A/N: Sarah's first full week at Beckman & Associates.

Thanks for all the reviews. I try to respond to all but those from guests (I can't respond to those).

Also, thanks to MarkeyDaSad for beta reading this and helping to Americanize my British text.

Anger Management
Chapter 8: Unwanted Attention

Sarah's notes from her meeting with Gillian said. 'Monday mornings start with Project Managers submitting their weekly reports.' So, why were there no reports on the servers and no sign of the pair of them?

Gillian was letting Sarah run things today, with her observing. Sarah looked at her and just got a shrug in return.

Pissed that they were already giving her grief, even before she had fully taken over the role, Sarah called reception. "Any sign of Miss Miller or Mr. Shaw?" she asked.

The receptionist replied, "Carina went through to the cafeteria about twenty minutes ago. Probably drinking coffee and flirting. No sign of Daniel yet. Do you want me to let you know when he arrives?"

"Please," she gratefully answered.

"Okay, Miss Walker," was the response.

"Oh, please call me Sarah."

"Will do, Sarah, and my name is Gwen." A slightly warmer tone, this time.

"Thanks, Gwen. I really appreciate it," Sarah replied.

She was about to put down the phone when Gwen chirped up again. "Oh, and Carina is now coming up in the elevator."

After hanging up, Sarah tried to marshal her thoughts. How to react when Carina sauntered in?

The elevator doors opened, and Carina did just that, sauntered, as if nothing was wrong. She reached her desk and slung her handbag onto it. Then she turned to the two women looking at her. "What?"

Sarah didn't hold back and launched straight in. "Where is your report… Miss Miller?"

Carina stared at her briefly, then looked at Gillian. "She's not taken over yet, has she." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Gillian shrugged.

"As of now I have, and you better get that report submitted pronto," Sarah snapped.

"Or what?" Carina challenged back.

"I record a failure against your name," Sarah retorted, then looked questioningly at her. "Do you like being a failure… Carina?"

Carina's face colored red. She huffed and sat down, logged in and then started typing.

Sarah looked at Gillian who raised a brow and nodded at her.

In ten minutes, Carina had submitted her report and stormed to the elevator. "And where can we contact you?" Sarah called to her.

Carina stopped and turned around. "I have a phone, you know!" Then she was gone.

Half an hour later, there was still no sign of Daniel Shaw, so Sarah logged into the Performance recording system and recorded that he had failed to submit his report. It would be obvious elsewhere, but she was determined to stamp this behavior out. It wasn't going to reflect on her.

He arrived a further thirty minutes later, nearly two hours after he should have arrived.

Sarah took the call from reception. "Hi, Sarah, Daniel just arrived and tried to hit on me."

Sarah remembered Gwen was wearing a wedding ring and rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Gwen."

The elevator doors opened, and Daniel Shaw swaggered to Sarah's desk. She stifled a giggle at that, hiding her mouth behind her hand. "Hi, Sarah. Missed me?" he said in his best suggestive voice.

"No, but the company missed your weekly report. I've recorded your failure. Don't do it again," she flatly replied.

He took a step back. "But… I can do it now!"

"It's two hours late. Time is money… Mr. Shaw," she glared at him as she said it. "Of course, you still need to submit it, or our bosses will question further."

He glared at her but walked over to his desk to type his report up.

When Sarah looked over at Gillian, she saw the woman give her a thumbs up, Sarah smiled and felt pleased with herself. Mrs. Beckman had intimated this was a policing role and that was just how she was playing it.

By lunchtime, Carina had calmed down and swept back into the office, hooked her arm through Sarah's and dragged her out of her chair and to the elevator. Sarah had been reviewing the past reports from both Project Managers, taking notes where they seemed vague or were missing information.

Sarah looked at her elevator partner, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm taking you to lunch at a bistro around the corner," stated Carina.

"Do we have time?" Sarah asked.

Carina stared at her for a second. "Fine, I'll phone ahead, and they can have it ready for us." She pulled out her phone while giving Sarah some options, then phoned the order through.

The bistro was a five-minute walk away. When they got there, they were ushered in and led to their table. The waiter looked very apologetic. "The food is not ready yet, Miss Miller, but we will bring it out as soon as we can."

Carina waived that off and reached for the glass of red wine in front of her.

Sarah asked for a water. She was not going to drink in the middle of a working day, so the glass of wine in front of her would be untouched.

Carina raised a brow. "Not drinking?"

"I wouldn't be able to function this afternoon if I did," Sarah told her.

