Closed Doors

by Nancy Radke

  Coward! He could have come out and helped, Ellen thought, feeling deserted; then remembered that Donna's work was a mystery to him, also. He probably thought Ellen could handle it, not realizing she felt like a Christian at the Inquisition. After all, she could read, so everything should be easy for her, right? Well, she'd soon dispel that notion.

  "This software is a snap to run," Donna said, motioning Ellen over to a screen filled with information. "This is our bookkeeping system." She flipped through that rapidly, losing Ellen on the first page, then blithely ran through the payroll information. In between, Donna answered the phone, directed a messenger, looked up some information on a spreadsheet, faxed some photos to an owner, and relayed some details to a worker— all without the slightest hesitation.

  This was not going to work, Ellen realized. It just was not going to work. Her mind had already overloaded on information, and refused to assimilate any more.

  Donna did not have the ability to teach what she knew. Although totally knowledgeable about the office, not once had she checked to see if Ellen understood what she was doing. She moved the little cursor arrow so swiftly across the screen that Ellen had no chance to see where it went, much less grasp what was happening.

  Finished with her attempt to explain the payroll, Donna turned to Ellen. "All our computers are linked together. You know how to run a network, of course."

  "No."

  "Well, that isn't too hard to learn."

  Ellen had used computers at libraries to access information, but otherwise avoided them. She might as well admit her ignorance. "I've never worked with computers... much," she said. "You'll have to show me how to start it up."

  “What?” Donna looked incredulous. "Everything is done on computers here. Everything. We keep track of each step of production on the computer. If you can't handle one, I'm afraid we can't—"

  A young man burst through the back door, visibly upset. "I need to see Jared," he said, his eyes immediately caught by Ellen's presence. He nodded, his gaze sweeping over her, and she nodded back while Donna switched on the intercom.

  Jared answered her call and came out.

  "Ah, yes. Ellen, this is Larry Senate, our production manager. Larry, Ellen Craig. Our new office manager."

  "Hello," Larry said, smiling pleasantly, his light gray eyes again doing a full sweep of Ellen's figure. He was short and slim, with dark, slightly wild hair. "We were wondering who was taking Donna's place. You new in the area?"

  "No. I grew up here."

  "Nice to have you aboard." He looked ready to continue the conversation, but Jared pointed questioningly to the papers in the man's hand.

  "Yeah, yeah. These costs are sky-high," Larry said, handing three papers to him. "Should we look for another supplier?"

  Ellen was already moving closer, her hands reaching for the papers. Her instinct was to step in, but she caught herself as Jared shot her a warning glance. She dropped her hands and stepped back. How would he handle this?

  "How much do they want?" he asked.

  Larry gave Jared a set of figures that did not mean anything to Ellen, but sounded quite exorbitant.

  Jared nodded, examining the papers thoughtfully. "First, tell me what you think. Is the company offering any extra features?"

  "No."

  "How about quality?"

  "I don't know. We've ordered their fittings before, but as far as our customers are concerned, they seem just as happy with Patten and Jones as with Ross."

  "Why don't you call them and ask for a justification of their price increase? If there doesn't seem to be one, place our next order with Patten and Jones."

  "Will do. Also, I need this purchase order signed."

  Jared signed the order and Larry left, satisfied.

  So that's how it was done. Jared leads, they follow—not realizing he depends upon them. Smooth, but it also made him vulnerable. If they told him only half the truth, or lied to him, he had no way of checking things out for himself.

  "Come in for a moment, Ellen," Jared said, and she went into his office, leaving Donna behind, staring at the two of them. He closed the door and asked, "How're you doing?"

  Her shoulders slumped as her head lowered slightly. The stare she gave him spoke eloquently. "You really want to know?"

  "That bad?"

  "Yes. I'm scared to death of doing payroll, I don't understand the bookkeeping system, and you're going to learn to read a lot faster than I'll ever learn my way around. Donna already has serious doubts about me. You can't say I didn't warn you."

