Chapter 17
Ethan
The next few days, I repeatedly try to speak to Bonnie and fail.
I understand why she would be hurt over my admission. My gut twists when I remember the look on her face as she struggled not to cry.
But I still need to get her ready for the L.A. expo. I know she’s adapted the program for VR and made some changes in the Dreadlite program in a way that will make it incompatible with their system in L.A.
I send her screen messages and emails, which have remained unread. She changed her calendar settings, so no slot is bookable without her permission. I could override this, but I don’t. I don’t go to her office. I’m hardly on the tech floor, so going there is likely to draw attention. She doesn’t work late anymore, a change I’m sure she made to avoid running into me after hours.
Two days before she’s due to leave, I still haven't reached her. I have no choice but to pull her personal phone number from her file.
Me: It's Ethan. I need to talk to you about that program you’re taking to L.A.
Bonnie: Stalkerish much?
Me: It’s crucial that I see that version you’ve got.
Bonnie: What, so you can sabotage it to make sure I fail and you can say you were right? No way.
Me: Quite the opposite. I’m trying to help you. That version you have will not work in L.A. I know you’ve upgraded it, but I need to rewrite it. I’m here in the office. Send it or bring it over, and I’ll rewrite it to make it compatible for the LA team’s VR settings.
Bonnie: And you think I can’t do that? If that’s your only reason to hound me, you’ll need to try harder.
Christ, this woman is stubborn.
Me: Bonnie, I’m being serious. This is the last time I’ll offer.
Bonnie: So am I. And it's Ms. Russo to you.
I laugh out loud at how ridiculous she’s acting. Fucking petulant child. God, I’d love to spank her silly.
Me: Stop acting like a child and let me help you.
Bonnie: Don’t do me any favors. I can write another one if I need it. A better one.
Me: Bonnie…
Bonnie: I’m blocking you rn. If you need to contact me, use the proper channels.
And she actually blocks me. I decide that's the final straw and I let her be. After all, she’s right; she’s got Jordan, who is her line manager. I hope for her sake that he and Sajid can sort her out.
I’m in the middle of a conference call on the following Monday afternoon when Jordan bursts into my office. I excuse myself, mute the audio, and turn off my camera.
“What the hell, man?”
“Bonnie’s run into a little problem in L.A.”
Tonight is the expo conference.
“Okay?” I school my features carefully. “What does she need?”
“Somehow, the program she took there won't work with their software. I guess she’s tweaked a few things here and there.”
My fist curls. Stubborn, harebrained woman. She didn't just tweak it, she changed the program entirely.
“Okay?” I say again, hoping Jordan isn’t going where I think he’s going. “Have Sajid write her a new one.”
“He’s sick.”
“Okay?”
“Stop saying okay, and get your ass to L.A! Respectfully, of course.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ethan, my man.” Oh yeah, he’s groveling now. “We can’t take the risk of rewriting it and sending it to her. We need someone experienced down there to ensure any further glitches can be corrected."
I remain silent.
“You were right, she’s too green for this. I feel bad I left her to do most things on her own because she’s so confident and capable. A junior partner or Sajid should have gone with her. Instead, she left with a bunch of interns and a few other staff trainees she’s currently mentoring.
“So, I’ll put my hand up and admit I messed up,” Jordan continues. “I’m just asking you to help me make this right. You’re the only one who can right now. She's by herself there, trying to put on a brave face but she's scared.”
Bonnie is scared. Fuck. That gets me.
I check the time. It’s almost 4 p.m. “What time does it start?”
Jordan visibly sags in relief. “It starts at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Factor in a 6 hour-flight with the three-hour time difference, there just might be enough time to get in before Bonnie presents.”
“Barely.” But I’ve got a few hours to work on it while airborne so it might work
“I’ll tell them to schedule Bonnie for as late as they can,” Jordan says.
“This is fucked up, you know. I told that woman…”
“I know, man, and to her credit, she confessed that you warned her but she didn’t listen.”
“And what do you call that for an employee?” I ask.
“Whatever, boss, we’ll deal with it when you get back. Now, do you want me to finish here? Anything complex?” He nods to the computer in front of me, referring to the conference call.
“No, it’s just the tech team in Boston,” I respond, but my brain is still occupied with how I can fix this.
“Okay, I shouldn’t fumble it too much then.” Jordan says, already coming to sit at my desk. He's careful not to touch anything.
“Get the jet ready.” I take a deep breath, then move towards my office closet. I need to change into comfortable clothes if I’ll be airborne for the next few hours.
“It’s prepped and ready, bro. Danny’s also managed to secure your usual room at the Rivoire and your access card is reset already.”
As a habit, there are specific hotels I like to stay in when I go to certain cities, like the Rivoire in LA. Once given the heads up, the management makes a room available and activates my access card to work automatically.
Jordan had put all the wheels in motion, and I was the last piece of the puzzle, a forgone conclusion as it were.
“I see. Fuck you very much.”
“I knew we could count on you. And don't be too hard on Bonnie. She’s kicking herself already.”
I scoff. I bet she is, but the moment she sees me, she’ll start running her mouth again. I’m sure of it.