Carina laughed. "God! I function better!" She then stared at Sarah for a good thirty seconds before saying anything further as they waited for Sarah's water to be delivered; once it was, she said, "I was pissed at you this morning, but I shouldn't have been. You were doing the job asked of you. Gillian never took such a strong attitude and I guess I just got complacent. I like you; you're not going to be such a pushover." She raised her glass and tapped it to Sarah's one with her water.

After they had both taken a drink, Carina continued, "Of course, that doesn't mean I will toe the line on everything. I will get to you in other ways."

Sarah glared at her. "You won't like me when I am angry, Carina," she warned.

Carina's eyes lit up. "Ooh, Angry Sarah! Can't wait."

Sarah smirked. "You missed her come out to play this morning."

Carina's eyes widened. "You didn't? With the smooth-talking Daniel Shaw?"

"Yup."

"I like you even more!" said the grinning redhead.

Their food then arrived, and they both started eating.

"So, you live with your boyfriend?" Carina questioned.

Sarah smiled, thinking about Chuck. "Yes, I do."

"And he works in a Buy More?" Carina looked at her as if dating someone there was crazy.

"He does, at least at the moment." That look on Carina's face irritated her. "He's team leader of the IT specialists."

Carina rolled her eyes. "We could do with one of those! The number of problems I've had that they just can't fix!"

"I bet Chuck could," Sarah commented without any hesitation.

"Maybe I should contact him," Carina commented.

Sarah noticed the twinkle in her eyes. "Not without me there, you won't!"

Carina howled with laughter. "Possessive or what?"

Sarah stated firmly. "Absolutely! He's all mine!"

Carina laughed harder still.

They got back to the office within the hour.

As Sarah settled into her seat, Gillian rode her swivel chair over to her. "I'm impressed that you got her back so quickly."

Sarah chuckled. It had been a push.

Gillian smiled, then said, "My going away party is on Friday. I'd really like you to come. You'll be able to meet a lot of the people you'll interact with." Sarah agreed instantly. That would help her a lot. "Bring your boyfriend, too."

Sarah instantly felt guilty. Chuck would be working the late shift, so might not be able to come. "He'll be at work," she said, sadly.

Gillian patted the back of Sarah's hand. "There'll be other times."

Sarah had difficulty concentrating on what she and Gillian worked through for the rest of the day as she thought of how she'd like to go to that evening, but at the same time didn't if Chuck wasn't there.

By the time Chuck arrived home, Sarah had decided she really needed to go on Friday evening, so that she could meet the people she would be working with going forward. She decided to get Chuck to see if he could make it.

He walked in and immediately found he had a beautiful blonde with her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips crashing into his. When she finally released him, he gasped, "Wow! Quite a greeting, Sarah!"

She grinned. "I've been waiting for hours to do that!"

She pulled him into the kitchen and immediately started plating up the food she had cooked earlier and then popped it into the microwave to reheat. She then turned to him. "Chuck, could you swap your evening work on Friday so that you can come out with me?"

He frowned. "I can try, but I doubt anyone would go for it. Fridays are special. Why?"

She explained about the invite to them both and Gillian's comments that it would be good for her to meet people. He listened quietly to hear everything she had to say. He could see that she was eager to go and could also recognize that it would help her. "Sarah, you should go, but it would be better for you if I wasn't there. I'd hold you back."

"Chuuuck! Others will have their partners there; I want mine," she whined.

He loved hearing that. They hadn't been together long, and it still surprised him that she wanted to be with him, so this was precious. "What if you go there on your own and I join you straight from work. Then you have networking time and Chuck time."

Sarah could see that could work, but it wasn't what she wanted. "If I have to," she grumbled. "But I wanted my wonderful boyfriend with me all evening."

He stooped down, wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up. She was giggling as he said, "You can have me from around 9pm and then all weekend." He then gave her a kiss, effectively stopping any reply.

Sarah not only lost the ability to reply because of his lips on hers, but she also lost the desire to do so. She pressed her body against his and just focused all her being into the embrace and the kiss for the next two minutes. God, I love this man.

Realizing what she had just thought, caused Sarah to pull away and just look at him. He was so good looking and how he looked at her was wonderful, but her feelings weren't so superficial, he was so good to her and with her. He was a such a kind person and meant so much to her. She had never felt so good with anyone else before.

His gorgeous brown eyes looked concerned. She smiled to take that look away. His eyes changed, took on a loving look. Does he love me, like I love him?

She knew she couldn't ask that. She could make a fool of herself. They hadn't even slept together yet!

