Summer slowly faded into fall. Three months until the C.O.R.E deadline. They were on track so far, despite the minor setbacks. The boys down in the lab put the elevators out of order last week with their experiment (which was not approved by administration). The other day, someone had set off the sprinkler system when they caught the microwave on fire. You'd think a scientist would know not to microwave something that has tinfoil on it.
Apparently, Kimbra gave the EcoTech staff too much credit.
Bud continued to be a sharp pain in the side. Yet Kimbra had grown fond of him. Not that she'd ever admit it, heavens no.
And then there was Dr. Ross Spector. She hadn't told anyone they were seeing each other. How could she? He was their rival. Owner of SpecCorp. Public enemy number one.
Was she betraying her boss? The company she poured her heart into the last several years?
No. No, she wasn't.
Maybe she was reading too much into it.
She wanted to be with him. Ross was intelligent. Someone she could easily discuss work with. They had so much in common. He always knew what to say and when to say it.
But it's a mistake.
What would she do if Dr. Ainsley found out? She hadn't thought that far ahead. He might fire her. Yell profanities at her. Maybe cry? No, she's never seen the man cry before. More than likely, he'll feel betrayed and heartbroken. Disappointed even. Probably ask her to leave and never come back.
Her mind kept throwing small darts of worry her way. The fog in her brain choked her thoughts.
You're making a mistake by going out with Ross Spector. You're betraying your boss's trust. It's a bad idea. Don't do it.
What a horrible thought.
For now, she brushed the worry out of her mind and focused on work.
After an eternity, the judgmental voices stopped.
Kimbra took a deep breath before stepping through the doors of the conference hall. Dozens of speakers and guests roamed the shiny tile floors. Chatter and laughter filled the air. The dread that had been accumulating since morning collected in her throat.
She did not want to be here.
Bud had invited Kimbra to a conference he was participating in. A businessman like him couldn't afford to miss one. It offered a chance to network and sell his products to potential sponsors. Dr. Ainsley also pressured her to go, so she could represent EcoTech in his place. The man rarely ever went to a conference, much to the mayor's dismay. She could always opt out. Have someone else take her place.
Per usual, Kimbra caved in and agreed to go.
The Ross Spector situation from a few days ago had been temporarily forgotten, as Bud hadn't made any more snide remarks or tried to pry into her personal life. And for that, Kimbra was grateful. Things were normal (well, as normal as they could be) again. That was over and done with for now.
So, there in the hall, Kimbra stood, her blue eyes scanning the crowd for a recognizable face. She hated social events. She hated feeling out of place. The thought of socializing made her want to sink into herself.
She'd have to work on that.
"Kimbra!" A male voice called out to her right.
The scientist glanced over in the direction of the voice, only to see Bud Flud approaching her with that television worthy smile of his.
Suddenly things didn't look so bad.
"Glad you could make it."
"Wish I could say the same." Kimbra said, almost bored-sounding.
A sigh. "Can we please be civil tonight? Please?"
"Now we both know that's a little too much to ask."
"I was just talking to the owner of that new boutique. The one downtown? I think you should introduce yourself, maybe she could help you fix… this ." Bud gestured at Kimbra's outfit, a white button down shirt tucked into a knee-length black skirt. Tied together with a pair of black heels.
There was nothing wrong with it, and Kimbra was offended that Bud of all people was commenting on her sense of fashion.
"Was she cute?"
Bud leaned over, and spoke low enough for only her to hear. "Indeed she was, sweetheart, but not nearly as cute as you."
"Funny," she rolled her eyes at him.
Let's be civil tonight, he said. Yet here he was, pestering her. Hypocrite.
She shouldn't be worried about a washed up water salesman. What she should be worried about is how to interact at this conference. How to talk to people. What she should say or do. Was she supposed to give a speech? Just stand around and look pretty? What?
Well, her boss had told her, but she'd forgotten.
Kimbra turned to ask Bud for some advice, but he walked off to some unknown destination. Really, just like that, Bud went off to speak to every remotely important person he could find. He immediately had forgotten about her.
Wasn't that just typical of him?
This whole evening was going to be a disaster.
It usually was.
Until a pair of arms snaked around her waist from behind, pulling her close. The familiar scent of cologne embraced her. Kimbra giggled as Spector softly kissed her cheek before letting her go.
He greeted her with a smile, and she nearly melted. "Dr. Wulfe."
