Page 11 of The Austen Escape
“You brought this on yourself, you must see that. You robbed everyone, robbed WATT by holding your ideas so tight. And now? We simply can’t throw more resources at it. You must remember there is no I inteam, but it’s emphasized a great deal inpride. I doubt that’s the reputation you want circulated, that you put yourself above the team and are the only one capable. It not onlystifles synergy, creativity, and group cohesion, it causes irrefutable harm.”
“That sounds serious.”
She gave me a flat smile, unsure if I was agreeing or, as my dad would say, being sassy. I wasn’t sure either.
She then crunched her way out of the gravel. I glanced back to my car, wondering how myreputationwould suffer if I hopped in and sped home.
I tapped the treadmill from eight- to seven-minute miles, then returned my gaze across the paths and park to WATT’s building. The sun hit one spot on the blue-black glass and it glowed like a magnifying glass on a sidewalk.
Almost four years ago we moved WATT out of Craig’s garage and into our present office space. We went from random casse-roles a friend or parent dropped off to espresso for breakfast, sushi for lunch, and two state-of-the-art gyms packed with the latest equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows, so that while running, cycling, rowing, or stepping, we could look out onto these paths and ponds and feel tranquil.
I did not feel tranquil—and hadn’t for some time.
A hand appeared before me. I pulled up and then stumbled. The treadmill raced on as I stretched for the emergency cut-off button. The hand hit it for me.
“Whoa.” It gripped my arm. “Hey... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
I hopped off. The ground moved beneath me; I wobbled straight. “You didn’t.”
Nathan slid his hand to my shoulder and held me firm. “I said your name three times. Where were you?”
“Pondering my future with Karen.”
Nathan stepped back and looked around. I did the same. There were only three others in the gym. Two guys from Trillium and one woman from Stellnet.
“I heard about your morning talk. Was it that bad?”
“She was right. Nothing is private in this place. Who told?” I grabbed the towel off the side rail and attempted to press away the red and sweat from my cheeks.
“A couple people saw you talking as they arrived.”
Nathan’s hair needed a trim. Over the past month he’d cut his days at WATT from five a week to two. Other than our walk and talk on Friday, I hadn’t really looked at him in a few weeks.
Standing here now, I realized how much I would miss his smile and the odd sense of excitement-meets-comfort I found in his presence. And his ear—I would miss the way Nathan listened.
“I’m to help Benson on his hearing device. We met this morning and discussed some changes. It’s an amazing achievement really—the size of a few grains of rice. But that’s not what’s so bad... I keep replaying what Karendidn’tsay. It’s more than one product, it’s where we’re headed that’s at stake.”
“That’s a hefty conclusion to draw from things not said.”
“But you don’t disagree.”
Nathan didn’t answer.
“And... she declared an all-hands-on-deck to prepare for fourth quarter, but stopped by my desk just now to make sure I knew it didn’t include me. She actually wished me well on my two-week vacation.”
Nathan smiled and addressed my insecurity rather than mystatement. “She wants to systematize processes so they aren’t reliant on an individual. It’s not personal, and it’s the way corporations have run for years. In many ways, it makes sense. If all goes well while you’re gone, it proves her point.” He crossed his arms and stepped back again, bumping into the treadmill next to mine.
“But it’s not the way we work.”
“True, but she’s the one who has Craig’s ear right now, and that’s right, she should. He hired her.” He raised his hand to stall my counterattack. “She’s got a long record of success, and he paid a lot to bring her on board.”
I pressed my lips shut.
He smiled again. “No comment?” He tilted his head toward the check-in counter. “I thought you might need cheering up, and I knew this would be the last day I’d see you before you go.”
I followed the gesture to the counter. There sat my favorite kind of cupcake, from my favorite shop. Hey Cupcake’s Red Velvet.
“Call it a commiseration-congratulations cupcake.”
