"This is stupid! You are completely out of your mind and stupid!"

Jan Manchester released a frustrated sigh as Rhea Davis barged into his office. He used to admire her guts before, now it made him want to punch a wall.

"What is it this time around, Rhea?" Jan asked calmly, even as his fists clenched around the file in his hand.

"Can you tell me why the hell I had to find out from Carl that you're moving headquarters to some weird town in Ontario?" she demanded.

"Because you're a nosy flirt and Carl is a weak-spined fool who is very close to losing his job?" Jan asked.

"I am definitely not nosy, merely curious. And I only asked Carl because I knew you wouldn't tell me."

"Because the information is confidential." He let out a frustrated sigh. "And frankly, I have half a mind to fire that idiot."

"Don't do anything to Carl, I practically bullied him into telling me." She settled down on the seat in front of his desk. "And no, you didn't tell me because you knew I wouldn't agree with this."

"To what?"

"To this!" She gestured with her hands. "To whatever this is."

Jan kneaded his forehead. "You're not making a lot of sense, Rhea."

"Tell me you don't see how idiotic this is. You can't just randomly move headquarters. We've built a solid client base here and I won't let you ruin things."

"I don't need your permission to do anything. I think it's the other way around," Jan stated.

"Then why tell Carl and not me, if you don't care about what I think?"

"Carl is my manager, he is relevant to the process. You however, are not and you can't just go around harassing other employees for information. That could cost you your job."

"You would fire me?" she asked with raised brows.

Shutting the file in his hands, Jan turned his full gaze on her. "What exactly do you want?"

"I want you to tell me what's going on."

"Carl didn't tell you already?"

"No, he didn't," she replied. "I want to hear it from you. Why are you moving headquarters to some other town?"

"I'm not moving headquarters, get your facts straight."

"I would if somebody didn't keep his employees in the dark all the fucking time."

"You sometimes forget that I'm your boss," he said with an exasperated sigh.

Rhea rolled her eyes in reply. "If you're not moving head—"

"I'm opening up a new branch not moving headquarters. Headquarters will remain here."

"Oh," she muttered. "That's actually a good idea."

"I know," Jan replied. "Now, will you leave my office so I can work?"

"What town are we opening in?" she asked.

"Hillford," he replied shortly.

Rhea let out a short laugh. "Wait... what?"

Jan raised a brow at the disbelief painted on her face.

"Hillford, as in your hometown?"

His face morphed into a scowl. "How do you know that?"

"The picture in your wallet," she replied, almost dismissively.

"That is private, Rhea. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I didn't know that at the time so don't yell at me. I was just trying to take some dollars for coffee, I meant no harm."

"That's stealing."

"Only if I got caught and I didn't." She flipped her hair. "Anyway, don't try to change the topic. We were talking about Hillford."

"What about it?"

"It's Hillford, Jan."

"Yes and I don't understand why you're so surprised."

"I can't be hearing this right. Jan, you hate that place," she said.

"I do not," Jan denied smoothly. "I've just not been around in a while."

"Do I look like an idiot? I've been your friend for years and I've seen your face scrunch up whenever that place comes up in discussion. Suddenly, you're talking about moving there to start up a business."

"Moving temporarily and I'm not going to let my hatred for the place keep me from making money," he said. "The market is perfect in Hillford and I want to utilize that."

"And it's that simple?" Rhea asked. "I mean, I don't know the details but I'm not so sure about this move."

"You're overreacting."

"Am I? Because I'm your best friend and I obviously won't let you throw away everything you've worked for just because you're unable to let go of some nonsensical grudge."

"Nonsensical?" Jan asked. "Stay away from that topic because you know nothing about my 'grudge'."

"I'm sorry," Rhea's voice was quiet. "I'm just worried. I get that you're successful now and you want to show off but-"

"That town chewed me up and spit me out like I was nothing. This is bigger than showing off." His heart raced between his ribs, this was a conversation he didn't want to be having. He loved Rhea. God, he did. But she never knew when to quit and this was one of those times.

"I'm sorry," she repeated. "I'm just worried but I'll let it go."

"Good."

"But have you thought this out properly? Really analyzed the market? Have you thought about the office space, the employees, the clientele?"

Jan made a fist. "Everything is set, Rhea. The office should be up and running in two months."

"And you didn't tell me?" she screeched. "When are you going to stop doing this!"

"I just told you, didn't I?"

Her nose scrunched up. "You're so annoying."

"So you've said. Many times."

"I'm coming with you," she demanded abruptly. "Don't even try to convince me otherwise."

"Of course," Jan replied. "Who else is going to barge into my office and disrupt my work?"

"Good." she nodded, satisfied.

"Yeah. Now talk to me about Lance."

"Lawrence," she corrected. "And we broke up this weekend."

Jan smirked. "Oh?"

"Shut up," Rhea murmured. "You were right, okay? He was a prude, wouldn't even let me drink a glass of wine during dinner."

"I didn't say anything." He laughed, spreading his palm open. "Now give it up."

"You're a dick," she said as she pulled a hundred dollar bill from her pocket. "I hope you know that."

"I do, now get back to work."

Before turning the knob on his door, Rhea turned back towards him. "I hope you know that I'm really proud of you, Jan. I'm sorry if my bitching about Hillford made you doubt that."

"Don't worry, it didn't."

"I just don't want to see you get hurt by this. Promise you'll at least try to-" He sent her a look. "Fine, I'll let it go."

"Thank you."

"So we're really doing this, huh?" she asked.

Jan glanced at the folder laying on his desk, the one that read: Hillford + Blue Sun. He thought about how long he'd been waiting, how patient he'd been, how hard he had to work and he nodded.

Yes, he was really doing this.

|~|~|~|

y'all, i really hate first chapters. i am never satisfied with them. i'll leave this one here because i'll never post if I keep editing.

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