Oh, La-la!

Chapter 3. Kayla

I really like working with Ash. Sure, he has his moments when he’s deep and brooding, but he’s easy to get along with and doesn’t waste time with inconsequential things. He works fast, though, and expects everyone to match his pace. Luckily for me, I’m an efficient worker and a quick learner, so I haven’t annoyed him with too many questions. Although, I have learned that if I do have a question, he’s the best person to ask. There’s no flowery language when he answers, just the facts, and he doesn’t try to talk down to me like I’m dumb just because I’m a younger woman.

The same cannot be said for everyone in the office.

Brett has made it to my permanent s**t-list. Any day I can avoid running into him is a good day. This morning, while I was making a tea, he decided to teach me how to use the coffee machine. I don’t drink coffee. Not that it matters, because he was showing me so that I’d be able to make him a cup. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. And if I were him, I’d be cautious of drinking anything a woman gave me, just like any woman should be cautious about anything he gives them. I shudder at the memory of his hand on my back. Not low enough that I could report him to human resources, but low enough to make me want to take a shower and scrub my skin raw.

Luckily, Ash is in the office today, so we’ll have lunch somewhere, and that makes it easier to avoid Brett. The days when Ash is here are my favorite. We go out to lunch and discuss everything from philosophy to science fiction, music and movies, even religion and politics. I think this is the first time I’ve had a friendship with a straight guy, and don’t have the urge to take it any further. It’s obvious he loves his fiancée, and it’s refreshing to see a man who doesn’t shy away from commitment and loyalty.

“Ash, I’ve got a question for you,” I smile at him as I interrupt his typing. He bangs a few more keys before turning his chair to face me.

“I’ve got an answer,” he smirks. “Might not be the right one, but I’ll give it to you anyway.”

I c**k an amused eyebrow at him. “The procedure for the invoicing? Why are you doing it the way you’ve documented?”

He narrows his eyes at me, and it’s almost as if I can read his thoughts. He doesn’t like to be second guessed. “Kayla, this is my role. Please don’t question my decisions.”

Now it was my turn to narrow my eyes at him. “Ash, darling,” I say in a saccharine voice, “don’t take that tone with me. My job is to keep you on task and on budget. I was just wondering why you decided to do it this way instead of following the procedural manual for the product.”

He blinks at me in stunned silence. “You read the procedural manual?”

“Skimmed it more like,” I shrug, fighting the old embarrassment of being the nerd. “It’s great for insomnia. But if I’m going to go to bat and defend you not following documented procedure, I’m going to need to know why.”

He studies me for a minute, the corners of his mouth twitching up in a small grin, while I try not to fidget. “The standard way of doing it doesn’t work with the client’s database,” he explains. “We needed to form a work around. It’s not elegant, but it’s the only thing we’ve tried that seems to be working.”

I tap my thumb to my fingers while I think about what he’s saying. “I’m assuming changing the database isn’t an option?”

“Um, no,” he says simply. “Even if it were possible, which it’s not, it would take way too much time. We’d probably push rolling out until next year at the soonest.”

“Well, damn, but ok,” my shoulders sag slightly. “I’ve got a meeting with Bill this afternoon, so just be prepared to get called in if he doesn’t believe me.”

“You bat those lashes at him and he’ll believe just about anything you tell him,” I stick my tongue out at him and he grins in response. “Besides, I’m fully booked this afternoon.”

I squint at him, taking in the bags under his eyes and his slightly yellow complexion. He looks way over worked. “What’s your availability this week?” I ask suddenly.

He sighs as he turns back to his computer and pulls up his calendar. I chew my lip as the screen is filled with colored squares. “Not great,” he admits. “Crap! Who scheduled that? Looks like I’m missing lunch today,” he says with a sigh.

“I’ll bring you something,” I say without hesitating. I really don’t like what I’m seeing, though. How is it possible to overbook someone? “This can’t be right. You’re at 120% allocation?”

“Yeah. Fun, huh?” he says it sarcastically, but it’s obvious he’s tired and burning out.

“No,” my temper is kicking in. I’m a little over protective of my friends, and I’m not about to let this slide if I can do something about it. “Email that to me and I’ll take it up with Bill. I’ve got you for 50% and I’m not relinquishing any of it. Someone else is going to have to step up.”

“It’s fine, I can cope for a bit of this,” he smiles over his shoulder at me. I stare at him, trying not to glare, but I want him to understand I’m serious. “Ok, fine,” he sighs, “I’ll send it to you. Look, I’m doing it now,” he says as he opens an email window and hits the send button. “Happy?”

“I’ll be happier when it doesn’t look like you’re about to pass out, but it’s a start.” I point to his screen, “And you’re late for a meeting.” I wink at him before heading back to my desk, preparing myself for battle with my boss. There’s no way that anyone should be that overbooked.