Chapter 1
For the remainder of his work day, Oscar tried to come up with some way to counter the two Secretaries new directives...or at least a gentle way to tell Jaime. He came up with nothing - on either front. Well, he thought as he stopped at the deli to pick up a roasted chicken and vegetables for their dinner, I have a couple more days. I'll think of something.
Jaime looked radiant as she greeted him. Oscar was still amazed by how beautiful she could look without even trying. After setting their food on the table, he swept her into his arms and dipped her low for a long, passionate kiss. Oscar couldn't take his eyes off of her as they sat down at the table - but at the same time, he couldn't keep his mind from reliving the day's events, wondering what they would do to the glow of this fledgling relationship.
The Secretary of Defense had done most of the talking. ''Now, Oscar, let me start by saying that I don't give a damn what you do in your time away from the office - so long as it doesn't reflect badly on your organization or this government. But when your...ah...social activities put an entire Project in jeopardy, the time arrives when we have no other choice but to step in.''
''I'm not sure I understand,'' Oscar began (fearing that he actually did understand...too well).
''We have a great financial investment in your Bionic Project and we feel that your recent decisions, being clouded by outside feelings and emotions, have placed our government's investment at risk of great harm or even extinction.''
''Is that how you view Colonel Austin and Miss Sommers?'' Oscar asked a little too heatedly. ''Investments? Property?''
The Secretary scowled, ignoring the question. ''Mister Russell has his own duties to perform and should not have been charged with Miss Sommers' supervision. He sent her on an assignment that was nothing more than a death trap. It could've been handled by any number of lower level agents.''
''In other words,'' Oscar countered angrily, ''other lives would have been more expendable.''
''And to put a nice bright cherry on the sundae, without any Intel other than the fact that Miss Sommers was missing, you recruit Colonel Austin - from his hospital bed- and drag him off to potentially the same fate!''
''Would you rather I'd have left her over there to be killed?'' Oscar grumbled. Russ, sitting beside him, had long since turned ghost-white and speechless.
''She should never have gone in the first place!'' the Secretary thundered.
''I stand fully behind Mark Russell's decision to put her on this case,'' Oscar argued. ''This was an important scientist who -''
''Who was an impostor!'' The Secretary shifted in his seat. ''We're not here to argue that point any further. We have decided that, effective immediately, Miss Sommers is to be returned to your direct supervision, allowing Mr. Russell to continue with his previously assigned duties. Any favoritism or further lack of judgment on your part, Oscar, will result in this Project being remanded to the supervision of the NSB.''
''You can't be serious!''
The Secretary of Defense rose from his seat, indicating the discussion was ending. ''We will meet again at the same time on Friday, at which time we expect you to have informed Miss Sommers of this decision. If you find yourself unable to fulfill the requirements of your position, we will not hesitate to replace you.''
At this point, the meeting was abruptly ended.
Oscar looked across the dinner table at Jaime, who was gazing at him so happily. How could he begin to tell her that she was once again his direct subordinate...at least at the office? Would she be able to deal with having 'Oscar' in her life and 'Mr. Goldman' (as she referred to his suit-and-tie persona) to answer to, as well? If not, clearly one would have to go and since her ties to the OSI were non-negotiable, Oscar couldn't bear to think of what that outcome might mean.