Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(118)

Krista waited in silence for John to continue.

If he was taken aback with her lack of response he didn’t show it. “I realize this might be a sore spot for you, knowing how you feel about James. For that reason, I want to offer you a package to keep you in good faith with our company.” John slid a package across the desk. “Go ahead and open it.”

She did. It was a bonus check for $4,000, a notice of a 15% raise, and a title change dropping the Junior from Junior Research Analyst. For a girl not long out of college, it was fantastic!

Sean’s voice sounded in the back of her head. He knew what she would get, and thought she was worth more.

“Is this up for negotiation?” she asked, not showing her pleasure at all the money.

John looked at her levelly. And then it began. The circus had come to town and Krista was lost inside.

After John finished, giving her all the things she did poorly in HD, while putting a shade over all achievements, Krista folded her hands and stood up, not taking the packet. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, John. And I thank you for all you have done. I just need to think about this before I make any decisions.”

This time John did seem taken aback. “This is a generous offer, Krista.”

“It is a generous offer if I had worked on a small account and done a great job. It is way under par when faced with the magnitude of the account I not only had an integral part in landing, but also was key to successfully closing. Now, I don’t know what the company made with that account, but I do know you’re trying to play me for a chump here. So, I’ll let you know.”

“Krista, you won’t be able to get better. Not with your experience.”

“Are you sure about that, John?”

John’s face was closed, but she was certain he knew she was calling his bluff. They both knew Tory would put in an offer. They just didn’t know for how much.

John sighed, “Okay, let’s cut to it. This is the limit I was given to work with. This is the highest I was told I could go. But let me go back to them and see what I can do.”

“John, one thing I know about you, you don’t play your ace in the hole right out of the gate. You save it. If you can get away with not using it, you will. I know you can go higher. And I will wait. So you ask away. Email me the new figures. Then send another email with even higher figures, and then we’ll talk. Maybe.”

John stared at her as he shook his head with a little smile. “Between you and me, Krista, I don’t know if they will bend enough to keep you. I sure hope they do, though. You are an asset and a hoot. I would like to keep working with you.”

Krista nodded and winked, “We’ll see, Sue.”

She walked out with a spring in her step that quickly turned to fear. She couldn’t stay here if she would be working under Mr. Montgomery. Talk about career suicide. But what if Tory knew that? She might not want to work for him, either. She might be royally screwed in this one.

As she distractedly wandered into her office, she woke up to Marcus sitting in her seat talking on her phone.

“Wha--?”

“Oh, she’s back. Gotta go,” he quickly hung up.

“Get out,” she said, trying to hide a smile.

“Of course, dearie. I was just biding my time until you got back. I wanted to be the first to hear.”

“Hear what?”

“What happened? Spill!”

“How is it you know everything that happens in this company?”

“I am adorable and everybody wants to be my friend. But this is HUGE gossip. Everyone is talking about it. I had to hear this second-hand from Shirley, of all people! She was the one that talked to Myra, who actually saw him in the break room. She said he said it was a surfing accident. No one believes that obviously--”

“Wait. What?” Up until that point Krista thought Marcus was referring to her meeting with John. She should have known he wouldn’t have gotten this worked up about something so trivial.

“I know you know what happened to Sean. Give me the details,” Marcus said, leaning over the desk in anticipation.

“What makes you think I know anything? He has a ban on our love affair, remember?” She’d broken out into a cold sweat. If people found out what happened, she wasn’t sure she could ever show her face around the office again. It was bad enough living it. Being the center of attention, being gossiped about and ridiculed, and worse, pitied, might break her all over again.

“Don’t be coy with me. I know you left that barbecue together on Saturday. Honey, I have seen you when you turn on your siren call. There ain’t a straight boy in a ten-block radius that isn’t staring at you. You want me to believe Sean didn’t figure his stuff out in time to sweep you off your feet? If so then you are dumber than I thought. I know the game, sista, and you is a player. Now give me the goods.”

“Alright, even if I did siren call him, which is ridiculous since I can never seem to find a man-- proving your theory wrong—that doesn’t mean I am in his back pocket 24/7. I have no idea what you are talking about. Barking up the wrong tree, brotha’.”

Suddenly, Marcus got extremely bitchy. If he wasn’t so wound up Krista would have laughed outright. “Don’t try for ghetto—you are too middle class!” he said, his finger waving in the air like a first-rate diva. “And you still haven’t weighed in on what you think it might be which means you know. I know you were in his office this morning. You would at least speculate with me if you didn’t know. Spill! I will resort to blackmail if necessary.”