Author's notes: A huge thank you to DS Pallas, Rosepeony, MissDonnie, Tiacelaya, janebiotch, for reviewing the first chapter. It's was great to get such a positive feedback. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
The final member of the committee files out the room and Nick signals for Emily to close the door behind her. He sits back in his chair, letting his breath out slowly and rubs his hand down the back of his head. What has he just done! He's proclaimed himself the director of LSP, without even knowing if the board members are aware that Alvin approached him about the position, or that he'd turned it down. He had a promise of a significant increase in funding though to back his cause. He looks at his watch, it's ten o'clock. His ten minute stay had turned into an hour. The board can wait, he has a daughter to visit.
The door bursts open.
"Just what do you think you're doing Mr. Fallin? And where's Alvin?"
Nick groans inwardly. It's Roger Bedford, a member of the board of LSP, and not Nick's greatest fan. His face is red, his eyes glaring at Nick and Nick's thinks he may have seen his nose flare like a horse. Nick sits forward keeping his body language relaxed, he lightly clasps his hands together and rests them on the table. He nods to a chair two places down from him.
"Take a seat Roger, Alvin left a note saying he's gone to Antartica. "
Roger stands glaring at him, while Nick stays relaxed and calm. After a long moment, Nick's surprised when Roger begrudgingly pulls out the proffered chair. As he settles in Nick uses one finger to push over a sheet of paper laying in front of him. Roger looks at it with disgust.
"What's this? "
Nick folds his arms and sits back.
" That is the agreement I just worked out with the funding committee. "
Nick watches the man glance at the page and his eyebrows raise just a fraction, telling Nick that he's impressed,but when he turns his attention back to Nick, there's no sign of it. He pushes the paper back towards Nick, with force and stands up.
" Don't think that's going to impress anyone. The only way you'll be the director of this place is over my dead body. We can't have a parolee running the place, especially a drug addict. "
" An ex-parolee, an ex-drug addict. "
" I didn't approve of you coming here in the first place. "
Nick's had enough of his ranting and stands up to close the conversation.
" Convene a meeting of the board, Roger, Anytime today will do. "
Roger steams, angry at being dismissed.
" I will arrange it for three this afternoon, don't expect it to last very long. "
He picks upthe agreement and throws the paper back at Nick and yanks open the door. Nick moves into the doorway, and leans against the post watching Roger make his way to the elevator. Everyone's attention has been caught by the man's demeanour and their eyes are switching back and forth between the two of them. Emily approaches Nick.
"Everything all right? "
Nick nods.
" Not my greatest fan. "
Emily smiles:"
" Apparently not. "
Nick looks at his watch before addressing Emily.
" There's nothing more I can do here until the board meeting at three this afternoon to sanction my appointment, and I have a daughter I haven't seen yet today"
Remembering that Emily had asked before he adds:
"We've named her Anne. "
" That's a lovely name. "
Nick nods his thanks and starts towards the elevator, Emily calls after him.
" Congratulations again, and good luck this afternoon, I hope you get it. You did a great job in there.
Nick nods his thanks and disappears inside as the elevator doors open.
Nick's footsteps unconsciously quicken has he approaches Lulu's room. The door's closed and he knocks. With permission to enter he opens the door. Lulu's sat up in bed, with Anne asleep in her arms. She looks at him with a mixture of surprise and slight offense.
"You don't have to knock Nick. "
Nick shrugs:
" I didn't want to interrupt anything. "
" You're Anne's father, you're always welcome. Would you like to hold her? "
Nick steps forward instantly and takes his child from her. The action disturbs her and she curls her limbs up into her body. He kisses her softly on the cheek and she relaxes into his arms. He doesn't take his eyes away from his daughter as Lulu speaks:
"I thought you were coming in early?"
"I got held up at lsp."
Lulu looks at him puzzled:
"What were you doing there?"
A thought strikes her:
"Did Alvin remember the meeting?"
Nick's irritated at the question, knowing where it will lead, he wants to give his attention to Anne. He decides to give all the information at once.
"Alvin's gone. I took the meeting, Alvin offered me the your job, I go before the board this afternoon."
Nick's slightly pleased at Lulu's stunned expression:
"Alvin's gone? Where? You're going to be director of lsp?"
"That's the hope Lulu."
"But..."
Nick can't help a little smile:
"Yea, it means I'll be your boss."
He moves away from the bed towards the window, hoping to signal the end of the conversation as he strokes his daughter's cheek. Her eyes are wide open staring up at him. Lulu seems to get the message.