“Should I go ahead and order Asian fusion, or should we wait until lunch?” Sammutters.
“Can’t we do both?” Brenden asks, and Igrin.
I’m lucky to have at least two people who make working under pressure a little bit offun.
We get to work straight away on resolving our issue with the Kendall Inc. account. I start with inspecting the program Jack sent over, because Brenden and Sam made changes since the last time I saw it. When Meyer calls, I’m able to talk him down while Brenden talks directly with Kendall Inc. tech support to coordinate a temporary solution to theproblem.
The hours fly by as we keep finding solutions only to encounter new challenges, but thanks to Sam, we at least have some sushi, General Tso, and pad Thai to see us through thestruggle.
We share screens on our laptops as we navigate our way through the issues, pulling some of the other guys in when we need them to help us. By the time six o’clock rolls around, I accept our fate. “You guys go ahead and call it a day,” I tell Brenden and Sam. “We’re not getting this all figured out today, and I can pull an all-nighter if I needto.”
“I can stay a little bit and help,” Samoffers.
“Does that mean I can leave?” Brenden asks. “I can get a sitter, but with Kirk out oftown—”
“That’s not necessary,” I reply. “Most of what I need to do involves sitting through these tests I’m running now. And if I really need anything, as long as you’re open to share-screen with me, we should begood.”
Brenden sighs, obviously relieved. “That works for me.” She collects her belongings and headsout.
“Thanks for staying,Sam.”
“I wanted to kick Jack’s ass thismorning.”
“Sam, I’m your supervisor. Don’t tell me you want to kick one of the company’s employees’ asses.” I’m trying to be professional, but just as quickly I say, “But this is all hisfault.”
He beams. “Thanks for having my back in there today. I appreciateit.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Jack, on the other hand, seems to do plenty wrong and never faces any consequences forit.”
“Tell me about it. I thought I was the only one whonoticed.”
“From what I gathered on the phone with Meyer, mad as he was, he was sure of who was to blame without me needing to show receipts or anything.” I wink at Sam, and he laughs. “But I’m glad you were willing to throwdown.”
“I tend to get a little defensive when things like this come up. I have older brothers, and they used to blame me for everything, so when someone like Jack sets me off, it’sbad.”
I take a deep breath, looking over my monitor at all the open screens, so many that I think I might get a headache just looking atthem.
“Let me call my man and tell him that I’m gonna be awhile.”
“Okay, boss. I’m gonna run a few of those ideas we had and see how they play out, if that works foryou.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll grab us some coffee from the break room. Three half-and-half creamers,right?”
“And just a smidgen of sugar,” he adds, smiling like he’s pleased I even got as much as I didright.
I head out of my office and callEric.
“How’s it going, sexy?” heanswers.
“I love when you answer the phone like that.” I glance around. Looks like most everyone has already left for the day. “Remember that clusterfuck I was telling you about overlunch?”
“Gonna be awhile?”
“Longer than I care for. Sam and I are gonna stick around and try to figure thisout.”
“Sam’s the one who had the hots for you,right?”
“One and the same. That’s not weird, isit?”
