Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(16)

“That wasn’t my aspiration,” Kate said. “It was her.”

“But you still followed her lead,” Ray noted.

“You don’t not follow her lead,” Kate shot back.

Jasmine nodded. “The one guy who wasn’t really our caliber of student, but who still ended up with us because of numbers, was having a hard time of it. He would’ve had a hard time even if the Nazi didn’t demand our first-born children—“

“Now that…”

Jasmine talked over Krista. “With the added pressure he was way behind. He had no way of matching our quality or pace. Krista couldn’t have that, of course, and while we all thought he would sink and she would go to the professor and get him reassigned, instead she spent every free second with him, helping him through the project. He did what he could and probably learned more on that project than from any other class in the whole of his college career.”

“That has nothing to do with your interview,” Krista mumbled.

“So, regardless that it was in college,” Kate summed up, “we know what it is to work under intense pressure, for unrealistic expectations, for a boss who won’t rest until you turn yourself inside-out to give everything you got.”

“Which still isn’t good enough,” Jasmine said.

“I sound like a huge bitch,” Krista murmured as Ben walked up and sat down.

“Krista is not a bitch!” Ben said, looking at each face.

He was so serious, and also pale from the jokes he’d heard, that everyone couldn’t help but laugh, much to Ben’s embarrassment and dismay.

“So anyway,” Kate said, turning back to Ray. “That was the toughest.”

“Well, I am worried mostly about work ethic,” Ray said after a moment of deliberation. “You two seem to like to live life—which is a wonderful trait. I am thoroughly entertained. But the client we are chasing is one of the biggest. The CEO, who we are trying to sell to, is sharp. He’s not one to trifle with.”

Krista didn’t mention that trifling with him was exactly what she’d done for most of that wine function.

“I don’t like life, actually,” Jasmine said frankly. “But if you’re happy with Krista, then you’ll be happy with us. We’ve worked with her a million times. We’ve always delivered. Ask her.”

“True,” Krista nodded.

Ray nodded. “Well, Sean approves. From what I hear I will give you a chance. If you can last a week, giving us material we can use, then I say yes.”

“My interview wasn’t this hard,” Ben said quietly.

Sean smiled, “You were hired before I even knew your name.”

Ben looked up quickly as his eyes widened, “What?”

“Where were you?” Krista asked.

The change in subject had everyone looking at Ben.

“What?” Ben asked defensively, bracing himself on the table. “I went to the restroom and then talked with Mary, Ray’s wife. Why? What’s wrong?”

“Just…” Krista looked at Sean, irrationally thinking he should’ve pulled babysitter. “You don’t usually wander off.”

“Oh,” Ben turned red. Everyone stared.

“Oh what?” Jasmine asked, a smile spreading across her face.

Ben turned redder. “Mary, Ray’s wife, said I might like to meet Elizabeth, and then made the introduction.”

“Elizabeth?” Sean asked with a furrowed brow.

“Brown-haired, slim girl with black glasses,” Ray summed up quickly.

“Oh right,” Sean said, focusing back on Ben. “She’s cute.”

Jasmine threw her pointer finger in Sean’s face. “You didn’t sleep with her, did you? Or date her? Or break her heart in any way?”

Sean jumped back so he didn’t get stabbed in the eye. “N-no!” he stammered, thankful that was the case. “I’ve only talked to her once, and that was only for five minutes.”

Jasmine kept the finger and the glare for another second before relenting. Ray had a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Well, Romeo?” Jasmine asked. “How’d it go?”

Ben turned ghost-white, “She is sweet and intelligent.”

“Very intelligent,” Ray said. “She works in Mary’s company in Engineering.”

“Math versus art brain,” Krista said ominously. “I hope you two can find a common ground.”

“Oh, I think we can manage.” Ben had red spots appearing on his cheeks.

“Gotta love Mary,” Jasmine eyed her nearly empty beer. “I have a date next week.”

“What?” Kate exclaimed.

“She set me up. Someone named Mark?” Jasmine looked at Ray.

“Ah yes. He’s in product development, I believe.” Ray gave Sean a meaningful look.

“Oh,” Sean said, nodding. Another competitor. He wasn’t excited about that part of his life merging with Krista, even if it was just blind dates with her friends.

Jasmine threw her finger in his face again, from which he jumped. “You haven’t dated him, have you? Or broke his heart in any way?”

Sean laughed, followed by everyone else. “No. I haven’t had the pleasure.”