"Dr. Spector."
"I'm flattered you came all the way to hear me speak."
"My sponsor invited me and Dr. Ainsley never goes to these things, I thought hey, why not?" She shot a glance in Bud's direction and saw him grinning from ear to ear. Bragging to the owner of Pinewood Motors about something.
Dr. Spector followed her gaze. "He seems rather…unpleasant."
"He's annoying and egotistical."
"So, unpleasant?"
"Yeah pretty much," Kimbra wrapped her arms around his neck, not caring who saw. "But I am very interested in your lecture, Dr. Spector."
"Ah yes, the benefits of synthetic metals. I'm sure everyone is thrilled to hear about it." It came out sarcastic. "I better go get my notes together before they realize how dreadfully boring I am and kick me out."
He pressed his lips against hers before mouthing out a goodbye. She watched as he strode across to the other side of the room, readying for his lecture.
"I didn't know Spector was here." Bud's voice from behind her made Kimbra jump. She almost smacked him. She should have. When did he get there?
"You were probably too busy bragging about yourself again."
Most likely.
He gave her a look of utter innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"And of course Ross is here. He's a brilliant scientist and a CEO."
The corner of his mouth twitched. "He's a self-absorbed jerk."
That's your problem in a nutshell.
"So are you!"
"He's your boss's rival."
"I'm aware of that."
Stop reminding me.
"I still say you're making a mistake."
Are you even kidding me?
She shot a warning glance at the hound. "Stay out of my love life, Bud."
"When he stomps on your heart, don't come crying to me." Bud said, seeing whatever plans he had for this conversation, deteriorating.
"I don't plan on it."
Needless to say, their conversation didn't get very far. She knew this wouldn't be the end of it. Why did he care who she was interested in any way?
Oh, well that was really annoying.
A tall raccoon in a black pinstripe suit slapped Bud on the shoulder, relieving her from the ordeal. "Hey Buddy! Been lookin' for ya everywhere!" He was no older than Bud, his black hair streaked with light gray.
Muscular build, tall, good looking, and Bud seemed to brighten around the man.
"Sammy, I thought you didn't go to these things."
"Oh now you complainin' that your old pal is here. I see what you think of me."
The two men laughed, continuing to playfully bicker with one another. Kimbra grew sick of watching the display and loudly cleared her throat. Sammy, or whatever his name was, looked over to the white canine. He smiled as if he recognized her.
"You're Bud's girl, right?"
Kimbra never thought of herself as 'Bud's girl'. That made her pause.
Ew.
She also noticed Bud's dark eyes glaring at the man.
"Uh, we're just friends."
He laughed. "I'm also a friend of his, Samuel DeTelli." He held out his hand and Kimbra shook it. "Feel free to call me Sammy."
"Mr. DeTelli." She wasn't about to call him Sammy.
He took a step back and laughed, nudging Bud with his elbow. "Oh, we got ourselves a professional! Bud did say you were feisty."
Feisty?
"Sammy, stop harassing her," The water salesman elbowed him back. "Don't you have some poor sap to heckle?"
"Ha ha very funny Flud," the raccoon turned and beckoned for a smaller man, a timid hyena with black hair, to come over. "Andy, c'mon and meet Buddy's lady friend!"
Great, now I'm the token lady friend. Fantastic.
He obeyed, but stopped short to stand behind Samuel. Almost cowering behind him.
Kimbra tried to be polite. Sociable. Like Ainsley wanted. She introduced herself. "Dr. Kimbra Wulfe."
Andy perked up at that, stepping out from behind the large man.
"Oh, you're Kimbra? Man… no wonder Bud is so worked up over—" Andy was cut short as Bud elbowed him in the stomach. The hyena managed to talk the group into letting him come along.
Bud began to regret his decision in the matter.
"This is Andy Stryker. He's the director of public works."
"Pleasure to meet you." She shook his hand, wondering why someone like this would be caught up with two sleazy businessmen.
Samuel took Bud and Andy by the arms, apologizing and giving her the biggest smile he could muster. "Mind if I steal him away from you for a sec?"
"No, I insist." Her tone implied she really didn't care.
Bud waved her off, paying no mind to the snarkiness. "Don't mind her, she's in one of her…moods."
"Yeah, because you put me in them!" She shot back.
"Oh my god, they're so cute when they bicker." The hyena snickered as the men walked off, but then yelped after earning a punch in the arm from Bud.
