Page 11 of Stick to the Plan
It’s clear I impressed him with my detailed project documents. I admit - he impressed me, too. He’s been attentive but quiet, as if he’s absorbing as much as possible. When he does speak, his question or comment is always insightful and never aggressive. I hadn’t wanted to like him - or the warm sound of his laughter - but despite my best efforts; I find myself doing both.
I misjudged him - there I admit it. He isn’t the playboy from across the pond I feared him to be. True, he is young to be a VP. But from everything I found online, Innovative Solutions is a small company, and Colin has been there since the start. He is intelligent and quickwitted; I have zero doubts he earned that title.
The simple fact Stone dislikes him enough to ask me to keep an eye on him perversely makes me like Colin even more. I chuckle to myself as I pass Stone’s office.
“Chance, come here,” Richard booms from behind his desk.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Stopping instantly, I back up the two steps I’d managed past his door and turn to face my boss.
“Yes, Mr. Stone?”
“Shut the door.” He waits for me to enter and approach his desk in the now enclosed office before continuing. “How are things going with McLeary?”
“Very well, Sir. He seems thrilled with the way we run projects here and is confident the new project will be very successful.”
“Yes, yes, very good.” Richard leans forward with his elbows on the desk and his fingertips steepled. He looks like a ridiculous cartoon villain. “Have you gotten a feel for this McLeary yet?”
Tread carefully, Brianna. “I’m not entirely sure yet, sir. After an initial call with Dublin today, I’ll know more.”
“What details do you have so far? What is this fancy new product supposed to do? Why is he here personally?”
I take a deep breath and plaster my most professional smile on. “Sir, Dublin hasn’t shared the full specs yet, but I do know that early testing has been promising and I.S. is motivated to get to market quickly. Until I know more - and we’re out of the testing phase - I won’t have firm projections for you on potential profit yields. I imagine Mr McLeary is here as a showof good faith from Innovative Solutions. A bit of team-building and good business politics.”
Richard’s eyes narrow, and I think I see his cheek muscle spasm, as if he’s clenching his jaw. Does he know I’m holding information back? He clears his throat and his eyes narrow.
“So you’re telling me you spent all day with him and you learned nothing to help me? Don’t make me regret choosing you for this, Chance. Next time I ask for an update, I expect some damn details!”
“Of course, Mr. Stone.” Clearly dismissed, I leave his office and quickly resume my path to the restroom. My chest feels a little tight and my temples tingle. Clear signs of my temper flaring and it needs to be reigned back in. This project better not cost me my job. With a deep breath, I open the door and almost bump into Rachel reapplying lipstick in the mirror. This morning just keeps getting shittier and shittier.
“Well, if it isn’t Ms. Brianna Chance, the Ice Queen herself.” Her gaze glitters with malice as she meets mine in the mirror.
I’d rather be an Ice Queen than a manipulative bitch. “What do you want, Rachel?”
She goes back to checking her lipstick in the mirror. “I don’t want anything. I was just minding my own business until you stormed in.” She tilts her head to the side. “Now that you mention it though, I want to give you a… friendly… word of advice,” she says, her face full of mock sincerity.
I grit my teeth, and even though I know I’ll regret it instantly, I hear myself ask, “and what would that be?”
“I’d watch myself if I were you. Mr. Stone is very much counting on this collaboration to be a success.” Rachel twists her red lipstick closed and replaces the cap with a snap before meeting my eyes in the mirror. “I’d hate for you to lose your job over this. Just look at what happened to BarryWebster.” With that, Rachel turns on one scarlet stiletto and swishes past me out the door.
I stand frozen for two heart pounding minutes, fuming but trying to regain my composure. I close my eyes, my clenched fists the only outward sign of the red-hot fury raging within.
I hate that nickname.Ice Queen. I am proud of my ability to keep a level head and not let my emotions affect my job. It is precisely what makes me so good at my chosen profession.
There is just no winning.
I spend years proving myself to the boy’s club. That I can play the politics game. That I can take the stress and the angry customers on without crying in the boardroom. The men finally accept me, and the women disown me for being aheartless bitch.
Just because I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve or gossip in the bathroom doesn’t make me heartless.
Forcing my hands to relax, I take three deep breaths to calm down. Breath in…two…three…four. Hold…two…three…four. Out…two…three…four. Hold…two…three…four.
Most of the women here aren’t bad. I just can’t let Rachel get to me anymore. No matter which buttons she pushes. I’ll keep my projects so profitable for the company that Stone can never fire me.
Under control and suitably pumped back up, I make my way to Colin’s office just as he is dialing the conference call on his speakerphone. I shut the door and sit down, ready to get to business.
Chapter seven
A Pint of Pity
