A/N: We left Sarah at her interview with the CEO of Beckman & Associates.
Once again, thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter. I try to reply to all I can.
Thanks again to MarkeyDaSad for being my beta here. Translating my British words and phrases, of course, but we also had to spend some time getting my understanding of consulting translated, too.
Anger Management
Chapter 7: New Job
Trying to relax, Sarah mentally told herself, "You can do this."
Diane Beckman just stared at her in silence for a minute. Sarah guessed that it was a technique used to unnerve the person sitting opposite her, as if that tests whether they could do whatever job they have come for!
Well, it helped Sarah. Her initial nerves calmed down and she flipped into her natural state of quietly observing someone, in this case the CEO of the company. All her tension eased. If they said nothing more, she'd have no problem!
Of course, that wasn't what happened, but the severe looking woman facing her was the one to break eye contact. She did, however, nod and jotted something down on the notepad she had in front of her.
Mrs. Beckman looked up. "So, Sarah, Megan Johnson was impressed with you and suggested you could be a good addition to my team here. What do you know about us?"
Chuck had helped her prepare for this one. "You set up the firm ten years ago, initially just providing accounting services to companies here in Los Angeles but expanded quickly to cover other parts of California and then into Arizona and, over the years spread into other states. You started consulting five years ago and that is a growing service."
"Well, at least you put effort into your internet searching," came the response.
Sarah felt a bit deflated, hearing that.
"Megan tells me you were in a clerical role, but were more thorough than most there, which is what caught her eye." She then looked at Sarah sharply. "That was until you moved in with her son."
Sarah responded instantly. "That was a big mistake."
The raised brow indicated more information was required.
Sarah sighed but told the story. "I should have resisted his attention but gave in after he had been chasing me for several weeks. His apartment was much better than mine, so I eventually moved in with him. However, he decided he didn't want to be with me after a few months, so I decided I couldn't stay and left the company and Chicago, coming here."
Her interviewer stared at her for a few seconds, before saying, "Megan told me the full story. I like how circumspect you are in your recounting how her son cheated on you."
Sarah blushed. "Thank you, Mrs. Beckman."
"Megan told me how your attention to detail impressed her and how you also pushed some of her more senior staff to produce reports weekly. The role that is becoming vacant needs that approach."
Sarah thought that sounded interesting. "Can you tell me more?"
Beckman nodded. "It's not a role you are qualified for, but we have an urgent vacancy."
Sarah feels instantly nervous. She doesn't have any formal training, so how could she be qualified for any role here.
Beckman continues, "The role is a Project Coordinator. It is normally a role for college graduates, but we have had some bad ones and the current lady never went to university and has been excellent. After Megan's recommendation, I thought we'd give you a try."
Sarah picked up on part of that. "Why is she leaving?"
Beckman smiled for the first time and said, "Sharp. Gillian is leaving because her husband is moving to New York. In two weeks."
"Oh," Sarah said.
Beckman gave her some more information. "You will be supporting two of our Project Managers in our Consulting division."
Sarah felt panic rising. "Will I have to go with them when they visit clients? Leaving Los Angeles to support them when they work at the client sites?"
After a brief pause, Beckman questioned, "Would you want to?"
"I'd rather not, Mrs. Beckman." Sarah thought her unwillingness would lose her the chance of the job.
"Good." The CEO nodded and jotted something down on her notepad. "No, you will not be away from here. These two might stay away occasionally, but currently their clients are in Los Angeles, so they are, how they put it, stuck here, too."
Sarah could feel the tension easing.
"You'll be on a three-month probation period."
Chuck had told her to expect this, so it was no surprise.
"When can you start?"
Sarah had checked how quickly she could leave the Wienerlicious, so confidently said, "A week after I get notified that I have the job secured."
Another raised brow.
Sarah confessed, "I am in a very lowly paid job, Mrs. Beckman."
"Hmm. Well, we'll sort out the paperwork tomorrow. My HR Manager will be annoyed with me for interviewing you myself and not following the standard processes, but she will get it to you the following day." She then looked at Sarah, seemingly only now noticing her appearance. "I do need to warn you, especially after your experience at Megan's company, one of the Project Managers is a bit of a lady's man, so be careful around him."
Sarah groans quietly, but replied, "I am not interested in a relationship here, Mrs. Beckman." She then said something that stretched the truth slightly, "I am living with a wonderful man already." It's not untrue, but the implication was that they are girlfriend / boyfriend.
