Page 45 of The Damaged Billionaire's Obsession
“Anyway, she’s been operating on the level of an associate for some time. She might as well get fully confirmed as an associate and have Dreadlite to cut her newly minted teeth on.” Jordan continues.
It’s not that I don’t think she’s capable. I know she is. But if she gets Dreadlite, I’m fucked. It means we’ll be working closely together.
I have no reason to deny her this project except the fact that it wouldn't be wise to be around her.
My life, and the lives of everyone I love, including possibly those in this room, depend on me having my shit together due to how dangerous what I do every night is.
Having Bonnie on Dreadlite is probably best for the company, but it could be suicide for me.
So, I choose what’s best for me: predictability, control, and keeping my demons contained.I dig in my heels.
“There’s just a few things to consider,” I begin. “Not the least of which is the fact that she’s just a few months in. There are others with more seniority compared to her. You can’t just hand her a token promotion to justify giving her something her seniors haven't had a chance to do.”
“Yes, and even those seniors have started getting her to solve their problems for them!” Mike interjects. “Do you know how many times I’ve caught her doing someone else’s job? How many interns she’s taken under her wing? Bonnie is a force you want to nurture rather than fight against.”
It’s still a no. “She’s not been here long enough to have loyalties to us. We expose her too soon to trade secrets, and we’ll have to watch her leave to go elsewhere.”
“Are you going to be unreasonable about this issue again? Ethan, why not her? Bonnie has proven more than capable, she’s brilliant, and solves problems even before they come up,” Jordan points out patiently, as if speaking to a bad-tempered child.
I could give a you lecture on how phenomenal she is jackass.
In the last month, the things I've discovered that Bonnie can do are alarming. And such a fucking turn-on.I rein in my thoughts.
“Jordan, why don’t you—” I start.
“Hell no! I’m not fucking doing it!" He explodes. "Not while I’ve got so much going on with Apex and in my personal life, not to mention there are two people we’ve hired who can stand in for me. Well, only one person I’d pick for this very project. Dreadlite is so well programmed that this is the best chance to get someone green on it. If you want someone’s loyalty, you need to show them you trust them back,” he argues.
He’s right, and so are Mike and Sajid. Bonnie is such a big character and so well-liked. Interns flock to her like chicks to a mother hen. But it takes at least six to twelve months for a newlaunch to settle. If she gets involved with Dreadlite now, she’ll be underfoot for a whole year.
I don’t see myself surviving that. Three months in, and I’m already a fucking basket case. And that’s with her being kept at arm's length.
I'm going to have to overturn the majority vote again. “It doesn’t feel right. I’m afraid it's a no.”
Exasperated sighs and curses burst out of the men in the room.
“Would you guys give us the room, please?” Jordan says to Mike and Sajid. “I need to speak to Ethan alone. I’ll update you later.”
Aww shit. Jordan is ruthless when he wants something. I might as well give up now because he won't stop pushing me until he draws blood. I debate telling him everything.
But I need to consider that Bonnie might not want Jordan to know her business.
They grudgingly leave, with Mike sending me the evil eye and Sajid not even sparing me a glance. As soon as they clear the room, Jordan drops into the seat next to me.
“Bro, what the fuck? You’re the most objective person I know, and I know you’re smart enough to recognize how much value this woman has brought in such a short time."
When I say nothing, he continues, “I see your training schedule. I see how you are with Owen. You hardly give Bonnie the time of the day, yet she shines through every challenge. You do realize that this woman is my wife’s friend? I can only think that this attitude of yours is personal,” he concludes.
You have no idea how much time of the day I give her.
“You said it yourself, Jordan. She’s great. She doesn’t need me to hold her hand the way Owen does.”
Jordan isn’t buying it. “Ethan, is this about the fucking garter?”
“What? Jesus, no.”This is way beyond the garter.
“Could this have anything to do with her education background?”
I latch onto the lifeline he’s unwittingly handed me.