Rooms - James L. Rubart [105]
Before leaving Cannon Beach, he and the voice had formed their proposal. Although the players had changed, they reasoned that the basic direction of the company probably hadn’t. Micah would use this inside knowledge to impress Shannon and present the reasons he should get a shot at a vice presidency.
“Micah!” Shannon walked up and grasped both his hands. “Great to have you back. Let’s catch up.”
He walked into what used to be his office and tried not to cringe. It definitely had been given a woman’s touch. He sat in a taupe-colored leather chair in front of a coffee table that displayed two ornate miniature fountains. They circulated water over tiny river rocks in a never-ending cycle.
“All right!” Shannon clapped her hands three times. “We’ll talk business in a minute, but first you’ve got to tell me. Europe was wonderful, wasn’t it? You loved Spain, I know you did. I hope you went to Gaudi’s Cathedral. You promised you would. By the way, I applaud you for not calling in for the entire three weeks. I bet my husband you’d call. You cost me five hundred dollars.” She laughed.
As she talked, anxiety grabbed Micah’s stomach. Europe? Three weeks? He started to protest when shards of memories streaked through his mind. He saw himself standing in front of Gaudi’s Cathedral, then on the shores of Saint-Tropez, and after that Ibiza. The Eiffel Tower blazed into his mind and then a small village, where he sipped wine with a man and woman he didn’t recognize.
“I’ve been on vacation in Europe for the past three weeks.” Micah stared at her, his lips slightly parted.
“Well, I sure hope so.”
“No, I remember. I mean, yes. It was a great time. Really.”
“Dealing with a little jet lag?” Shannon frowned.
“Probably.”
“Well, I didn’t even expect you today. Flying in last night and setting up a time to see me? No one can say you don’t feel the need to succeed.”
“I think there’s more I can offer this company.”
“Really? More than you’ve already done?” Shannon leaned forward and folded her hands across her knees. “I’m all ears.”
Micah clipped through his proposal. Not so fast she would miss any of the nuances, but not so slowly her mind could wander.
When he finished, Shannon unfolded her hands and leaned even further forward. “Excellent.”
“If you give me the freedom to implement these ideas and they work—”
“Knowing you, I have little doubt they will.”
“Thanks. I’d just like to put a little carrot out there for myself.”
“Carrot?”
“An incentive plan. When these projects succeed, I want a promotion to vice president and be vested in fifty thousand shares of stock immediately.”
She stared at him, giving no clue whether he’d pushed too hard. A wisp of what Micah interpreted as concern passed over her face as she brought steepled hands to her lips.
“This is European humor, right?”
He’d gone too far. “No, I just think—”
“Micah.” She glanced at the walls, as if she was worried they might hear. “You’ve been a vice president at RimSoft for a year and a half. You’re vested in more shares than anyone but me. On the last report I saw, you have acquired at least three hundred and eighty thousand shares. But if another fifty thousand will make you happier, I’ll get them for you. Certainly.”
Three hundred and eighty thousand shares? And RimSoft? Not RimWare. Yes! He swallowed and tried to keep the rush of victory from taking over his face.
“But I have to say at this stage of the game, I didn’t think it was about the money for you. More the thrill of the kill, you know?” Shannon got up and walked over to her desk, her back to him. “You’ve got a little over $36 million in your portfolio. You want to explain why you think another $4 million will dot the i’s and cross the t’s in your life?”
She turned, arms folded tightly across her chest. “You and I have always played it straight. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t go to Europe and somehow decide drugs is your new thrill-park playground.”
Drops of perspiration beaded on his forehead. He couldn’t lose it now. Stay calm. Hold it together.
“No. I’m fine.