"Good. Well, thank you for coming here this evening, Sarah. You will get the details in two days." She stood and held out her hand once again.
Sarah also stood and shook her hand, firmly. "Thank you, Mrs. Beckman."
Sarah left the building in a rush, desperate to tell Chuck the news. He answered the call immediately, "Hi, Sarah."
She noticed that his tone was flat, and he only said that, with no questioning, thinking he didn't want to question her in case she was upset. He is so thoughtful. Of course, in the past she would have thought that uncaring, but not with Chuck.
"I got it!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, fantastic!" he replied, sounding completely different.
She was now bursting with excitement. "We have to celebrate!"
"What do you-" he started.
She cut him off, "Mexican and dancing."
"Okay…" He sounded hesitant.
She realized it was a weekday, so he would have work again tomorrow. "Are you on call again tonight?" she asked.
"I wasn't sure how you'd do, but I already swapped," he answered.
"You wonderful man!" she replied.
He chuckled, "Of course I am!"
"So why the hesitancy?" she questioned.
"Oh, nothing," he said, evasively.
She was too excited to worry. "Good. Make a reservation and I'll be home to pick you up."
She ended the call and rushed to her car.
She burst into the apartment and rushed to him as he was starting to stand. She grabbed and hugged him. "Thank you, Chuck."
She stood back. "I'm going to change but wanted you to see my interview outfit." She did a slow twirl and then looked to see what he thought of it. He so rarely looked away from her eyes that forcing him to look at her made her feel a little embarrassed.
Chuck was blushing. "Y- you look amazing, Sarah. Absolutely amazing."
She grinned and leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Chuck."
She then rushed to her room to change.
Chuck was not surprised that Sarah looks great in her interview clothes; she looked good in anything she wore, but she also looked so professional. A complete change from the Wienerlicious outfit.
The happiness on her face when she burst in had been evident, but even more so after his comment. Getting another kiss, even such a brief one, made him want to pile on the compliments!
He pulled himself together. "Our reservation is in twenty minutes," he called through to her.
"Good. I'm starving," she replied.
Five minutes later, she walked out of her room and Chuck took all of her in. She'd changed into a blue dress that accentuates her shape, while also setting off her eyes.
Chuck's jaw dropped. He's never seen anything so gorgeous. He was completely speechless.
Sarah noticed how he looked. It gave her a warm feeling. "You like?"
"I l- yes, I like," he replied.
She beamed at him and grabbed his hand. "Come on then. Let's go eat."
Sarah spent the meal chattering about the experience and what it means for her. It wasn't something he was used to, as she wasn't a big talker, but he loved it. She radiated happiness, something so different to the Sarah he first met.
He was proud of himself for coming up with the idea of using her previous contact to get her a new job. He would do anything for this vision in front of him and seeing her glow like this made it even better.
She reached across the table and grabbed his free hand. "And even better, I don't have to travel. I get to stay here in LA."
He was pleased about that, but it also was a reminder that she wouldn't be working across the parking lot anymore, so no more lunches together.
"Do they have their own lunch facilities, or will you have to go out?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied, after a moment's thought. "I don't know much about the place, other than where it is. I guess I will find out when I start."
Then realization set in. She will no longer be working close to Chuck, so no more lunches together. Her hand was already around his wrist and now gripped it tighter. "Oh God, Chuck. We won't be able to have lunch together anymore."
Chuck registered her stricken look. While it warmed his heart that she thought those lunches were important, as they were to him, he really wanted her to get this better job. "I know, Sarah. I'll miss those, too."
His words didn't help her. "That means some days I won't see you at all." That thought made her want to stay smelling of burnt sausage and not take this job."
"You'll see me in the evenings, for at least some of the time, even when I'm on the late shift," he reassured her.
"I didn't yesterday!" she retorted.
"That was an exception, Sarah." He felt awful being away that evening of all evenings. He tried to get her to focus on other things. "Besides, you'll make new friends there."
Thinking of her previous office jobs and how none of the women liked her and the men did for all the wrong reasons, Sarah glared at him. "Did you listen to anything I told you about the last two jobs I had in offices? I made no friends!"
He couldn't stop himself and pointed out, "Apart from Bryce and Ryan."
She couldn't believe he said that! Her voice was raised now. "And those are just the sort of 'friends' I don't want!"
