Page 17 of Stick to the Plan
Summarily dismissing my boss, Colin pulls back my chair and ushers me towards the door. His hand rests on the small of my back, the slight pressure filling me with confidence. I shoot one last look at Stone - who is turning a bit purple - and walk with Colin towards his office. I wait until we are both seated at his desk with the door shut to speak.
“What is the task for Dublin?”
Colin leans forward behind his desk and meets my eyes with that mischievous grin I am starting to enjoy. “There isn’t one. I just didn’t want to give Stone the chance to interrogate you. I know he’s dying to know what I’m up to.” His bright smiled dims, and his eyes are full of sincerity. “I know I’ve put you in a delicate situation with Stone, and I’m ver’asorry for that. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but I don’t trust that man. Until the negotiations are complete on the merger, I need to protect my company.”
I’m impressed he recognizes the uncomfortable position he’s put me in. Even more so that he’s actually acknowledging and apologizing for it. I haven’t worked with many executives who would do either. His thoughtfulness is constantly making it difficult to keep him at arm’s length. He is just too easy to get along with.
“What exactly can I say to Stone regarding your extended stay? I completely understand needing to keep the merger a secret. Stone is my boss, though, and he’s already suspicious. Eventually, I need to give him updates.”
“You could tell him the truth. This does not concern him and he can wind his neck in.” Colin’s signature grin is back in place. “Imagine that wouldn’a go over too well though.”
I can’t stop an answering grin of my own. “No, probably not.”
“Well then. Until we come up with a better way to keep Stone’s suspicions at bay, we’ll just have to not let him corner you alone.”
True to his word, Colin keeps me sequestered in his office for the rest of the day. Not that I really need his protection - but I appreciate the show of support.
“We need a code name for this project. I can’t keep referring to it as ‘that new project’ when Stone asks for updates,” I say, after a few hours of working independently.
“Project X? Project Clover? Who was the inventor of the first solar panel?”
“Charles Fritts in 1883, though Martin Green is the more modern father of solar panels.” What can I say? I’m thorough in my research.
“Project Green. What do you think?”
“R&D already has a Project Green - and a little too on the nose with the green energy aspect.” I suddenly have an idea. “Blarney!”
“Pardon? What are you calling blarney?”
I turn to Colin with a wide smile. “Call it Project Blarney. You are trying to mislead Stone with a line of pretty bullshit and your Irish charm. Call it what it is - Blarney.”
Jaw slack and eyes wide, Colin is the picture of shock. I laugh at his comical expression, making his eyes open farther. Which only makes me laugh harder, holding my sides and tilting in my chair. He joins in, and we laugh together until we get our amusement under control.
“Well. I can’t argue with that. Project Blarney, it is!” Colin smiles as he leans back in his chair and regards me with those sharp green eyes.
I return his smile as I maintain his gaze. My tongue darts out to lick my dry lips and his eyes darken as they follow the movement. With effort, I school my features into a more serious expression. “Seriously, though. What are we going to do about Stone? I have to tell him something. We can’t just avoid him forever.”
“Tell him I’m a micromanaging control freak.”
“What?” My eyebrows crawl into my hairline. Seems it’s my turn to be shocked.
“Hear me out. You tell him I’m just some young hot-shot engineer trying to play at being an executive. Tell him I’m still here because I can’t stand letting you fully take control of this project.” Colin’s eyes sparkle again with wicked amusement.
I feel my lips spread into an answering grin. “Ok, we’ll try that. The customer is always right. Right?”
Chapter twelve
One Month In - He Said
Colin
The past three weeks have flown by. Brianna and I settled into a very comfortable office routine. I spend my mornings fielding calls from Dublin, reviewing reports, and generally avoiding Stone, while Brianna checks on her other projects. After grabbing lunch from the building cafe, Brianna settles in at the table in my office to review the latest on our solar generator.
We still spend our evenings in separate corners of the little yellow house, but at the office we are constantly together. Sometimes we work collaboratively, other times we work separately in companionable silence, but we always work behind the closed doors of my office.
Brianna begrudgingly accepted the working arrangement. Her cube is just too open; anyone passing by can read over her shoulder. The only time we separate is when Brianna attends meetings for her other projects in the conference room.
Stone also seems to buy my cover story. At least he hasn’t made a big fuss again since that first staff meeting. Though based on the knowing smilesStone shoots my way, I think he has a very different read of the situation. I did nothing to dissuade his assumptions. Let Stone think I am trying to seduce Brianna. It keeps the awful man out of our hair - and it doesn’t take much acting skills on my part.
