Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(44)

Her eyes filled with tears before she could help it or turn away. Sean flinched, but Krista was out the door before he could react. Once in the hall, she took a couple of deep breaths, straightened her back, put her head up, and started walking faster. She was good at what she did. She deserved her spot. She proved herself over and over again. To hell with this oversized boys’ club! It will not beat me!

Krista got to the meeting hall, took another deep breath, and crossed the threshold. Marcus was over talking to all the admins, which made sense because he was supposed to be one of them, and also because they would have the best gossip in the place. She also noticed with pride that she was the best dressed woman. She even gave most of the men a run for their money. Eyes found and followed her as she made the long walk to her table, head held high, importance flaring. She pretended she was on the way to a presentation. Today they would all know she was a manager. The Big Bitch manager, to be exact. She wore the title like a banner as she found her table and again sat next to Bob. Sink or swim.

“Hey guys,” she said as she sat down.

“Hello Ms. Fields,” Donald replied. He was ready to take notes today. He had one pencil, one pen, and one eraser all lined up beside his notepad.

Georgie glanced over, but other than that, it was like she didn’t exist. Outwardly unperturbed, she took out her laptop and opened her word-pad. While she waited, she also opened solitaire.

Some minutes later, Sean showed up, looking dapper in his suit, and took out a laptop as well. Janice sat with him, her pen and paper at the ready.

“Alright everyone,” Sean said, leaning toward his team, “Managers will have team building after this. Admins will also, but separately. For each win we get, we get a point. Regions with the most points at the end of the weekend get a prize. I don’t care about the prize, but I do care about winning. In addition to whatever prize the company gives, I’ll give each of you $100.”

“$500,” Krista said without looking up.

“Excuse me?”

She did look up, then. It appeared that in order for Krista to prove she was an asset this weekend, her region would have to produce. If their region would have to produce, she would need them to get their stinkin’ heads out of their asses and get with it. Sean had tried his way of motivating; Krista was now going to use hers. She wanted to win. She wanted the one region with the chick to beat every entrenched ass**le in the place. And by God, her team would show up this weekend and learn to work or she would taunt them until they had nervous breakdowns.

She pointedly looked at everyone before turning back to Sean. “$500. $100 will barely cover the celebratory drinks. I want money to buy a new handbag. I have my eye on a Burberry. They’re expensive.”

“Krista, this is your job. I am just giving you a bump,” Sean said tersely. The other managers got nervous.

She shrugged. “My job is showing up and participating. What’s winning worth to you?”

“What guarantee can you give me?” Sean countered, a spark in his eyes.

Krista looked at the guys. “Well?”

“There is no guarantee,” Donald said.

“Donald, you’re not helping,” Krista reflected. “How’s this—first place, $500 each. Second place, $400. Third $200. None, $100.”

Sean stared at her, trying not to smile. “$500 to win, $100 for second. All or nothing.”

Krista turned back to the guys, leading the negotiation, but doing it democratically. They had to be on board, or this whole thing was a no-go. “What do you say, guys? That fair?”

Five hundred dollars had their eyes alight. Bob looked at Dean, who looked at Georgie. Georgie and Donald were looking at Krista with expressions of shock.

“Sounds good to me,” Georgie said quickly. “That’ll get my daughter the new bike she’s been talking about for her birthday.”

“Yeah but,” Krista said, leaning over the table to get closer, “I don’t want to get my hopes up for that handbag if I’m going to be the only one busting my ass…”

“What help do you think you’ll be?” Bob said snidely.

Sean opened his mouth to say something, but Krista beat him to it. “Goddamn it, Bob, I’m here to win. I’m here to do a good job, as a team. And I think we can. You guys don’t have to like me. And guess what? I don’t care. But like me or not, you have to work with me. And you know what else? I’m making you all look like fools—not because your branch has the only woman in it, but because a girl half your age came in, changed things up, saved the company money, and took you ol’ farts to the cleaners. And all you can think to do is try and put me down? That makes you look ridiculous, Bob. So now we have a chance to prove ourselves, to unite against the other branches and rub their faces in it, and you are still bickering with me. Is that what a man does in your eyes?”

The whole table stared at Krista with their mouths open. She’d never thrown her weight around before. They hadn’t known she had any weight to throw. Which she didn’t, but it had never stopped her in the past—the overachiever complex was a grueling thing.

Finally Donald said, “That’s a fair assessment. But I’m still not sure we can win. New York has been working together for a very long time. They’ve won 95% of the competitions.”

“They’re complacent,” Georgie countered. “We have new blood. Plus, Sean and Krista work exceptionally well together. That’ll help.”