The three people got into the vehicle and set off for lunch, but the silent awkwardness in the space was obvious. Leila took out her phone which she left in her purse before they went into the gallery and texted one of her people.
[Check and assess any real estate properties owned by the rest of the Campbell family. Prioritise a beach house belonging to the patriarch. I have a feeling about it.]
The reply was quick.
[Boss, you have to learn how to say hello first.]
Leila's lips quirked despite herself. She never said 'hello' because it seemed to irritate him. But he never seemed to get tired of trying to improve her attitude. Also, she did not like being too friendly with her subordinates.
It was not a matter of classism or looking down on them. Rather, she was worried about becoming vulnerable. No one in the world could be trusted fully. Her grandparents had driven that point home to ensure she was always safe.