Chuck knew he'd said the wrong thing as soon as it escaped his mouth. He also knew part of his concern was just that. She might find someone she wanted to date in this new company. Someone better than him. He looked down at the table. "I'm sorry, Sarah. Please don't be upset."
Sarah pushed her chair back and stood. "Chuck, we're leaving."
"B- but we've not finished our food," he said, still seated.
"I'm not hungry and I want to go home," she replied, still hurting from his comments.
"Okay." He threw down enough notes to pay and walked with her towards the door. "What about dancing?"
She shook her head and tensely replied, "I'm not in the mood for that either."
After a silent journey home, they entered the apartment. Sarah grabbed his hand and dragged him to the couch. Chuck thought she was going to continue to tell him off. He didn't think what he had said warranted this, but also knew that Sarah could be a live wire.
Sarah had been thinking all the way home about what he'd said, how she felt about being away from him in her new job, his comments about making new friends, particularly romantic ones. It had made her so mad that it had spoiled the evening. Completely. It was just another reminder of her true feelings for this man sitting facing her.
She took his hands in hers. "Chuck, I am sorry I reacted as I did in the restaurant. My emotions ran riot with your words bringing reality crashing around me."
"Sarah, I never meant to upset you. I don't always think about what I am saying before opening my mouth." He took a deep breath and was about to continue.
She pressed a finger against his lips. "No, Chuck. Don't say any more. It's my turn."
He kept his mouth shut, waiting for her to continue.
"Chuck, I hadn't thought about what taking this, or any other job really, would mean on a day-to-day basis. I will miss our lunchtime meetings so much. And the thought that on some days I may not see you at all is awful." She took a deep breath; she was going to tell him. "Chuck, I don't want to make friends at my new job, and I certainly don't want any men there to whisk me off my feet. I have the friends I want here in this apartment block and the man I want to be with already."
Chuck couldn't believe what he was hearing. "M- me?"
"If you still want me as a girlfriend, Chuck," she said, suddenly slightly nervous.
Chuck's face lit up and he opened his arms; she dived into them and hugged him. "Of course I want you, Sarah. I've wanted you since I first saw you."
With her head against his chest, she positively hummed. Then she pushed away so that she could grasp the back of his head and pulled him into a kiss, a kiss which lasted as long as their breath held, but not long enough for either of them. After getting air, he pulled her back in for another lingering kiss.
All Sarah could think was how wonderful kissing him was. So, so much better than with Bryce or Ryan. Why did I wait so long?
For Chuck, this was his dreams coming true. He'd hoped that this would happen sometime but had real doubts that she would be interested in him, the unworthy one.
Gasping for air, she thought about her original plans for this evening and chucked. "So much better than dancing!"
He grinned. "I wanted to do that for weeks, Sarah."
She looked into his lovely chocolate brown eyes that shone with affection for her. His sister was right, he hadn't stopped wanting her. Now, she had admitted to herself and to him, that she wanted him too. Her heart had known this for some time, but her head had refused to consider it.
However, the demons from her past still haunted her, so she didn't want to just take him to her bed or to go to his. She couldn't stop herself thinking that was where she had lost the interest of her two previous boyfriends, that she was so bad in bed that they looked elsewhere.
"Chuck, this is wonderful, but can you give me some time before we tumble into bed together?" She was also worried that asking this might also ruin things.
Chuck pulled her into his embrace again, telling her, "I don't want to rush you into anything, Sarah."
She should have expected him to be like this, he was so perfect. She hugged him tighter. "Thank you, Chuck."
They stayed in each other's arms for a long time, kissing occasionally, but mainly just relishing the feeling of being together.
Eventually they separated and went to their separate bedrooms, both feeling so much happier than they had for a long time and drifted off dreaming about the person in the other room.
Chuck had advised Sarah to hold off telling Scooter about the new job until the paperwork had come through. "I've heard of people resigning and then not receiving the offer," he had told her.
So, she kept quiet all the next day, even though she was dying to blurt it out!
They ate their meal that evening staring into each other's eyes.
Watching a movie afterwards, with her sitting resting against him with his arm around her, felt wonderful.
The next morning, Sarah got to the mailbox as soon as letters arrived. In no time, she was reading the job offer with Chuck by her side. She was invited to start at 8:30 on the following Thursday, the first of the month. Sarah didn't care which day she started. The salary took her by surprise. This was more than she had received in her last two office jobs, but apparently it was a more senior role. Well, looked like she will be able to repay Ellie after all, at least, once she had more office clothes.
