better?" Tyler asked.
    "Considerably. A little angry with myself for letting things go this far and this long, but otherwise considerably better."
    "Good. Why don't you go set up that staff meeting deal, and I'll try to track down Margaret. You up for a dinner meeting thing if she wants to?"
    "Sure, but that's not going to make her happy. She has the hots for you."
    "Get out."
    "Buy a clue," Sophia said lightly, and stepped out again to arrange for the meeting with her assistant.
    Women, Tyler thought as he hunted up Margaret's home number in Sophia's Rolodex. And they said