Chapter 7 - Quinn
SEVEN - Quinn
My mind is in a frenzy when I climb into my car this morning.
I've only had a few sips of coffee, but it feels like I just downed the entire carafe before stepping out of my house, because I'm twitchy with anxiety as I step on the gas.
Thoughts of how things ended with Linda recently, and how my future will play out bounce off one another like bumper cars, and those thoughts crash against my concern about the Judge Knight breach and my work relationship with Jon.
I've got plenty to worry about as I pull into the Obsidian parking lot and find my way to the line of spaces with the nameplates. I park in the spot for the CSE, but if there was one for a nervous wreck, I’d fit right in there, too.
Inside, I find the same hustle and bustle that's always taking place.
Cell phones and landlines ringing constantly, people moving from place to place like they're in a rush to get anywhere but where they are, zombies sitting at their computers with steaming cups of coffee next to them as they stare at their screens, noses nearly touching the display. Obsidian is humming so loudly that you would never know the company is inching its way toward losing clients due to one breach, and that we’re on the verge of needing a hail mary just to keep the doors open.
Instead of staying on the path that leads through each section and ends at the executive wing, I take a detour today and stop in my old department to talk to Rob.
I nod at familiar faces as I make my way to his office in the back, and find him sitting with his feet on the desk and an Eagles travel mug firmly in hand, his black beard glistening from the oil treatment he must've applied this morning.
“I knew I would find you in here not doing a damn thing,” I joke as I walk in without stopping in the doorway. I sit down in his lone chair and try to make myself comfortable in it, but the wood is old and hard against my ass.
Rob takes an oversized hand and smooths out the top half of his navy blue button up.
“Man, it is too early in the morning to be in here stressing out.
I have people beneath me for a reason, and if I remember correctly, you used to do the same shit before you got elevated to God status by Jon.
Hell, you used to hack the system just to test the security protocols.
So, don't come in here hating when my coffee mug is still this full.”
“Shut your Oscar-the-Grouch-looking-ass up,” I joke.
“And don't worry about what I used to do. You know the old saying—do as I say, not as I do .. or as I used to do … or whatever. Worry about yourself.” Rob and I laugh before I sit up straight and get serious.
“But for real though, I meant what I said last night about keeping me in the loop on the breach.
As soon as you find something out, I need you to send it to me, and if the guys down here can't crack it, me and you might have to put our heads together and see what we can see. ”
Rob nods. “I got you. We’re just getting started. So far, all we know is that the hacker used a DAV on the server.”
“Yeah, I already figured that part out. I need to know how and then trace it to who. Have somebody dialed into IP addresses.”
“I already assigned somebody to that,” Rob says. “Stop stressing, man. I know how to do this shit, too. I’ll let you know when we’ve got something, or we can work together if you want faster results. For now, go to your new office and be a boss, all right? I got you.”
Nodding, I exhale to try and relieve some of the tension I feel tightening my muscles.
Rob is my best friend and I know he’ll take care of this for me.
I just don't want to let Olivia down, and I want to solve this riddle about the breach before anybody else can. Maybe I’m crazy, but I sort of want her to smile because of me.
I want her to know that I'm the one who took care of the situation when she needed it handled.
I don't even know why I feel this way, but I find comfort in knowing I can depend on Rob the same way Olivia can depend on me.
“All right, bro. I appreciate you,” I say, standing up and approaching the desk so I can dap him up.
“It’s all good, man. We’ll talk soon.”
“Cool.”
I leave Rob’s office feeling at least a little better about the situation at hand, and once I hit the pathway again, I'm focused on performing my new job.
I want to be impressive now that I'm up here, and I want Jon to know that I'm not some young asshole who didn't deserve the promotion.
I'm here because I'm great at what I do, and I'm going to prove it to everyone.
My confidence reaches its daily peak just as I pass through the double doors of the executive wing, and then comes face to face with its first test of the day as I bump right into Olivia.
My shoulder slams into hers and she nearly topples over.
I have to reach out and wrap my hands around her waist to keep her upright.
“Shit. I'm sorry. You okay?” I ask, still gripping her by the waist.
She turns to look at me, and her brown eyes cast a spell that makes me bite my lip just to keep myself composed.