She turned to Chuck and kissed him. "This is thanks to you, Chuck."
He chuckled. "I think Megan Johnson, Diane Beckman and you had a lot to do with it, too."
She swatted his arm. Then she grinned. "I can resign today!"
The following Thursday morning, Sarah sat in the reception area, waiting for someone from HR to collect her. Her nerves were running high, but she was trying to stay calm.
She thought back over the last eight days, to try to calm herself.
= ! =
Scooter had not been happy, but, as Chuck pointed out, when are bosses ever happy when staff leave. He had let her leave a week later, on the Wednesday, which meant she could indeed start the following day.
The weekend in between had been time for her to relax and just be with her new boyfriend. Oh, and his sister and her boyfriend. Ellie had been so excited when she heard the news and had told the two of them, they had to celebrate on the Sunday, which they had.
On the Saturday, however, she had driven Chuck to Malibu Bluffs Park, somewhere she had heard one of the nicer customers talking about. Chuck knew of it and was happy to go there. She needed some time away to get some fresh air, and this seemed perfect for that. They spent the day there and felt relaxed when they drove away.
Sarah spent all her time either holding Chuck's hand or resting her head on his shoulder when they had their arms around each other. She had never felt so content.
There was, of course, a lot of kissing. A lot. She was realizing her feelings for him were much stronger than she thought. She still didn't want to ruin that with nighttime activities, but her resolve was weakening.
In her final three days at the Wienerlicious, her nerves were building about the new job. What if she couldn't do this role and lost the job? Chuck tried to reassure her. His confidence in her was wonderful, but completely unfounded, in her mind.
= ! =
"Sarah Walker?"
The voice startled her; she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts. "Yes, that's me," she replied and stood up facing the attractive blonde woman facing her. She smiled.
The woman smiled back and held out her hand. "I'm Anita Jones, from HR." They shook hands. "Come with me." She then led Sarah through to the HR office.
Anita had taken all the details she wanted and finished running through the interminable policies. Sarah was feeling a bit punch drunk.
They were sitting in a small meeting room off the side of the main office. Anita sat back and gazed at Sarah. "You know that you've caused quite a stir in this department, don't you?"
Sarah groaned. "I never meant to."
Anita grinned. "I quite like it. Things were getting a bit stale; needed a shake up."
Sarah looked at this smiling woman and asked about the upset she had caused. "Is it because I don't have qualifications?"
Anita had noted this as they ran through her background. "That will be part of it, but so far they only know you bypassed the formal interview process." Anita leaned forward. "Mrs. Beckman is a stickler for process and yet with you she ignored it."
"Are people going to dislike me for that?" Sarah's experience of being disliked came back to her. The cause was different, but the result could be the same.
"Only HR will know that, unless you tell people," Anita replied. She then looked at Sarah for a few seconds, before continuing. "You are very attractive, which will make some women jealous, but you're in the best place to avoid most of that."
Sarah blushed at the praise but frowned at the final part of that comment. "Why?"
"I don't get the impression you'll flaunt it," Anita replied and then smiled as Sarah shook her head. "You may not get noticed where you are, because you'll be working with someone who definitely does flaunt it!" She chuckled.
Sarah raised a brow, willing Anita to expand on that.
Anita grinned. "I think you'll find one of your Project Managers quite interesting, Sarah." Then she reconsidered and frowned. "Both of them, actually, but for different reasons. Daniel will undoubtedly try to force his attentions on you. Are you in a relationship?"
Sarah nodded rapidly. "With the best man in the world," she replied.
Anita smiled at the glowing woman in front of her. "Make sure Daniel knows that. Repeatedly. He will still try to win you, though."
Sarah frowned. "He won't get anywhere with me."
Anita grinned again. "I'd like to be a fly on the wall when he tries, then." She then obviously remembered what she was originally going to say. "Carina is the one that draws attention where you are. She not only is attractive, but definitely flaunts!" Seeing Sarah about to ask who Carina was, she adds, "Carina's your other Project Manager."
Anita then notices the time and reaches to the floor, picking up a laptop bag and hands it over to Sarah. "This is all set up for you. When you start it up, this is your username and initial password, but you will be prompted to change the latter." She passed a sheet of paper to Sarah, who promptly put it into the bag. "Now, stand up against that wall and I will take your photo for your company ID." She indicated the wall behind Sarah.
