Rooms - James L. Rubart [59]
Unreal.
His eyes dropped to the brilliant light that streamed out from under the door—almost liquid. He stepped backward, bumped into the wall behind him, and slid slowly down it. He watched the light till sleep stole over him. When he woke, the light was gone, and he tried pushing on the door again. Unyielding, ordinary wood. And it still wouldn’t open.
||||||||
On Saturday Sarah and Micah drove south to Heceta Head Lighthouse, took pictures, toured the Sea Lion Caves, and munched on fish ’n’ chips at Mo’s chowder house. Sunday was a bike ride down to Oswald West State Park, dinner and laughter that night at the Fireside with Rick, where for dessert the three of them demolished a chocolate torte in less than two minutes.
That night Micah sat on his deck and watched the stars vanish behind a shroud of clouds rolling in off the ocean. He closed his eyes and smiled. Heavy like was over. He’d fallen in love with more than just Cannon Beach. Sarah had taken up residence deep in his heart.
RimSoft’s stock had risen two points over the past two weeks, and e-mails between Julie and him—while not exactly warm—were polite.
But an e-mail arrived Sunday night that promised all in Seattle was not well.
CHAPTER 24
Micah slammed the snooze button on his alarm Monday morning and groaned. Still nighttime! The e-mail from the night meant getting up at 4:30 so he could get to RimSoft in time for a 10:00 firing.
He showered with his eyes shut but was wide awake by the time he reached his office and growled at Shannon. “I should still be in Cannon Beach. Why do I do this to myself?”
“Good question, boss. They would have taken care of it for you.”
Micah shook his head. “With Federal Trade Commission on the attack? No, I need to do this. Make sure there are no mistakes.”
“He’ll be in your office in ten minutes.”
Micah made a half turn to walk toward his office, then spun back. “It’s the only solution, don’t you think?”
Shannon didn’t answer. Her expression said more clearly than words could that he was about to do something wrong.
“I need to make a quick phone call. Soon as I’m done you can send him in.” He walked into his office.
“Have fun letting him go,” Shannon said.
At 10:15 Micah walked out of his office behind the man he’d just fired. He stared at Shannon as he tried to push down the guilt that churned inside.
“How’d it go?” Shannon asked as soon as the man walked beyond earshot.
“Fine.” But Micah’s conscience screamed for attention. He kept telling himself it was just business, but his heart wouldn’t let him believe it. On his way to his condo that evening after work, he called Sarah.
“How’s Seattle?”
“Empty without you. I’m ready to come back.” Micah lowered his windows and let the soft coolness of a Seattle summer evening fill his car.
“And that will be?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. I’ve got two more meetings to slog through. Just thought I’d call and say hi.”
“Hi.”
They laughed softly.
“So anyone fascinating drop by today for a Double Fudge Rocky Road?”
“Actually a couple of movie stars came by.”
“Seriously?”
“No.”
“You are funny,” Micah said.
“I try not to bore you. Like your meetings. So any major moves in the world of software today?”
The firing flashed into his mind. “Well, not really, but since I’ve got you on the phone, let me run a hypothetical situation past you. To test your business acumen.”
“Ready.”
“You might have to fire a guy to solve some problems unrelated to him. Has to be done quick. It’s the only answer. But he does a pretty good job.” Micah pulled onto Denny Way and headed west.
“Pretty good?”
“Yeah, not great, not horrible. Let’s call him a B worker.”
“Is he dishonest? Reliable? Is his effort a B or his work a B?”
“No to your first question, yes to the second. Work is a B, effort an A.”
“So he’s honest, reliable, and hardworking.