Page 8 of I Am Salvation

“Yes. I was going over some stuff at my office at home, and I figured you and I should have a discussion.”

I clear my throat. “Of course. What about?”

“First of all”—he sinks slowly into his office chair—“I’d like to know your thoughts on the projects I had you review yesterday afternoon.”

Yeah, here it comes. I have to tell him what I found because if I don’t, he’ll think I’m an idiot who can’t read simple blueprints.

“I enjoyed looking through all of them,” I say. “They’re all beautiful projects, and I’d love to be involved in any one of them.”

He nods. “Did you find a favorite?”

“I’d like to be honest with you and speak freely.”

He cocks his head. “Of course.”

“When I took the position here at Lund & Lopez, I did it for a couple of reasons.”

He lifts his eyebrows.

“First of all, you’re one of the best—if not the best—architecture firm in the state of Colorado. Not to mention the country.”

“Yes, we are considered to be at the top of our game.”

“The second reason was the mountaintop project. I was excited about it. I hope I get the chance to work on it.”

He frowns. “That’s a huge project, Diana, and you’re a fledgling architect.”

“I understand that. However, it was one of the projects you had me look at yesterday.”

He nods again, this time more slowly. “Yes, it was.”

“So I was hoping that I might be able to be involved.”

“Let’s not put the cart before the horse,” he says. “Why don’t you tell me what you thought of all the projects? Give me your ideas, your thoughts.”

Ideas? These are well-established projects. Any ideas I might have would be too little too late.

But my thoughts? I can give him those.

I clear my throat and force myself to look him in the eye. I must present a strong front. Even though I’m feeling like I’d like to disappear right about now.

“I found an issue with the mountaintop project, to be honest.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Yes? And what was that?”

He knows damned well what I’m about to say, but I say it anyway.

“One of the crucial pipelines runs too close to the edge of a steep cliff, which makes it vulnerable to erosion and potential landslides. A failure in the line could disrupt the entire water supply to the resort and jeopardize the safety and comfort of its visitors.”

Chills hit the back of my neck when he doesn’t reply right away.

Then, “I see. Are you sure of these findings?”

“I am. I stayed late last night to go over them and sketch out alternatives.” I let out a nervous chuckle. “I just figured in a project of this magnitude, you’d want to make sure all the bases are covered.”

“May I see your drafts?”

“Of course.” I hand him the sketches I worked on last night.

---