She thought back to Gillian's leaving celebration. Others would bring their sexual partners, yet she was planning to take her man that she had never slept with, yet already knew she loved. Is there something wrong with me?

She couldn't stay silent, so she focused back on their discussion. "Fine. I'll go on my own, but you must change at work and get to me as soon as possible. Take a taxi."

She'd been at this party for forty minutes and she was already missing her boyfriend so much. Why did I agree to this?

The answer to that was all the people Gillian had introduced her to as they slowly arrived. She had encouraged Sarah to be there early for just that reason. Now, however, Gillian was the center of attention, as she should be, it was her party, after all. So, Sarah had eased back and was now nursing her drink while leaning against the wall, observing.

Watching others had always been her favorite pastime, but that was no longer the case, it was now being away from everyone but her boyfriend. She looked at her watch. God, he won't be here for another fifty minutes!

Sulking, she resumed her observations.

Diane Beckman had arrived with her husband, a suave looking older man who took Gillian's hand and kissed the back. "Gillian, we will miss you terribly."

Sarah had watched her CEO while this was happening. Seeing her rolling her eyes, Sarah guessed this sort of behavior was not uncommon.

Then he turned his attention to Sarah. "And I take it this is the young lady taking over from you, Gillian."

Diane finally spoke, "Sarah Walker this is my husband, Roan Montgomery."

He repeated the kiss on her hand, "Enchanté."

Seeing the confused look on Sarah's face, her CEO explained, "I didn't change my name when we married."

"But she still choses to be a Mrs. I get asked if I'm Mr. Beckman." Roan rolled his eyes, this time, but didn't look at all upset.

"Oh," Sarah replied.

"I hear you are already unsettling your two Project Managers, Sarah," Diane said. "Good start."

Sarah blushed. "I'm surprised you found out."

Diane narrowed her eyes slightly. "I'm keeping an eye on you."

Sarah gulped and Roan laughed. "Don't let her demeanor deceive you, she's a sweetheart." He got a glare for that.

"Probably only to you, Roan," Sarah commented, which got a laugh from both him and Gillian and a slight smile and a nod from Diane Beckman.

Well, that had been twenty minutes ago. The couple were now busy mingling, something Sarah could never do.

"Hiding?"

Although it made her jump, Sarah instantly recognized Carina's voice. She smiled. "Yeah, and watching people, one of my favorite activities."

Carina grinned at her. "Well, if you watch me, you'll learn a lot!"

Sarah laughed at that. She liked this woman, even though she was going to be sparring with her at work.

"No boyfriend, I see."

Sarah shook her head. "Not yet. He'll be joining later."

Carina raised her eyebrows. "Checking up on you already?"

That angered Sarah, who retorted, "No. He's not. He's not like that! And what do you mean by 'already'?"

Carina smirked. "You've not been here long enough to snag one of the eligible bachelors." She then squinted at Sarah. "Unless you're like me, that is."

"I'm not after 'snagging' anyone, Carina," Sarah angrily replied.

Carina held her hands up. "Okay. If you say so."

Sarah huffed.

Carina asked, "Want me to bring you another drink on your vigil? Before I go 'snagging', that is."

Sarah looked at the one she had been holding for some time. It did need replacing. "No, I'll come with you." They walked to the bar. Carina swaying as she walked. Several men watched them as they went.

"You know you could snag a few. They weren't all watching me," Carina mentioned to her as they reached the bar.

Sarah groaned. "That's all I need."

"Must be quite a catch, this man of yours," Carina said after ordering her drink.

Sarah ordered hers, so glad that the drinks were all being funded by the firm, as she wouldn't want to pay these prices. She then thought about what Carina had said as she leant against the bar. She felt a warmth go through her as she thought about Chuck. "He is!"

"Ooh. Dreamy!" Carina cooed. She then gripped Sarah's arm. "I see someone to 'snag'. You okay here?"

Sarah grinned at her. "Sure."

As Carina headed off to get a man for the night, Sarah sat on one of the stools and looked at her watch again. Only another twelve minutes. She contemplated whether she wanted to just leave as soon as her got here or whether she really ought to stay.

Her phone message alert sounded, and she pulled it out of her handbag.

On my way. With you in 8 mins

She grinned and put the phone back in her handbag.

"Ditched him to come and see me?"

Danial frigging Shaw!

She slowly swiveled round on her stool and looked at him, pouring as much disinterest into her look as possible. Although he was probably affluent compared to her boyfriend, that held no interest for her. She had absolutely no interest in him. She coldly replied, "You not worth my time, Daniel."

