Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(116)

“Obviously.”

“And you didn’t want to tell them about...”

“The giant ex-boyfriend tracking me down and getting in a fist fight with my current...uh...lover-guy?”

“Current boyfriend and yes. Also that he was attempting to kidnap you,” Sean looked both extremely angry and also a little sick.

“Details. And no, I don’t want them to know. I want him to remain a closed book, like he was. He can haunt my past, but that is where I want him to stay.”

“Except that he is currently haunting your future,” Sean flinched and shook his head. “Sorry, I meant present.” He shook his head again and looked out the window. His body was still but his brain was churning.

“He’s in jail. He isn’t haunting anything. Now, what did you want to talk to me about?” She was matter-of-fact. She didn’t know what he was thinking and she certainly didn’t want to have this conversation.

Sean sighed, still looking out the window, “Your meeting with John.”

“Oh. Are you going to be in it?”

“No.” Sean turned back to her. There was that focused work look, but the sadness from a moment before wasn’t completely gone. “John wants to meet with just you. I thought I would prep you for it. You are still too...naive when it comes to John’s manipulations.”

“I don’t even know what he wants to meet with me about. And thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“He knows Tory is looking to moonlight you into his company. Remember I told you that when Tory is interested in something, he learns all he can about it?”

“I remember something to that effect, yeah.”

“Well, Tory knows what everyone in our team makes. He knows what we’ll probably get as a bonus. He knows what cut the company is keeping for itself. He knows our benefit scheme, and he knows what this company can offer each of us that he is interested in.”

“How the hell does he know all that? What, did he hire someone to break in and look at our paychecks?”

“It seems he has already convinced Marcus to work for him. It wouldn’t take much--Marcus makes a fraction of what he should.”

“Except, Marcus needs someone like Ben to translate.”

“Well…” Sean looked uncomfortable.

Krista eyed him severely.

“Ben has been contacted. He’s already had his meeting with John.”

Krista sat still a moment. “Do Kate and Jasmine know?”

Sean’s brow puzzled. “What—why would—I don’t know—I don’t understand the question…”

“Well, Ben doesn’t talk business all that well. At all actually. He shouldn’t be left on his own.”

Sean relaxed, “I am a better resource than Kate or Jasmine, if you’ll forgive me saying so, and I talked to Ben.”

“Well?”

“Ben knew what he was…”

“Well?” she interrupted.

“John isn’t artistic and Ben hasn’t been here long enough for people to know what he is capable of. I made him a hated man by pushing him past Judy… he shouldn’t stay in this company, Krista.”

“What happened? Why didn’t Ben tell me?”

Sean looked uncomfortable. “Ben isn’t willing to make a decision yet. He was offered full time at a higher salary, which isn’t remotely what he is worth. But John hates dealing with him, so this company isn’t the place for a guy like him.”

“What do you mean, John hates him?”

“Ben knows what he is about, but he isn’t confident. He is a nerd. A brilliant nerd, yes. But he’s outside John’s version of normal. And I’ll admit, as I told you, I only gave him a chance to get close to you. He is your find, Krista. I have seen his genius first hand, but John is still in the dark. John gave him a ridiculous deal based off of Judy saying he is inexperienced and not all that useful…”

Krista’s face got red in indignation.

Sean held up a hand to forestall her complaint. “We both know that’s not true. And more, Tory knows it. Two people blew Tory away in the meeting. One was you. You vastly exceeded his expectations, as you did mine. The other was Ben. Ben’s work is… I just can’t describe it. I am man enough to admit I am not that smart. But Tory is—well, he thinks he is. He knows that Ben’s caliber of work is worth a lot of money, and he is making… probably a fifth of what he is worth after his raise.”

“So what did Ben say to John?”

Sean laughed and explained that basically, Ben had walked in, taken his seat, and waited for John to speak. John, after a period of time, started his salesman routine. He railed and railed, hoping to get a reaction from Ben to determine which way the sales tactic should go. Apparently he never got one. Ben just sat patiently, looking on, waiting for John’s spiel to come to a close. When it finally did, Ben gave him his thanks, got up, and walked out. John was obviously disconcerted about the whole thing.

Apparently Tory wasn’t. Tory had had a meeting, too, and it went much differently. Instead of trying to find an angle by talking at Ben, he opened a dialogue in order to talk with Ben. They chatted about art and science and other things smart people discuss, and then Tory slowly worked in the business opportunity. Like Sean not long before him, Tory had been thinking about it.