Sarah had noticed the camera on the tripod when she first entered the room. After the photo, Anita told her, "You need to meet our Security Manager before I take you to your desk. I'll take you there now and will bring your ID down to you when you finish with him."
"Security?" Sarah questioned.
Anita nodded. "Yeah, because you have bypassed the standard procedures, Casey wants to meet and talk to you."
John Casey, Security Manager, was a gruff looking older man. Obviously ex-military. Rather daunting. He seemed to match Sarah's impression of the woman at the top.
As she was introduced to him, he grunted and pointed at the chair in front of his desk. "Sit."
As Sarah sat, Anita placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be back for you in half an hour." She tightened her grip on Sarah, seemingly trying to reassure her that she would still be alive then.
Sarah looked at the man the other side of the desk from her. He just sat back in his chair, looking at her for a minute. It felt a bit like her meeting with Diane Beckman.
He finally spoke. "Snuck in through the back door."
Sarah bristled. "I did not! The woman in charge of my last company recommended me to Mrs. Beckman."
He smiled slightly, obviously pleased at her response. "Like I said, back door." She started to respond, but he waved that away. "It means I have to know more about you, as you didn't follow procedure."
Sarah was getting angry at this constant reference to procedure but held her tongue.
"You have no relevant experience, just a reference from your last employer." He looked down. "Your last insurance employer. I have no idea why Beckman hired you," he growled.
Getting fed up with his attitude, Sarah snapped back, "Must be my winning personality." She glared at him. "Unlike some."
His eyes shot to hers. Then he relaxed and chuckled. "I like you, Walker."
He then spent several minutes asking about her past. By the end of it, she knew he was a good interrogator. She had told him more about her past than anyone knew. Her experiences, good and bad in Chicago and New York and even about her time with her dad in DC.
"Colorful past," he commented. She glared at him which he ignored. "Makes you somewhat different to most here. You seem tougher because of it."
Sarah was not sure how to take that, so said nothing.
He added, "You'll need that with those two."
She locked eyes with him. "What is it about them?"
He held her gaze. "They think they own the place, rarely follow the rules and both think their god's gift to the opposite sex."
"So, why don't they just get together and leave everyone else to themselves?" she asked.
He roared with laughter. "I'd like to see that happen," was all he would say.
There was a knock on the door. Anita opened it and walked in. "Finished?"
Casey stood and grunted.
Sarah stood. "Interesting talk," she said.
He grunted again but smiled. "I'll see you around, Walker."
As they walked away from John Casey's office, Anita leaned to Sarah and told her. "He likes you. He never smiles."
Anita took her two floors up and led her into an open plan office. At the far end, next to an amazing view of LA, sat three individuals. Anita guided Sarah to a desk next to the woman in the middle and waved the two others to come over.
"Daniel Shaw, Carina Miller and Gillian Jefferson, this is Sarah Walker. She will be replacing Gillian."
Gillian shook her hand. "Welcome, Sarah."
The other two just stood, sizing her up. Daniel was a classically handsome man, brimming with confidence. He was looking at her rather predatorially. Sarah just nodded to him, "Daniel."
Then, she turned and looked at the other woman, who was sizing her up in a different way, obviously assessing her as competition. "Carina." Carina obviously didn't feel too threatened and smiled at her, reaching her hand out. "Sarah."
By this time, Daniel had decided to be at least a bit professional and held his hand out too. "Sarah."
Anita had been watching all of this. "I'll leave you with Gillian, Sarah. Nice to have met you. If you need anything from us down in HR, contact me." The look Anita gave her spoke volumes. Several things flashed through Sarah's head. Harassment being the main one. She eyed Daniel briefly. He was still appraising her body which made her shiver. She'd had men eyeing her up on more occasions than she cared to think, but this just felt creepy.
Holding her own laptop, Gillian spoke to her. "Come with me, Sarah, and we'll start going through things.
Carina swept into the conference room at 12:30. "You're with me for lunch, Blondie." Sarah looked at Gillian questioningly; Gillian nodded. "You go with Carina; she'll introduce you to our cafeteria." She then gave the redhead a stern look. "Won't you."
Carina looked disappointed but agreed.
Even knowing that she wasn't the center of attention, Sarah felt uncomfortable with everyone staring their way as they walked to get some food.
Carina corrected that thought. "I should feel jealous with all the attention you are getting, Blondie."
As she set her tray down on the table Carina had chosen, Sarah winced. "I don't want any."
Her lunch partner focused on her. "Why?"