He ordered his drink, waited for it, and took his first mouthful before turning back. Her comment hadn't phased him at all. "Oh, I'm more than worth it!"

She scoffed at that.

He took another drink of his beer, then grasped her arm to pull her to the dance floor.

Sarah snatched her arm away from him and turned on him, Angry Sarah in full force. "Keep your hands off me, Shaw!" she snarled at him pointing her finger at him, threateningly.

The conversation around them had ceased. Everyone was staring at them. Daniel looked around, then back at Sarah. He just shrugged and walked away as if they had just finished a pleasant conversation.

Sarah was now the center of attention, something she hated. She stormed to the entrance, fully planning to leave. Before she got there, Carina stood in front of her. "Hey, every woman in here will be applauding you, Sarah. You have just made a lot of friends!"

That stopped Sarah in her tracks. "Really?"

Carina grinned. "Slippery Shaw has upset a lot of women here."

Sarah couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Slippery?"

"He slips and slides around like the snake he is. Some women fall for it, but even those dislike him when he ditches them," Carina tells her. Them she turns Sarah around. "Watch."

Sarah spotted him walk up to a group of women. It did look like he slid up to them. He then snaked his arm around the nearest and whispered into her ear. She shrugged him off and he turned to the one the other side of him.

"God, he is a snake, isn't he?" she said, feeling a bit nauseous.

Then she felt arms enveloping her and recognized Chuck scent and leaned back into his embrace. "Hope you weren't talking about me," he whispered into her ear.

She reached up and back to push her fingers into his curls, loving it. "No, Shaw," she replied.

"Hey, stop that, you're in public!" Carina commented.

Sarah turned and kissed her boyfriend, then pulled him around to face Carina. "Carina Miller, this is Chuck Bartowski."

Carina made no attempt to hide her interest as she looked Chuck up from his feet to his head. "Nice!" She reached her hand to him, which he gripped.

"Carina," he greeted.

Sarah watched as he tried to retrieve his hand from Carina's clutch. "Nice to meet you, Chuck!"

Sarah didn't like the look in Carina's eyes, so she snatched his hand and pulled him away from her. "Chuck, let's get you a beer and I want to introduce you to the woman who hired me." She heard Carina chuckle as they walked away from her.

As they waited for his drink, she looked at Chuck, who was wearing some dark trousers and a smart button-up long-sleeved shirt. He did indeed look good. More than good.

Diane Beckman obviously noticed them way before they reached her. She politely separated from the people she had been talking to and moved towards them.

"Mrs. Beckman, I'd like to introduce you to my boyfriend, Chuck Bartowski."

"Pleasure to meet you. Mrs. Beckman," Chuck said as he held out his hand. "And thank you for hiring Sarah. I've not seen her as happy as when you offered her the job."

She nodded and shook his hand. "Nice to meet the man who is enabling Sarah to swat the Shaw fly."

Sarah almost choked on that, and Chuck looked confused.

Diane smiled. "I'm sure she'll tell you later."

They stayed chatting to others for another thirty minutes. Sarah introduced him to the IT Manager she had met earlier, Laszlo Mahnovski. That she regretted as the two men hit it off straight away and started to discuss the relative merits of various servers and firewalls, which certainly didn't interest her. She was pleased that he had connected with one of her colleagues, but fifteen minutes of this was enough.

As she pulled him away, she noticed several women eyeing him up. As many as the number of men eyeing her up. Both made her uncomfortable.

After she had introduced him to Gillian, she dragged him to the dance floor. Dancing was something she loved and thankfully, Chuck was not averse to it, although he was a bit clumsy. However, it wasn't long before a slow dance started and she was able to just cling to him, both happy to sway together. When the song finished, she took his hand saying it was time to go. He was happy to do so.

As they sat in the taxi, Chuck asked Sarah about Diane Beckman's comment.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I had a run in with Daniel Shaw. He thought he could pull be from my drink at the bar and onto the dancefloor. I had to put him in his place."

He grinned at her. "So, I've weaned you off men like that, huh?"

She didn't really care for that comment, but she knew he meant nothing harmful by it. She just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Then she shuddered at the thought of how foolish she had been when younger.

As they continued their journey, she thought about Carina's comments about snagging men. She'd snagged the best and no one was going to change that.

A/N: Sarah is already having problems with her new colleagues; nothing major, but she is being reminded of her experiences in previous jobs.

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