  He looked bewildered. "I thought you could do anything you put your mind to."

  His comment brought a wry smile to her lips. "Ah, but that's the trick. You don't type with your mind. I'm still at the hunt and peck stage. And I never was all that great with math; the payroll has me petrified. I'll probably overpay everyone and the company will go under in a week."

  He took her hand, as if the contact would give her strength. Surprisingly, it did. A little... but it also sent her heart racing. Major, World Cup racing, as if his presence alone could send her sailing across the waves, ready to battle the fiercest elements. But emotion had little to do with actual performance if the skills were lacking. Being ready to sail did not translate into ability. She shipwrecked quickly.

  "I’ll switch to a full time accountant. We need one anyway. Any other problems?"

  "Yes. The biggest. Your entire office uses computers... and that's something else I know absolutely nothing about. I doubt I'll last half a day."

  A light squeeze accompanied his quiet laugh. "You worry too much. Remember who's the boss around here. I'm the one who hires and fires."

  "Yes, but—"

  "You look frazzled," he said, the humor in his voice telling her it did not upset him. "Don't worry. I'll hire someone from a temp agency if I have to, have her do the secretary-type work. Just as long as you're here to help."

  "You still want me?" The man must be braver than she thought. Didn't he realize the havoc she could wreck by just one computer key wrongly pressed? And if havoc was going to be done with a machine, she was just the one to do it.

  "Oh, yes. I'm looking forward to Donna leaving so I don't have to constantly play these word games. It takes so much time and effort getting information out of people. I'll be able to just ask you. That should more than make up for any slowness in your typing."

  "I've discovered typing's the least of my problems. I didn't realize the job was so varied. Donna runs this place."

  "I agree. Between her and Larry, I'm not really needed. My talent lies in decision making... and selling. I can talk people into buying a yacht bigger than they'd intended."

  Noticing the frown on her face, he quickly added, "I don't, of course, unless they can handle a yacht that size. I want my customers to buy within their pocketbooks and their ability. But it makes no sense for them to buy a sixty-foot yacht and then switch to a hundred-and-two-footer in less than a year."

  "I wish my ability was more in line with this job."

  "Donna does it. So can you."

  "Given time... like twenty years. Donna's going to kill me before the day’s out."

  He laughed. "Donna's got errands to run today. I'll give her the afternoon off to go do them. That should give you some breathing space."

  "Thanks. I think." How could she breath if she were drowning? At least Donna kept her afloat.

  He followed Ellen into the outer office, where Donna was busy on the computer.

  "Why don't you take the afternoon off? Ellen might get her bearings faster, just diving straight in."

  "What?" Donna frowned. "Jared, we need to talk. Privately."

  "Certainly." He gave Ellen a nod and ushered Donna into his office.

  Ellen sighed as she looked around the office with its photos of yachts and their interiors. She knew what Donna was going to talk about. A disaster with her name attached.

  She walked over and stared at the neatly organized desk. It wouldn't be a
bad job—if she had some skills.

  She could probably learn enough to survive. After all, it was just a temporary job until Jared learned to read. Then he would no longer need her. The thought did nothing to ease her mind.

  The phone rang and Ellen picked it up. "Seward Boats."

  "May I speak with Jared?" The woman's voice was low and breathy, and Ellen stared at the array of buttons on the console. Did she just push them down?

  "May I ask who's calling?" she said.

  "Bunny. What's his week look like?"

  "Pardon?"

  "Look in his appointment book and see if there's a few moments for us." The caller's voice lost some of its breathiness as she became irritated.

  Appointment book. Ellen searched the desk top, aware of the woman's impatience. It had to be here somewhere.

  "Well?"

  Ellen finally grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper. "I don't see anything open at the moment. Why don't you leave your number and I'll have him call?"

  "Why don't you just put me through?" All breathiness was gone in that statement, and Ellen smiled in spite of herself.

