Page 62 of Stick to the Plan
Let’s do this. Shouldersback, I walk to reception with my head held high, relieved to see a familiar face. “Hi, Wendy. Ms. Barker asked me to come in for some paperwork.”
Wendy looks up from her computer screen for a second, her eyes widening. “Ms. Chance, of course, have a seat and someone will escort you shortly.” She is already picking up the phone before I turn to the waiting area.
The office seems eerily subdued today. Glancing around, I don’t see anyone I recognize. Should I text Stan while I’m here? Not that they’ll let me wander around alone, but maybe he could meet me in the parking lot after or go grab a drink.
No sooner has my ass hit the chair than a middle-aged woman in a dress and cardigan strides up to reception. She spots me and changes directions. Her assessing brown eyes scan my appearance before landing on my face. I opted for black cigarette pants and a black silk blouse with ruby red pumps and a chunky red bib necklace. There’s no need to play down my personality anymore since I don’t work here, but I’m still going to dress professionally for a meeting.
The woman approaches me and sticks out her hand. “Brianna, thanks for coming in. I’m Miranda, if you’ll just come with me.”
I return her firm handshake and follow her down the hall to one of the smaller, more private conference rooms. At the door, she gestures for me to go first. One step into the room, I freeze.
Sitting there at the center of the conference table is Stefan Cullingford, CEO of C.A.E.
Looking up, Mr. Cullingford smiles at me, further taking me aback. He stands and waves me to the chair opposite him. As my mind reels trying to figure out what’s going on, Miranda shuts the door behind me, blocking my exit. She sits further down the table, facingus both.
“Ms. Chance, good to see you. Can we get you anything? Water? Coffee?” The CEO is all smiles as he retakes his seat.
“Water would be fine, Mr. Cullingford.”
“Oh, please, call me Stefan.” He reaches into the mini-fridge behind him and passes me a bottle of sparkling water.
“Thank you, Mr…Stefan. I will admit I am rather confused. I thought this was an exit interview with HR?” I shoot a frantic look at Miranda, who nods slightly at me with a firm but encouraging look.
“In a way, yes.” His eyes sparkle with mischief. “I’ve told you before, Ms. Chance, you are an appreciated employee within my company. When a top performer like you quits, I want to know why. I’d also like to discuss this.” He picks up a thick manila folder and slides it across to me.
Flipping open the cover, I find the note I’d given to Gabe and various documents providing proof of the leak’s source. I swallow harshly, thinking of the best way to word this. “Mr. Stone asked me to compromise my integrity, and I refused. I did not feel staying an additional two weeks prudent after that.”
Stefan nods knowingly. “I see. Would this have anything to do with the file you are now holding?”
“Mostly, sir. Mr. Stone asked me to accuse someone without sufficient proof. I refused, gave my resignation and then packed up my desk. It was at that point I received the file from IT and asked them to forward the findings onto you and Mr. O’Toole.”
“You realize if you’d already quit, you had no legal obligation to come forward?” He scrutinizes me.
I hold his intense gaze as I answer candidly. “Moral integrity does not depend on employment status, sir. I only wish I had the same opportunity to prove Barry’s innocence.”
At the mention of my mentor, Stefan’s head jerks back, eyes wide. “Barry? Whatever does this have to do with him?”
“He was not guilty of making those bribes. If I had the contacts then I do now, he might still be here.” My eyes sting slightly as guilt twists my stomach.
“Oh, child, no.” He leans forward and lays his hand on mine. “Barry had been thinking of retiring for years. He was waiting for you to be ready to succeed him. He took advantage of that situation to retire with a substantial package and has been cruising the Caribbean with his wife for the last year. It had nothing to do with you or that project.”
I release the breath I’d been holding in a rush. It’s not my fault? I’d felt so guilty for so long.
My eyebrows furrow. “If you had the files tracing the internal leak, then I really don’t understand why I’m here. Is it because I threatened the merger by sending the file to both companies?”
Releasing my hand, Stefan leans back in his chair and smiles again. With that twinkle of mischief, he looks like Santa’s corporate brother. “Quite the opposite. You impressed Mr. O’Toole with your integrity and he has agreed to move forward. With certain stipulations. We’d like to appoint you Chief Product Officer, reporting directly to me.”
Blinking, I lean forward, sure I misheard. “I’m sorry. It sounded like you just offered me a job.”
“You have a gift and I can use you on my board. I’d like you to head up a covert team to run all confidential product developments. With Innovative Solutions’s engineering and our production skills, we expect to crank out more world-changing products over the next few years. You are exactly who we need to make that happen. I’ll triple your salary.”
It takes all my willpower to keep my face blank. “While I appreciate the offer, I’m not quite sure what to say.”
“You would operate as an insulated team. Completely separate from the rest of research and development. Bottom line, what is it going to take to get you to say yes?” Stefan leans forward and grows serious.
Might as well shoot for the moon. “I want to choose my team. I need to be able to trust the people I work with. That will include an IT expert who will create a secure server with restricted access.”
“Done.” The twinkle in his eye intensifies.
