Chapter 16

“Argh!” I growled as I threw myself back into my seat at my desk.

“What happened?” Cleo asked.

“He’s infuriating!” I snapped.

Cleo laughed, “I’ve never seen anyone get under your skin like this before.”

“Did he tell you why he pulled you from the account?” Prue asked.

“No, only he has plans for me. Wouldn’t say anything else other than that.” I grunted. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

I opened my emails and worked through outstanding queries. I sent over everything I had to Prue and Cleo. I also made the call to Dan to explain that Prue and Cleo would be the front facing contacts on the account. I was there if he needed it but was required on another project. Dan, as expected, was alright with it all. He knew that I was only a phone call away should he need me.

“Are you coming?” Prue asked as they finished up to head home.

“I’ve got a few notes to pull together to send you for the meeting tomorrow. I’ll head home after that.”

“Don’t stay too long.” Cleo said.

I was finishing up a zip folder with everything in for them when Damian appeared from the office. He came over and leaned against my desk.

“Do you have a moment for a chat?” His voice was completely different.

It was like dealing with two different people.

“Fine.” My tone was immediately harsh.

He stood and headed back to his office. I followed; there were still a couple of people left in the main office, so once again he asked me to close the door behind me.

“Firstly, I would like to apologise for my behaviour earlier. I was in the wrong.”

I was shocked by what I was hearing. My frustration dissipated.

“I do have other plans for you. I would like you to help me with a project that I have been tasked with. It requires some skills that I believe you possess and will be best suited to assist with. In doing so, this will also mean it could open potential future options in your career for you. Everyone I have spoken with only has good things to say about you. Everyone has raved about your talent and how much of a quick learner you are. I can see, in the very short time I have been here, that to a degree, your talents are wasted. You could be doing a lot more than what you are.”

I struggled to understand the compliment. Or at least that’s how I took it.

“If you will allow me, I would like you to be a project manager with me on project Orion.”

“What is it?” I managed to stumble the words out.

“I have been tasked with looking at our spendature, the usage, and allocation of our assets. With this, there is a new application that we are looking to install to automate a lot of what we do here on site. However, to get to the stage we need to be at, I need someone who can assist me in gathering the data and producing the spreadsheets required. This is where I think you will be an asset.”

“So, I will be collecting data and creating spreadsheets?”

“That is an oversimplification of what I am looking for, but yes. I want you to test everything we create, help me, and stand beside me, at board meetings with the directors. Giving updates, giving figures, giving feedback, and test results. I want you to run the project with my help and input.”

“You really think that I am the best person for this?”

“Yes, however, I understand that taking away the massive win on your account from you may have upset you. If that Is what you would like to see through, then I understand and I will choose someone else for the project.”

I was being dangled a carrot, this was my opportunity to take it or leave it.

“Yes, I would like to work on the project.” I answered nervously. “I’ve never done project management before though.”

“That is what I am here for. It does mean that we will be spending a lot of time together on this project. So, again, I must apologise if I gave you a bad first impression.”

I shook it off and agreed. I couldn’t believe this opportunity was there. He offered me his hand and I shook it. His grip was strong, but the touch was light at the same time. It sent a wave of electricity through me. After the shake, he held my hand a little longer than normal. Our eyes met and there was a strange feeling between us. I quickly shook my head, retracted my hand, and rushed back to my desk.