  "Of course." She punched the button with Jared’s name next to it, heard him answer, then hung up. Bunny? Was that a real name or an affectation like her speech? She wondered if Jared had ever heard Bunny without her sexy voice.

  Ellen had not considered the fact that Jared might have a woman he was interested in. He had acted free of all entanglements, and she had responded, knowing he wasn't married. He certainly had not had time to date anyone in the two weeks she had been with him. When the phone rang in his home, he let his answering machine pick it up.

  Once he could handle his life again, once he no longer needed her as a tutor, he would probably lose all contact with her. Students were rarely heard from after they moved on. They learned to read, they were grateful... then good-bye.

  She would begin her teaching job in the fall. She and Jared would go their different ways.

  She had better watch herself and not become emotionally involved any further. Her heart had done a major speed-up when Jared had squeezed her hand a few moments ago, when all he was trying to do was encourage her. Nothing more.

  The door to Jared's office opened, and Donna emerged, her feelings visibly ruffled. She shut the door firmly behind her, then strode over to Ellen and looked her up and down.

  "Well, I'm supposed to teach you what I can. I should warn you, this business is owned by Jared's brother, Richard. You won't pull the wool over his eyes."

  "Oh." Ellen's mouth dropped open. Did Donna think she was taking advantage of Jared's good nature, or that she was sleeping with him to get the job? Ellen wanted to protest, but had no defense to offer. She could not reveal the real reason Jared wanted her here.

  "Uh... I... I knew that. Uh... where is Jared's appointment book? Someone just called and I—"

  "In the computer. Does Mr. Steel know how little skills you have?"

  "Yes. I told him."

  "Then why not give it up while you're ahead? You won't last long. Not when Richard finds out the mess you'll make."

  Ellen would like to have melted under the desk and slid out of sight. Since that wasn't possible, she turned her hot face away from Donna's angry one and looked at the computer screen. It showed the letter Donna was writing, but nothing more.

  "In the calendar section," Donna snapped.

  "Where's that?" Ellen sat down in front of the computer, ready to place her fingers on the keyboard, when the screen suddenly went black. "I didn't touch a thing!" she yelped, hastily pulling her hands back. "What happened?" Machines refused to work for her, but this was ridiculous. Little pinpoints of light were moving outward on the screen, like tiny stars on a night sky.

  "That's the screen saver," Donna scoffed. "Don't you know anything?"

  "Not computers."

  "And Mr. Steel knows this?

  "Yes."

  "Humph!"

  Ellen cringed, quickly losing whatever confidence she had.

  "Go ahead and touch a key."

  Ellen tentatively touched the shift bar and was relieved to see the letter return. She hadn't lost anything... yet. "Now what?"

  "You could at least have taken a computer course before applying for this job. Or did you think no work would be necessary?"

  "I told Jared I wasn't very good, but he—"

  "I don't think he understood how close to zero you are."

  Jared opened his door at that moment and looked through. "I need to see you a minute, Ellen."

  Feeling reprieved, she relinquished the computer to Donna and hurried to him. At least he would understand.

  "You need to check my appointments when someone asks," he snapped as soon as she closed the door. "Bunny was upset I didn't have an opening for her."

  *11*

  "Bunny?" Ellen had been so distressed by Donna's accusations and so fearful over learning how to run the office in less than a week, that she had forgotten Jared’s call from the sexy-sounding lady. "Oh, that. I couldn't find your appointment book, so I told her you would call her back. I figured once I found it, I'd be able to schedule her."

  "I see. Well, I told Bunny I'd meet her for lunch at noon today. That should calm her down, but now I have two lunch dates because I have another with Pat at one-thirty. Get Donna to show you where my appointments are kept so it doesn't happen again."

  Ellen stared down at her intertwined fingers. He was much more concerned with Bunny's feelings than hers. When he kissed her in the sailboat, she had hoped she meant something to him. Someone special. But that was not true. She would have to make sure she didn't read more into Jared's actions than she should.