We lock eyes, and they stay locked for far too long.
What is it about her gaze that makes me want to grip her even tighter?
Something in her calls out to the most devious parts of me, and I desperately want to answer.
“I'm fine,” she finally replies, pulling herself from my grasp so aggressively that I think I've offended her by touching her. I only did it to make sure she didn't fall, but Olivia looks pressed as a small trench forms between her brows.
“Sorry,” I quickly say again. “I didn't mean to grab you like that. Just didn't want you to topple over.”
“It’s fine, Quinn,” she snips, dusting off her button-up like I got it dirty. “Just get to work, please.”
I stand there with a dumb look on my face that can only be described as befuddled as Olivia side-eyes me before walking away.
She stomps down the path until she passes her assistant and disappears into her office, and I'm left wondering what happened to the good rapport we had the last time we spoke. I even made her smile, but now it’s all frowns and glowering for me.
While I stand frozen at the entrance to the executive wing, Jon steps out of his office wearing gray slacks and a tan button-up. I grimace when I see him, because how does he not know that those clothes don't match? He looks over at me, shaking his head.
“Colder than you thought she’d be, huh?” he says.
I roll my eyes and head for my office. “Don't start, man. It’s too early.”
When I reach my door, Jon steps over his threshold and meets me in the entrance “Hey, listen.
I think you and I may have gotten off on the wrong foot yesterday.
That meeting was tense, and you're being brought aboard at a time when the company is in rough seas.
It wasn't fair for me to expect you to understand the depths of the drama, and I may have come on a little strong. I apologize if you were offended.”
It takes a gargantuan amount of energy not to snap. I’m sleepy, worried about the company, and annoyed by how Olivia just treated me, and he just gave the lamest version of an apology. Apologizing if someone is offended, is not apologizing. It’s bullshit.
However, I know that Jon is trying to extend an olive branch, he just sucks at it.
I'm new up here and I’d be a lot better off if I didn't burn bridges I haven't even finished building yet.
I don't like him, and I'm sure he still doesn't like me—bullshit apology aside.
So, I'm going to keep my friends close and my enemies closer. Given the circumstances, it’s the smartest move to make.
“Yeah, I got you,” I reply after a sigh that gives away my true feelings. “Yesterday was tough, but it’s cool. I have a lot to learn.”
“You sure do,” he says, still full of arrogance. “This breach was a big deal, and I've got a feeling that even more could go wrong soon. I know Olivia is trying, but I’m not sure how we’ll fare under her leadership. Time will tell, I guess. But for now, are we cool?”
Now why would he say something like that? He has a feeling that even more could go wrong soon? What the hell does that mean?
Sidestepping his comment and storing it for future analysis, I slowly nod, just wanting the conversation to end. “Yeah, it's cool. All good.”
He lets out the fakest sigh of relief. “Good. All right, bro. We’ll talk soon. Kill it today.”
Before I can reply, he turns on his heel and walks away. Now I know it’s official … I can't stand that fucking guy.
When I step into my office, I find status reports already stacked on my desk in brown folders.
I’ll have to review them all and make sure security is up to par across the board, and add extra scrutiny since we’ve had a breach.
It’s going to be a busy day, and when I open my email I find ten messages pertaining to security threats.
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself, but then I get a new message. It pops up right at the top of the screen and I immediately recognize that it’s from Olivia. There is no subject, which I find odd, so I click it as fast as I can.
Quinn,
sorry about my response in the hall. That was awkward.
I just don't want anyone knowing that we’re working together on this, and I knew Jon was watching.
Thanks for making sure I didn't fall. What are your shoulders made of? Steel? I’m going to be sore for days.
Anyway, I look forward to working with you on the breach.
Wait until the building clears out after work, then come see me in my office to go over your progress for the day. Thanks.
-Olivia-
I smile much bigger than I should while reading an email from my boss.
So she was putting on a show? I can get down with that.
While Jon is running around thinking she's cold to everyone, she clearly has a warmer place for me, and I fucking love that.
I try to brush past the message and start doing my routine work, but now that I've heard from her, I can't keep my mind off of the end of the day.
So I type up a subtle response that will tell her how I feel without giving away the excitement rushing through my veins.
Looking forward to it.
-Q-