Page 21 of Delayed
“What’s that old adage?” Janice put a fingerto her chin to simulate she was thinking. “If you take a picture,it will last longer.” She chuckled. “Who was that hottie?”
Anna glanced back out the glass doors andwatched as Rex hopped into his vehicle and drove off. He was ahottie of epic proportions.
“A friend.”
“I’m calling bullshit.” She twisted herlips. “You don’t look at a guy like he’s your last meal if you’rejust friends.”
Anna stuck her tongue out at her friend.
Janice laughed. “Ah, he’s made you frisky.”She bumped her shoulder into Anna’s. “So, who is he? You haven’tmentioned anyone other than that brewery guy you met inMichigan.”
“That is Mr. Brewery.” Anna bit her bottomlip.
“Seriously?” Janice’s jaw dropped. “Ithought you said he was traveling.”
“He came back early, I guess.”
“To see you?”
“That’s what he said.” Anna shrugged ashoulder.
“Oh Anna, he’s yummy and he’s clearly intoyou.”
He was into her. Her mouth went dry. Whatworried her most was how much she was into him.
****
Jacob Sterling strutted into the conferenceroom five minutes late, as usual, and with a smirk plastered to hisface. Anna enjoyed most of her co-workers. Jacob, on the otherhand, got under her skin and not in a good way.
They worked together on the marketing team,sharing projects and presentations. He spent a great deal of histime one-upping her and schmoozing with upper management. RobertClein, the CEO, liked Jacob for some unknown reason. Perhapsbecause he stroked Robert’s ego.
“Just got out of a meeting with Robert.” Hesat in one of the conference chairs and set his folder and laptopon the table. His dark brown hair was cropped close to his headreminding her of a military cut. But Jacob was too egocentric toever have been in any military branch. He’d never give of himselfunless it in some way benefited him. “He’s excited about ourpresentation next week. I walked him through a few of theslides.”
The urge to yell at him practically chokedher. She sat straighter and cleared her throat. “Why would you walkRobert through the slides when we haven’t completed them?” Thoughher voice was a normal pitch, she heard the agitation in it and wassure Jacob had, too.
“He asked me about the presentation. I’d hadthe power point pulled up my laptop so I didn’t see any issue withsharing what we put together so far.” He shrugged a shoulder.
Jacob hadn’t added a single slide to thepresentation. So that he took credit for any of it irked her.
“He thought the personal visits to marketswhere we want to make a footprint was brilliant.”
If blood could boil, Anna’s was. She’d beenthe guinea pig for that part of the project. Hence the frigid tripto Michigan. But knowing Jacob, he’d likely pitched it as hisoriginal idea, which it had not been. “And how exactly did youexplain that idea?”
“Just explained that we discussed gettingface time in front of perspective agents and insureds to presentour history and offerings.”
His use of the term “we” grated on her lastnerve. Getting face time and putting together the presentation hadbeen her doing. She’d recommended Jacob as the person to fly toGrand Rapids to put on the presentation, but he’d squirmed his wayout of it.
“Maybe next time you can go on the trip andgive the presentation so thatwecan take full credit.” Shetilted her head and cocked an eyebrow. Maybe she should have justlet it slide. Unfortunately, he brought out the worst in her.
She inhaled deeply. Just get through thismeeting.
“No reason to be bitter about that chillytrip. You missed nothing here.” He sat back in his chair andcrossed his ankle over his knee.
No regrets. She’d met Rex on that trip. Andhe was here, waiting for her to wrap up this meeting so she couldmeet him for drinks. Just the thought of him calmed heragitation.
“Let’s finish up this presentation. It’sFriday and I’d like to get out of here at a reasonable time.”
They spent the next thirty or forty minutesfinishing up the slide deck. Jacob offered little in the way ofcontent. He spent a good deal of time texting someone and swipingat his phone.
