Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(121)

“He enjoys working with you.”

“And I him.”

Tory nodded, “What will it take to get you, Krista? I know what Dexico’s last offer was. I don’t have reason to believe they will go any higher.”

“No, I doubt it.”

“I am prepared to go as high as $75,000 yearly. That will be for a one-year contract with full benefits after three months. 401K, bonus, and other perks after the completion of the year. Plus, there is a healthy retirement package if you turn into a lifer.”

Krista nearly choked on her wine. Dexico’s last offer was a little above $55K. She didn’t know what to say. She very nearly agreed right then.

Tory smiled, “You need to work on your poker face.”

“Here’s the thing, Tory. That is a good offer. I would snatch it up in a second, but I’m afraid I can’t.” She took a breath. She felt stupid passing up all that money.

“Let me guess,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. “You don’t want to leave Sean.”

“Um, well, honestly, no, I don’t. But that’s not why.” Tory’s brow knit. “I actually need to move.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m going to be moving out of the area.”

“Where to?” With all that Tory did know, it was obvious he didn’t know the insider information. No one did.

“Um, actually, I’m not sure yet. This is kind of a recent development. I’ve had some personal issues in this area in the last week that might come back to haunt me.”

“Please correct me if I’m wrong, but this is a romantic issue?”

“Uh, you could say that, I guess. More a past romantic issue.” Tory was looking slightly crestfallen. Krista thought she might just get it out there. “We’ll just say…a restraining order was broken and I have to take better measure to hide myself.”

“But you don’t have anywhere in mind?”

“Actually, I do. I was thinking L.A. Close to the beach. A proper beach. The kind of beach I thought San Francisco had.”

Tory smiled again. “You never stop surprising me, Krista. I find I am always in confusion around you. Trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak, and finding my mapping instruments outdated.”

She wasn’t quite sure how to take that so she took a sip of wine.

“Do you know anyone in L.A?” he asked into the silence.

“No. I just want to surf and have warm summers. Real California.”

“Yes, I see. Well, would you consider working out of the Los Angeles office? It would mean more traveling, but I would throw in a relocation allowance.”

“Not to undermine myself or anything, but am I really worth all this fuss?”

Tory smiled and stayed silent for a beat before he said, “Sean McAdams is a rare but excellent judge of talent. He put great stock in you. Relied on you heavily. I am also an excellent judge of talent, but I have had a lot more experience. I know how to wring the most out of someone, whereas Sean still stops with a squeeze.

“You are an investment, Krista. I hope to guide and mold you. Some see inexperience. I see opportunity. You, unlike your more experienced counterparts, don’t have already established bad habits. You are still ready and willing to learn. Just so happens I am still eager and excited to teach. It is a good match, you and I.”

“But what if I hate the work and leave?” Tory looked at her askew. “I mean, not saying I will or anything. It just seems like all your eggs are in one basket, you know?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Hopefully we’ll never have to. So. Do we have an agreement?”

“I have to talk it over with someone first. There are some things I have to tie up. But you can stop chasing.”

Tory nodded, “Sean will tell you that you should have upped my offer.”

“I know. He went over how to sell myself and everything. But, your offer seems fair to me—any more and I’d suffocate under the pressure. If I agree, then we’ll give it a year. If it is no longer fair—well, then we’ll dance!” she laughed as she had a sip of wine.

Tory laughed, too, “He has your best interests in mind. One might say he is more worried about you than himself.”

“I don’t know about that, now. He has his chess board set up. I am an important piece, sure, but I am still but a piece.”

“Poetic. And I would say you are the important piece that the player cannot do without. But sometimes you have to sacrifice the Queen early with the intention of reclaiming her later in the game.”

She needed to take up chess. “Okay, let’s get back to work.”

Tory laughed and they continued the rest of the dinner in amiable conversation.

When Krista made it to Sean’s house she had her clothes ready for the next day. She was tired, but more so, she was anxious. With Tory’s offer on the table, she knew she needed to tell him sooner rather than later that she would be moving. She would need a long, long cry after this all seeped in, but she would wait until she was alone for that.

Per his instructions, she let herself in and made her way up to his bedroom. As she opened the door she was met with soft music and candlelight. The floor and bed were covered with red rose petals.

The room was beautiful! Something out of a fairytale. It made her heart ache.