Levi lifted his chin, concern in his eyes. “What are you going to do about the restaurant software?”
Bran shook his head.
When Cali had first brought up the idea of Ireland helping the club, Bran had panicked like a fly caught in the yellow tape. But then he’d considered everything that would need to fall into place for her to work for them: Levi’s approval, Tech Banquet agreeing to it, Ireland’s full-time boss allowing her to consult on the side. It would never happen. Which had allowed him to relax some.
But now Bran wasn’t so calm. Where Ireland was concerned, he seemed to get caught in the yellow tape more often than he liked, no matter how much he fought it. And if she was as good as Cali said…he needed her.
Maybe if Bran threatened Tech Banquet with bringing in an outsider, they’d get their shit together.
“I visited Jaeg’s tonight. He showed me the art for Prime, and it’s incredible.”
“I look forward to seeing it,” Levi said. “But what’s art got to do with software?”
“Cali overheard me talking to Jaeg about the issues we’ve been having and suggested we hire Ireland as a consultant. Ireland is supposedly a programming guru. Cali seemed to think she could fix the problem.”
Levi rubbed his jaw. “How can Ireland be better than the expert the company sent?”
Bran shrugged.
“And at an added expense.” Levi looked at Emily.
“Ireland was big in the Bay Area tech industry,” Emily said. “From everything Hayden has told me, Blue Casino loves her. Hiring her would be an added expense, but if she fixes the software quickly, it would be worth it.”
“I don’t think it will come to that,” Bran said. “I’m hoping the suggestion will light a fire under the CEO’s ass and get him to send someone else.”
“With the software down, we’re losing money,” Emily pointed out. “Even a few thousand dollars would be worth the expense of hiring her, if it means we get our online ordering back up.”
The knife in Bran’s chest twisted tighter. No one was more aware of his failure than him.
“Hire Ireland,” Levi said. “Do whatever you need to. Just get it working. As far as I’m concerned, Tech Banquet should cover Ireland’s expenses.”
Levi and Emily were right. The club needed someone with Ireland’s background. Bran could keep his hands to himself while she worked for him. He’d managed to keep women at a distance these last ten or so years. He could do it with Ireland too, no matter how attracted he was to her.
Chapter 9
Ireland gripped the phone. “Excuse me?” Her boss was on the other line, working from one of their parent company’s other casinos.
“Hayden tells me you need time for a side consulting job,” he said. “I have no problem with it as long as you keep things running smoothly at Blue. Does that sound good?”
Was he serious? He was asking her ifshewas okay with a freelance job? Andwhat job? Hayden couldn’t know about Club Tahoe and Bran. Ireland had only spoken to him last night.
“Y-yes, of course.” And in the meantime, she’d figure out what in the world Hayden was up to.
He chuckled. “You’re the best damn programmer I’ve ever hired. It would have taken two people to accomplish the work you’ve done since you came on board. I’ll be able to give you a raise soon. It’s not much—my hands are tied with manager pay caps—but hopefully it’ll be enough to entice you to stay.”
He was giving her free rein to freelance…and a raise? “I enjoy working at Blue. I have no plans to leave.”
“Glad to hear it. Until I can get you that raise, I understand your need to work side jobs, and appreciate you keeping me posted.”
Ireland had worked for one of the most well-known social media platforms in the world. They hired women to appear gender-balanced, but that was bullshit. Women weren’t treated as equals. At her old company, she was disposable. But not at Blue. And that meant more than any high-paying salary.
“Tell Hayden the days you’ll be leaving early,” her boss continued, “and let your assistant know your schedule.”
Dazed and more than a little confused, Ireland agreed. Her new boss was the nicest man she’d ever worked for.
She saved the program she’d been working on—a new surveillance system that featured artificial intelligence—and logged out of her computer.
Ireland stood and walked over to Mark, her assistant. He wore headphones, so she tapped him on the shoulder.
