Chapter 25
Alice stared at the flight app. Theodore’s flight had departed on time. She didn’t go to the airport with him because no way would she devolve into a crying cliché in front of hundreds of people.
Not that she’d have missed anything at Edison. Nothing was getting done. She’d stared at the same financial report for the last hour, not taking in any of the figures.
Tea. That was what she needed. Funny how she’d slowly morphed into a tea drinker over the last few weeks.
The kitchen was quiet. A calm had entered the air. Very much like a morgue.
She popped in a Twinings pod and had to choke back the lump that formed in her throat.
“Ah, Alice.” Suzy appeared in the doorway. “I wanted you to hear this from me directly. We’re seeking a buyer for Edison. More likely than not, though, we won’t find one. In that case, we’re shuttering.”
Oh. Her plans were real if she was risking telling Alice that in the hallway. But funny how not an ounce of fear arose at the news. Alice truly was over being there, wasn’t she? “Sounds like a plan.”
“You held this place together. It was noticed.”
“I don’t want to hold things together anymore.” In fact, at that second, a burning desire to quit arose. But what would she do?
Suzy stepped inside the kitchen. “You have choices, Alice. You’re free to do what you want, of course. Or you can become CFO of one of our other companies.”
“Oh?” She couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for the deal. My, how times had changed. If Suzy had offered her that even last week, she’d have had trouble staying inside her skin.
Suzy arched a perfect brow. “Neither of those appeal?”
“It’s … I don’t know. I’m …” She couldn’t get the words out. It would be humiliating to admit she was a big ball of feelings. She was pretty sure Suzy O’Flannery never once wanted to crawl into bed with a plate of brownies and never leave like Alice did at that moment. Could Alice get any more cliched?
Suzy closed the door, which snapped Alice to attention. Leaning against the door, she crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re upset.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Good. Then there’s a third option.” Suzy stepped so close Alice could make out a little smudge of mascara under one of her eyes.
“A third?”
“I have an idea I want to discuss with you. Something I’ve been thinking about for some time. It’d be lucrative for you—and us. Ready to hear it?”
Alice put her cup down on the small table and took a seat. After all, she didn’t have anywhere else to go.
Suzy took the opposite seat. “Theodore is good with people; so are you. But differently. He gets people to talk. You solve their problems, which means you’re good at ferreting them out. It’s amazing what small things keep people from being productive.”
“I’m just … handy.”
“Oh, you’re more than that. You understand how everything impacts our bottom line. I understand from Theodore you had quite a few ideas to increase our profitability. I’d like to hear them, even if Edison can’t be saved. Would you be willing to go on the road for us as a consultant? Like Theodore.”
“No,” she said quickly, surprising even herself.
Suzy leaned back and assessed her. “I didn’t take you for a quitter.”
“What? Not wanting to be horseshoed into?—”
“Is that you think it is? I believe together you’d uncover all manners of ills that need to be addressed. I’m thinking you’ll start at”—she looked at her thoughtfully—“two hundred thousand?”
Was the woman crazy? “T-two hundred thousand?”
“As a start. You and Theodore will have matching salaries. I expect we’ll make up for that the first month you’re out.”
Out? She and Theodore might never be in the same time zone again. She stared down at the ugly industrial carpeting, not quite wanting to see the disappointment in Suzy’s eyes. Not wanting to admit why her offer didn’t appeal.
“There’s a reason, isn’t there?” Suzy finally asked. Her tone was gentle—like nothing she’d ever heard from the woman. Suzy sucked in a long breath, let it out. “You know, I never married.”
Alice snapped her gaze back up. “I-I know.” Everyone did, given how much publicity she’d gotten.
“It was my choice, and the right one for me, though I do have my moments of doubt.”
She couldn’t imagine Suzy doubting herself in any decision. “Oh.” She honestly didn’t have a single better word to say to the odd admission—and even stranger confession.
“I don’t want to lose you, Alice. Tell me.” She rose and perched one hip on the table. “Is there a personal reason you don’t want to consider this? You’re not obligated to tell me anything, of course, but?—”
“Yes. There is.” A sharp stab went through her heart. Even if Theodore got on a plane that morning, a small part of her still hoped they’d figure something out.
She’d arrived at Edison that morning, stepped off the elevator, and headed to her office like she had a thousand times. But it wasn’t the same anymore. She wanted something more.
Suzy smiled at her. “I thought so. You want room for a personal life.” She dipped her chin and peered at her. “With a certain red-headed Welsh gentleman, perhaps?”
