Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(34)

She’d learned a thing or two about John since her eavesdropping sessions in the break room began. The topics most often talked about were his fast cars, fast women, and the ridiculous fact that he tried to pretend he was twenty. He hated when people used Mister with him. He wanted people to call him by his first name, or a nickname of some sort. He thought he was Superman. Also that he would live forever. He may, or may not, have dated someone in IT. It was hard to pinpoint because, unlike Sean, the guy was good at keeping his romantic life away from his work life.

“Krista,” he said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to talk with James yet, so this is just a conversation based on intent.”

She decided he couldn’t very well fire her without permission. That was good news. It also meant she had a window of time before anything was set in stone in which to talk to Mr. Montgomery herself. She had insurance.

John leaned toward her a little, his eyes glued to hers. She got the impression he was trying to intimidate her.

“Sean filled me in about the presentation on Friday. As you know, our big fish right now is Dell. But Sean’s presentation was very important. Not because of the three men that showed up. Not even because of the company they served. No. It was important because they might get bought out. The company buying is what’s important. I got wind of it from a buddy of mine who drank too much scotch at a barbecue. Now, Krista that is top secret information.”

John stopped talking and stared at her for a second, willing her to digest that tidbit. Her brain was covered with wine film so she was having a hard time focusing while looking at his muddy brown peepers. She tried super hard to look like she was still paying attention, but all she could focus on successfully was the cool air from the fan.

“Now,” John continued, sitting back fully on the desk, making himself a little more comfortable, and trying to make her more comfortable in the process. It wasn’t working. “As I said, Sean here has filled me in on the presentation. He showed me the slides you created. He also painted a visual picture for me. I require this with any big goings-on of course. Sean filled me in on how you answered that last question…”

Krista felt her face flush. She needed to defend herself, but she was talking to the Junior VP. What was she going to say? Well, sir, I didn’t know what I was talking about, so I used some bullshit answer instead of asking for help? She could then grab a pen and sign her pink slip.

With a rush of movement, John was up from the desk and pacing around the small office.

“Incredible work!” he said in a booming voice.

The unexpected movement startled her and, embarrassingly, she jumped and looked around wildly. Ray barely stifled a laugh.

“We haven’t had someone from your department with any real forward thinking since I’ve worked here,” John said unnecessarily loudly. “Numbers people mostly. No one we wanted in front of clients for too long, at any rate. Boring, most of them. That is also top secret information.”

John perched on the desk again, dangerously close to Krista’s lucky mug, and leaned toward her. She could see ideas flowing behind his eyes, but couldn’t focus on anything but her mug.

“You, on the other hand, are a natural. If you weren’t so valuable to me in Research I would move you to sales immediately. You seem to really have a knack for getting the clients’ attention.

“Now,” and here John leaned back and scrutinized Sean, his butt rocking her mug. “Part of that was youth and beauty—please don’t take that the wrong way, Krista.” He turned back to her. The guy was all over the place. And her mug was paying the price. Currently it wobbled toward the edge of the desk.

John didn’t seem to notice.

“Those clients weren’t the most advanced or experienced, and they apparently had trouble focusing on your data with your…charisma taking precedence. But besides youth and beauty and the inability of those particular clients to focus professionally, I think we have a winner in you. Your slides fit perfectly with the theme of our presentation, your answer was right on, even though Sean assures me he didn’t coach you, and you presented the information with insight and exuberance. Most importantly, you presented the information in a way normal people can understand. That is something we’ve been having problems with when it comes to some of your fellow Research representatives…”

Krista was being blindsided. This wasn’t what she had in mind for today at all. She thought she would be struggling to get heard and clutching onto the door so they couldn’t throw her out.

“So,” John boomed as he once again got up and paced the floor. Her mug was pushed closer to the edge of the desk. She reached for it casually, but John swiveled toward her and cut off her grab.

“And here is what I need to talk to James about. We need you on our team. This is very hush, hush, mind you, Krista. You can’t breathe a word.” John kneeled next to her and started to talk quietly. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned away as far as she could. “We are going after bigger fish than Dell, and that little presentation for a vastly unknown company is the doorway into a larger, much more promising portal in the great unknown.”

She had a sneaking suspicion John was drunk. The man was talking nonsense. Before she could contemplate further, he jumped up, pacing back and forth. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the animated movement. He changed direction constantly; sitting standing, kneeling, standing again, pacing. Possibly too coordinated for booze. Drugs came to mind.