Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(24)

“Will I?” Krista said with a bit more sauce than she’d intended.

Tory and Phil both chuckled, thinking it was a good-natured, sarcastic comment. Sean knew better. Despite the reasons why, he knew her backwards and forwards. She had changed, sure, but that was to cover up the pain from losing herself in the move. Her sarcastic comments covered up a deeper hurt. Sean was the only one in that room that knew her well enough to know that. She never could hide her deeper self from him—probably because she had never tried.

Krista knew Sean as well as he knew her, so screw it—pain or no pain, past or no past, it didn’t change her new goals of Sean destruction! She sounded like Rocky Balboa. She needed to do some meditation or something. Maybe she needed to join a drum circle.

“Yes,” he said slowly, looking at Krista with new eyes. “Tory and Phil think you are ready for the next level.” Sean glanced at Phil. “We need Phil in another region to get things in order. He has agreed to move.”

“I’m goin’ home!” Phil exalted the decision with a big, shit-eating grin. All he needed was a ten gallon hat and a belt buckle to make the picture complete.

“Yes,” Sean said. “So that leaves us with a vacancy. Tory thinks you are ready to step into Phil’s large shoes. Based on what I know of you, I am confident you will do well in that position. What are your thoughts?”

“You mean, am I okay with a promotion?” Krista asked Tory, laughing despite herself. It would mean she would have to work with Sean, but it was on the road to her goal. So be it.

Tory smiled, as did Phil. Sean didn’t.

“Do you think you can handle the workload and extra responsibility?” Sean asked seriously.

“Yes, I do,” she returned, just as seriously with a splash of ominous. It was a warning—if he planned to start underestimating her, she would give Jasmine the green light to booby-trap his office. “I already have some ideas on improvement, if you don’t mind me saying, Phil. Your system is awesome, but there are a couple places I would like to try and tighten up.”

“You mean, a couple of managers you would like to whip into shape?” Phil asked with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m too nice is what I think you’re saying.”

“Yeah, well, I have a reputation to uphold,” Krista countered. To Tory she asked, “Does this mean I’m not going to be traveling as much?”

Tory looked at Sean. Sean said, “Exactly. You leave the traveling behind with your old duties. The person you get to take your place will assume that responsibility.”

“And you are leaving the hiring to me?” she asked Sean. Apparently Tory stepping out of the picture started now.

“Yes. Although, I hear Kate is on your team?” Sean knew very well that was the case.

“Yes.”

“She might be a good candidate,” he said lightly.

“She would, of course. I work well with her and she responds to my management style perfectly. However,” Krista leaned in slightly, “she is the newest employee in that department, and my old college friend. I don’t think it’s fair to promote her just yet.”

“Excuse me for saying, but she is the best for the position.”

“Sometimes it isn’t always about doing the duties well. Sometimes it is about loyalty. It is about trust. If I were to promote her without further ado, I would most likely break my people’s trust. I don’t work that way.

“I’ll talk to the department. I’ll see who is interested, and who would be the best for the job in the situation. It’ll probably be her, and I’ll probably need to manipulate to make that happen without upsetting everyone, but regardless, I’ll let you know my findings before I make a decision.”

Tory and Phil nodded together; that explanation sounded fine. Sean, however, looked at her without comment. His face was blank. It looked like he caught her double meaning on the trust and loyalty issue. She met his gaze with a cool demeanor. It was the only dig she would make. From now on it was professional all the way.

Tory talked about other strategies within the region, and Phil talked about which aspects Krista would need to go over with him in the following weeks to get up to speed. Throughout the meeting, Sean’s eyes strayed to her often. Sometimes he looked sad, and sometimes he nearly smiled. Krista had no idea what the hell was going on in that head of his, but he was obviously losing his mind. Based on the fact that Jim did, too, Krista was starting to take it personally…

When the meeting was over, Tory and Phil headed for the door, talking about the Dodgers versus the Giants. Krista followed behind, not caring at all about baseball.

“Krista?” Sean was standing in front of his seat, gathering his notes and papers. “A word?”

Tory and Phil hadn’t stopped. Trying not to be petulant, she ambled back and took her old seat.

“What’s up?” she asked.

Sean looked at her and sat down. “I wanted to explain some things.”

Krista sincerely hoped it would be work things.

“I was loosely talking to Tory about this company change around the time he was making you and Marcus offers.”

Krista couldn’t help but show the surprise on her face. She had no idea it went back that far. He planned this move before she left the first time, to the same destination, and he never mentioned it. Two and a half years he worked at this. Two and a half years he kept this from her. He let her go, cut all ties, but planned to meet up again in the end. And he did it without telling her to wait, or even giving her that choice. He told her to be happy, with finality.