Alice nodded slowly. “But it’s impossible.”
Suzy scoffed immediately. “Nothing is impossible. But I won’t lose Theodore.” She eyed Alice. “You know, I have another idea. If Theodore has shown me anything—and don’t look so surprised, I’m still learning, too—is that happy people are more productive. So.” She stood. “Go on the road with him.”
“What?”
“Become a two-person team.” She shrugged like it was the easiest thing to do in the world. “From what Samuel tells me, Theodore’s not going to be his best self if I cut you off from him. And I refuse to have productivity dip.”
“That would be bad,” she agreed, though not quite understanding how she and Theodore could work together.
“We’re on the same page, then. Have you ever been to Glasgow?”
“No.” Her head began to spin. Suzy was serious.
“I prefer Edinburgh myself. But we have a start-up we might acquire. I think you’ll start there. Then, later, Australia?—”
“Australia?” Her eyes widened, and she was having trouble taking in a full breath.
“You’ll fly international business class, of course.”
“Oh. Good.” Good? Suzy was laying out her whole future as if it were a done deal. But if there was one thing she learned during the last weeks, she couldn’t control everything, but she could pick and choose her battles. She had to have boundaries of her own making. “But what if it’s not a good fit?”
“Oh, I think Theodore fits you well.”
Did Suzy make a sexual innuendo? Alice swallowed. As if that would tamp down her body’s reaction to even thinking about being with Theodore fitting?
“What does Theodore think?” Surely, Suzy had run the idea of teaming up with someone by him.
“I’ve never suggested it. But I’m positive he believes you’re a perfect fit, too.” She took in a quick breath. “Now, go see him. Go home and pack. There’s a day flight to London, but you’ll need to hurry. It leaves at noon. Use the company credit card—business class. I’ll have a car at your place to take you to the airport.”
“London?”
Suzy sighed as if Alice wasn’t catching on quick enough for her taste. “Yes, Alice. Go to Theodore. Tell him what I said. I want you both to discuss this without my influence.”
“This is moving really fast. I mean, what if it can’t work?”
Suzy rose and smiled down at her. “You want to know the secret to success in business?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “It isn’t just what you choose. It’s knowing there’s always more than one answer. Or in this case, two. It’s not an either-or Alice. It’s a … Make Your Own Way Day.” She winked at her.
But London? Get on a plane. Be with Theodore. Work with Theodore. Be on the road? Her head was swimming. But one thing was for sure, a sliver of excitement took hold. Maybe if she took the opportunity as an exploratory thing. She could always talk to him, see what he said, then decide. Even start consulting with him, and if it didn’t work …
“You’re thinking too much, Alice.”
A smile finally appeared on Alice’s face. “I do have a lot of vacation saved up.”
“Granted. But be back soonish? You’re valuable to us as we shut things down.”
Valuable. She now understood what that meant. Suzy needed her and was willing to reward her for it. Alice rose and held out her hand. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Suzy clasped both of her hands around Alice’s. “I expect a lot from my employees. Either as a management consultant or as my CFO of O’Flannery Enterprises.”
Her lips dropped open. “You mean both are on the table?”
“If you want it.”
“But I didn’t?—”
“Catch Roger?” She scoffed, dropping her hand hold. “It took us nine months to figure it out. Suffice to say, you keeping this place going during it was enough. Now, go. Airports are hell these days. Not that I ever spend any time in them anymore.”
The woman really did have a private jet, didn’t she? One day, Alice promised herself, she’d have the option for one. Not that money was important. Right then. Only one thing was. And he had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
Before Suzy could scoot out, Alice had one more pressing matter. “What about the others? Patty Dodd is the best programmer I’ve ever seen. And Harrison and …”
She held up her hand. “Generous packages to all. Though I might have to steal Patty back. She’s good.”
“The best.”
“And a best friend, I presume. She never let on about you and Theodore.”
Shit. Suzy had eyes in the back of her head—or ESP.
Before Alice could respond, Suzy leaned closer and dropped her voice. “When you do start working together …” She already thought it was a done deal? “Keep the supply closet visits down to one a day?” She winked again at Alice.
Even through a blush with the strength of the sun, she looked at Suzy directly. “I can do that.” Maybe.
But first, she had to find out if Theodore was interested in sharing a clothes closet at home and not just a supply closet. Not only be a management consulting team. No way could she work with him if BAE Day wasn’t real. She’d crossed a line. She loved him. She couldn’t downgrade to mere colleagues. It was impossible.