Budget’s taken care of, email list ready to go, PowerPoint presentation in the works. There’s just one more thing to set this plan in motion.
Me:
How would you like an exclusive tour of Diamond Sky?
Tristan Cross:
What makes it exclusive?
Me:
Possible barrel tasting – you probably know we never do those
A tour of my family’s private cellar
Oh, and I’ll be the one leading it
Tristan Cross:
When is this happening?
Me:
Next Friday. Tour starts at eleven
Tristan Cross:
I’ll be there
I hover over Gavin’s name in my iMessage window. My phone is still off so I screenshot the conversation on my laptopand send it to him. I can explain the details later, but I don’t even want to be tempted to hide it.
Me:
I’ll explain my devious plan at lunch today, just wanted to loop you in
A message bubble pops up on the screen immediately, but to my surprise, it’s not a response from Gavin.
SLACK DIRECT MESSAGE
Daanesh Khan:
Good morning, Olivia. Do you have a minute to chat?
What the hell? Daanesh and I have definitely gotten friendlier over the last few weeks, but we’ve almost never interacted at work. He’s the CEO, and an engineer at that. He never has a reason to talk to me. This can’t be good.
Olivia Diamond:
Sure. Right now?
Daanesh Khan:
Yep. Meet me in conference room B
B? Shit. I’m pretty sure that’s the soundproof one.
“Hey, Daan,”I say, walking in. I was shooting for casual, but in the current setting it feels like a possible mistake. “What’s up?”
I take a seat across from him and try to decipher anything I can from his expression. He looks tired, a little sad maybe?