Kimbra shook her head, showing the tiniest hint of a smile.
Men.
You're Bud's girl.
Bud's girl.
Bud's.
Bud didn't appreciate Samuel phrasing it like that. He and Kimbra were not together. He was her sponsor. She was a thorn in his side. They had a weird friend-hate relationship thing going on.
That was it.
He blew out a breath and shook it off.
Besides, she was dating that scientist.
That was another thing. Ross Spector. The man was as much a capitalist as any businessman, yet Kimbra was just all over him. Kissing him. Speaking highly of him.
Seriously?
It irritated Bud that she gave him hell for his ethics, but apparently condoned her boyfriend's actions.
Hypocrite.
Bud noticed his friends staring at him, and snapped out a, "what?"
Samuel smiled, as he never had seen his friend flustered over a girl before. "What's with that look on your face?"
"You like her." Andy chimed in.
I do not.
"Kimbra?" Bud snuck a glance back at the purple haired woman.
"Bingo."
"She's a friend, of course I like her."
Sort of.
"Not the direction I was going, Bud."
Bud gave Samuel a glacial look. "Don't you even go there."
"C'mon it's so obvious you like her!"
Sure, Bud liked her. At first, anyway. He flirted with her at Ainsley's birthday party. Who wouldn't? She's attractive. But once she opened her mouth, Bud went in the other direction.
He did not like Kimbra Wulfe.
Bud turned his disapproving gaze on his friend. "Shut up, we're just business partners."
The lie was spoken into the air a bit too easily. The baseball game had proven they could get along and be friends. He liked that side of her. The one he could talk to about anything. The one that made him laugh. The one he could bond with over a sport. The one he could playfully bicker with and still part ways while on good terms.
He did not like Kimbra Wulfe.
Andy, now branding a large smile, snickered. "Can I ask you something?"
No .
He asked anyway. "Are you in love with her?"
"With who?"
"Dr. Wulfe."
"Kimbra?" The CEO started getting fed up with these two so-called friends. "Hell no, why would you ever ask such a thing?"
"Because of the way you look at her when she's not looking."
"I have no idea what you're going on about."
"You look at her like she's the only other person in the room."
"Do not ," Bud ignored the taunts he got from his friends.
He knew they were only joking. Teasing. Being pains in the neck. He didn't look at Kimbra like that.
Bud Flud did not like Kimbra Wulfe.
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Kimbra had to admit that Bud Flud was a talented salesman. Scared of nothing, proud of everything. Listening to his lecture on water bottling had impressed her.
Only slightly.
Spector, who was standing near the entrance, looked over at Kimbra, and gave her a smile. They had dinner plans after this was over. He picked the restaurant. Assured her that it would be to her liking. He was so considerate. The two of them had so much in common. Dedicated to their life's work. He understood her when no one else did. And he was nothing less of a gentleman around her.
It's what made falling in love with him so incredibly simple.
The conference came to a close, and Kimbra Wulfe was nowhere in sight. Bud asked everyone he came across if they had seen her, each person replying no. Then Samuel mentioned he saw her leaving with a man, which Bud didn't comment on.
Besides, 'well at least I don't have to deal with her now thank fucking god.'
He did not care what Kimbra did with her life. None of his business. Nope. He didn't think twice about it. Not one bit.
Bud walked out to the parking lot with Samuel and Andy. He just wanted to go home and do nothing. Kick back and watch the news while sipping on his favorite bottle of whatever he had in the fridge.
His plans were thwarted as the hyena started the teasing again. "Can't believe you were all worked up over her."
I am not.
"Why do you say that?"
"Look at her, she's so little and fluffy. She's harmless. She's not terrifying."
"Well, maybe not to you, but she is very intimidating."
It's impossible for him to win against her.
Andy kept on, pressing Bud's buttons as hard as he could. "Absolutely not."
"You don't know her like I do."
"Is she single?"
" Andy ."
"I'm just curious!"
"No, I'm not giving you her number."
"Why? Is it because you're interested?"
"No!"
"Mhmm sounds like someone is overprotective."
"Shut it." He stopped in front of his car and dug around for his keys. Wanting to escape the conversation. "She has a boyfriend."
"Is that why you're so mopey?"
"I'm not mopey."
More lies added to the pile.
He despised the guy. Found him revolting. Not suited at all for Kimbra.
Bud wondered how long this mistake would last before it crashed down around the poor girl.