  If he felt any affection for her, it was only because he needed her. Or it was teacher love... like all her little boy students when they brought her valentines. He was just responding on an adult level.

  So much for Jared standing behind her. Between him and Donna, this was going to be the worst summer of her life.

  "Donna thinks you're doing fine," Jared said, relaxing back against the edge of his desk, the lie slipping easily from his tongue.

  Ellen shook her head, more than ready to correct him. "Oh, no. Donna thinks I'm no more an office manager than a goldfish. She thinks you should toss me back and try again."

  "You're right." He rubbed his forehead slowly with his left hand before adding, "I told her, that... that I didn't care. She was to teach you as much as she could before she left."

  Ellen could just imagine Jared saying that. She had run into several of his autocratic pronouncements herself. Without realizing it, he had just destroyed any working relationship she might have built with Donna.

  Ellen sighed, becoming even more discouraged. "No wonder she acted so hostile."

  "Hostile? Donna? Impossible."

  "She's protecting your company. She knows, rightly, that the longer I work here, the bigger mess I'll make. I’m sure she thinks I got this job because of assets other than that of office manager."

  "Why would she think that?"

  "We've been calling each other Jared and Ellen... and no brand new employee ever calls her boss by his first name on the first day, Mr. Steel. I think we blew it."

  He chuckled, low in his throat, his eyes sparkling. "That's to be seen. She's leaving next week, so even if she doesn't like teaching you, there's not much she can do about it."

  “She could tell your brother.”

  That sobered him. “She could, that. However... I don’t think she would want to worry him unnecessarily.”

  “Who says it would be unnecessary?”

  “First things first. We’ll worry about that if we need to. Donna won’t say anything, at least not right away.”

  "I just hate to get off on the wrong foot with anyone."

  He chuckled. "You want everybody to like you."

  "Don't you?"

  "Up to a point. I don't believe in letting people walk all over me, on the hope they might like me. At the same ti
me, I don't try to make enemies."

  "Neither do I."

  "Of course not; but you tend to let people impose on you. Like your family. You have a hard time saying 'No.'"

  "You mean I'm a soft touch."

  "No. You have a soft heart. There's a difference."

  "I’m not sure I understand." She turned towards the door. "But I'd better get back to work or Donna will be wondering what's going on in here."

  "Tell you what; I have a little time; I'll show you the rest of the operation before I leave. Come on." He stepped forward and opened the door, motioning her to proceed him.

  Ellen hesitated, wondering if she should spend every possible moment with Donna, but realized, as she followed Jared through to the front office, that his pull on her was already stronger than her sense of duty. She had taken this job for the opportunity to be with him, as much as to help him.

  "I'm showing Ellen around," he told Donna, whose face remained pinched with disapproval. "Hold my calls."

  He led Ellen through the back door, into a building so huge it stopped her completely. She threw her head back to better see the rafters high above them.

  "Wow." Three boats were lined up in various stages of construction, with one empty mold waiting to be used. "It's... big," she said, knowing the term was inadequate.

  "We can handle a yacht up to one hundred sixty feet."

  "Do you build all your ships in here?"

  "Yachts."

  "Huh?"

  "Not ships. Boats... or yachts." He emphasized the word. "We build yachts in here."

  "You love your sailboat so much, I'm surprised you aren't building them, too. Or are you?"

  "I'd like to, but sailboats are an East Coast specialty; people don't come to our area to buy one. We couldn't sell enough to make it worthwhile. We barely make a profit on these babies." He motioned toward the collection of boats in front of them.

  "You’re kidding, aren’t you? I thought there'd be a huge markup."

  "There probably would be, if competition wasn't so stiff. There are over fifteen yacht builders in the Pacific Northwest alone, and every one of them capable of producing a fine boat. Some can't handle yachts as large as these, but enough do that it keeps us all hopping to fill our schedules. The buyer benefits, because he can shop around. We benefit because it forces us to do things better."