Sarah replied without any hesitation. "Women tend not to like me, and men want what I don't want to give."
Carina chuckled. "Your loss, my gain."
Sarah then sat through the rest of the meal listening to how much Carina enjoyed both of those things; upsetting other women and the attention she got from men.
Where they sat at the table confirmed all of that. The table was by the window. Sarah sat partly facing the view and partly the room, whereas Carina sat somewhat provocatively facing the room and all the men and women. Sarah could see the latter avoided looking their way, but some, at least, of the former looked back at the red-headed temptress. Noticing this, Sarah drily commented, just before taking a drink, "Not worked your way through them all, then?"
Carina gave her a mock glare, then grinned. "No, still some beds to hop!"
That made Sarah choke on her drink which caused Carina to laugh out loud. She then looked at Sarah and asked, "Boyfriend?"
Sarah hadn't had a chance to think of him all morning but did at that point. "Yes," she replied dreamily.
"Looks recent," replied Carina.
Sarah frowned. "What makes you say that?"
"You won't be looking like that in a month or so."
That angered Sarah. "I've been with him longer than that already." She didn't mention that they had only been a couple for just over a week.
"Must be good in the sack, then," Carina replied.
Sarah blushed but said nothing. She certainly wasn't going to tell this woman that they hadn't yet.
After lunch, she returned to the conference room and Gillian joined her.
By the end of the working day, Sarah was exhausted. Physically she had done far less than at the Wienerlicious, but mentally she was done in.
She was glad to be away from Daniel Shaw who had wandered over and perched on the end of her desk when she sat at it for the last hour.
When he asked her if she was doing anything over the weekend, she could hear the invitation in his voice. Her comment about looking forward to spending it with her boyfriend caused a twitch in his cheek and a tightening of his eyes, but he still piled on the charm.
When Gillian reminded her that they finish at 5pm sharp, Sarah looked thankfully at her as the woman stood and picked up her handbag. "I'm glad you're here, Sarah," she commented, "I hope you don't regret it."
Sarah hastily put all the papers she had been reading into her drawer and locked it, as she had been advised to do, then stood and said goodbye to the two Project Managers and left with Gillian.
Chuck was home and waiting for her when she entered the apartment. She dropped her bag and rushed to him for a much-needed kiss and hug. In fact, she just clung to him, not wanting to let go.
Chuck loved this side of Sarah. He didn't want her to miss him, but the fact that she did and so much, really boosted his ego and squashed his insecurities.
"Long day?" he asked, teasingly.
"Hmph," was the reply, followed by "Missed you."
He tightened his arms around her. "Missed you, too." That got a reciprocal squeeze.
Chuck was tired after a day on his feet, but there was no way her was going to separate from her, so they stood and hugged each other for quite a while.
"So, he hit on you on the very first day?" Chuck asked between mouthfuls of pasta. He was astonished.
Sarah put her fork down. "Yeah. He's really creepy, too."
"Do I need to talk to him?" Chuck had no idea where such bravery came from. Or was it foolhardiness?
Sarah grinned at him. "You'd do that?" He kept saying things that made her feel even more strongly about him.
He looked at her. "What's he like, Mr. Creep?"
She laughed out loud at that. "Well, he's not as tall as you. Really well built. Handsome." She was being honest but could see the effect that was having on Chuck's countenance. "He also full of himself, seems to think he's god's gift to women, doesn't seem to understand English that well…" That got a frown from Chuck, so she elaborated, "So, when I told him I was looking forward to spending the weekend with my boyfriend, he didn't seem to get the underlying, 'get lost' in my message."
Chuck grinned hearing about the weekend, only a day away.
"Oh, and I think he has as much personality as a plank of wood," she added.
Chuck laughed. "So, shall we call him Plank?"
Sarah grinned, but shook her head. "No, we better not or I'll end up calling him that to his face!"
"And the other Project Manager?"
Sarah narrowed her eyes, thinking about Carina. "I'll have to keep an eye on her when you meet."
He frowned. "Why?"
Gazing at him, she responded, "She's a man eater and I don't want her getting her teeth into you, Chuck."
He looked at her and said, with all seriousness, "Sarah, I only have eyes for you."
Her heart was full, hearing that. She kept her eyes locked with his. He does, and I only have eyes for him.
A/N: Sarah is already having and seeing problems with her new job. Nothing major, but memories of her previous jobs, and the problems there, linger.
Please review to share your thoughts.