‘Coming up to three and a half years.’
‘Is it that long? Already? And do you like your job? I mean, is it where you want to be, career wise?’
His eyes widen for a moment. I’ve surprised him with my question. ‘Honestly, I don’t know. I mean, I do love my job. You’re a great boss…’
‘Thank you.’ I smile.
‘But, is it where I want to be? I don’t honestly know where I want to be. I was talking to Josh the other day about it.’ Josh is Damien’s boyfriend. They’ve just moved in together. ‘You know, he’s just been offered a promotion to head chef at the Ocean View.’
‘That’s fantastic. Send him my congratulations.’
‘I will. He’s over the moon about it.’
‘So that’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about,’ I say. ‘I’d like to offeryoua promotion… and a pay rise.’
‘Really?’ Damien nods slowly, letting my words sink in.
‘But it would also mean a lot more responsibility.’
He leans back in his seat and runs a hand through his hair. ‘Wow. I didn’t expect that.’
‘I was thinking that as my PA, you almost know my job as well as I do. You’re resourceful, hard-working. You come up with good solutions and you’re organised.’
‘Josh always says I’mtooorganised.’
‘You can never be too organised.’ I flash him a quick smile. ‘So how does the title Business Director sound to you, on a six-month trial basis? You would report directly to me and have seniority over all the other staff. Your salary would reflect that.’
‘What?Seriously?’ Damien shakes his head in disbelief. ‘That sounds… I mean… that sounds amazing. But what would the other managers have to say about it? Surely they’d be annoyed to have a lowly PA start telling them what to do? Wouldn’t they expect to be promoted over me?’
‘They don’t know the inner workings of the business like you do. They only deal with certain parts of it. And anyway, it’s my company, my decision. It would mean that we wouldn’t need a new facilities manager immediately, as that position could now be covered by both of us.’
‘Gemma, I don’t know what to say.’
‘Say yes.’
‘Well, I mean…yes. Thank you. I can’t believe it.’
‘So the idea appeals to you?’
‘More than that. I’m stunned. I feel like this is a dream. Business Director? Are you sure?’
‘You’re the best person for the job. You know what most of my job entails, and I can train you up on the parts you don’t know.’
‘This is… this is incredible.’
‘There’s one condition, though.’
‘What’s that?’
‘You’ll have to hire me a new you and train them up, okay? I need a PA who’s as good as you are.’
‘Not sure if that’s possible,’ he jokes.
‘Okay, well someone who’s almost as good as you.’
‘Deal,’ he says.
I feel a lightening in my chest. This could work out brilliantly. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before.