Just Me

by Graysen Morgen

  The next morning, Trina set the small desk up with the laptop and file disks. She added a pen and a small note pad to the arrangement and went to work reading through the files one at a time and comparing them to the records.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ian went into the office as usual, she sat behind the large desk and pulled up the accounts in question. With a small sigh she stretched her neck and wiggled out of her light gray suit jacket. She hung the jacket on the back of her chair and straightened the long sleeves on the black silk blouse that she was wearing. A loud knock on the door grabbed her attention quickly. God your jumpy Wiley, calm down! She closed the window on the computer screen.

  “Come in.” As soon as the door opened she smelled his musky cologne before she saw his brown hair. He was chewing on the corner of his thick mustache as always. His black suit was wrinkled, the obnoxious red and yellow stripped tie stuck out against his white shirt. “What can I do for you Frasier?”

  “I need some paperwork signed for the locomotive department. I’m trying to get to the bottom of these missing deals and I need to check some of the bank records to make sure we don’t show deposits or worse, withdrawals, during the dates of these accounts.” He walked over to the desk and slid the bank paperwork over to her. She picked the four pages up and read through them.

  “That won't be necessary Mr. Higginbotham, I’ve already taken care of that. I already know that we didn’t have any bank transactions on those dates.” If someone stole the money or sold the account off it didn’t go through our bank at all. Whoever is behind this isn’t that stupid, but I do find it curious that you’re determined to help me, I thought you hated me you rat bastard. “I’ll hold onto these though, in case I do wind up needing this information. Thanks.” She slid the papers into her desk drawer and watched as the color drained from his face. He nodded and asked how far she had gotten to find out about the deals. She told him she was no further than a few weeks ago when she first found out about it. He assured that he’d do his best to help find out the problem. As soon as he left the room she brought the account screen back up and dialed the number to the Amtrak Corporation.

  Half a dozen phone calls later she finally got a hold of the buyer for Amtrak, all he could tell her was the file was set up to be contracted out to Wiley Steel, a bid was made and then retracted by Wiley Steel, therefore the deal went to another company. He was unauthorized to give her the name of the company that received the contract. She slammed the phone down in aggravation, then picked it up again and dialed the number that they had on file with CSX. Unfortunately, the buyer for that company that handled the locomotive contracts was on vacation and no one in the office could help her. Ian sat back in her chair, she couldn’t get one picture out of her mind, it wasn’t haunting, more uplifting than anything, every couple of days when she least expected it she’d see the beautiful brunette smiling at her. Cassidy, Cassidy Harland. Completely off limits to me, but I can’t help thinking about her. I thank god everyday that she’s the one that got away. She blinked the picture away and dialed a number that was scribbled on a piece of paper in her briefcase.

  “Hello?” Trina ran over to the phone.

  “Hi Miss Sylvan, this is Ian Wiley.”

  “Oh hello Miss Wiley, what can I do for you?” Talking to the woman made her nervous, so nervous in fact she thought she needed a drink every time she had anything to do with the woman. God Cass would kill me if she knew I was here doing this, talking to her and meeting with her, hell I’m auditing her records too. What the hell have I gotten myself into?

  “I’m just calling to see how things are going with the files, is everything working okay?” You could tell me where I know you from, god I hope I didn’t go to bed with you and don’t remember…oh god, maybe that’s why you’re so freaked out around me. Great Wiley!

  “Yes ma’am, everything is going fine, I’ve only been through a few of the files though, this is going to take a few more days, there’s a lot of information to match up.”

  “Yes, like I said, I’ve been staring at this hodgepodge for a few weeks now. I guess I’m looking in a haystack for a miracle, not a needle.”

  “Well I assure you Miss Wiley, if there’s one to be found, I will find it.” She tried to cover her discomfort.

  “Okay then, I’ll call you in a few days to check up, please feel free to call me if you need anything else.” Ian hung up the phone and decided to call it a day.

  ~ ~ ~

  As soon as Trina hung up the hotel phone her cell rang. God does it ever end? She ran across the room and picked it up.

  “Hello?” She answered without checking the caller ID.

  “Hey, it’s ladies night where the hell are you?” The spunky voice was loud, as usual.

  “Hey Wendi, I’m working out of town. I got here yesterday.” She sounded tired.

  “Where’s here? Where the hell are you, I thought you didn’t have to travel much anymore?” Wendi sounded a little pissed that she was deserted on their bar night, but she understood ‘the job’.

  “I’m in Aspen. I really don’t travel much, I only handle the major accounts and this one is private and very major so my boss sent me to take care of it here instead of my office. I only get in this deep a few times a year, most of my auditing I can do from my office.”

  “What company is it this time?”

  Shit. “I can’t tell you that, you know it’s confidential.” She sighed.

  “Aspen, hmm…I’m sure I can think of a few big companies in that area, but only one major comes to mind, one that may be having a small internal problem if I do recall.” She took a breath. “When are you going to tell Cass that you’re auditing her?”

  “God damn it Wendi keep your mouth shut, I could not only lose my job, but get sued if it got out. Please, for me, please don’t say anything.”

  “I’m not going to say anything, Trina she deserves to know, she’s your best friend damn it.”

  “I know, trust me, I know. It’s tearing me apart and that Wiley woman scares the shit out of me.”

  “Oh my god! You are not working with…what’s her name…uh…”

  “Ian…Ian Wiley.”

  “Yeah that’s her, you’re working with her personally?!”

  “Have to, it’s her company.” This is just great Katrina, you let the neighborhood cat find out you had a mouse, the entire world is going to know by sun up. You should just tell her, at least do it before motor mouth!

  “Wow, this is big huh?”

  “Yeah she seems to think it is, but I haven’t seen anything yet. I’ll be here a few more days though.”

  “At least tell me, does it involve Cass? I mean personally?” Please say no, please say no.

  “No…”

  “Thank god!”

  “Well, I’m auditing the entire company, that means her records and accounts are included.”

  “She’s so straight laced, she’d never do anything wrong.”

  “I know, like I said, I haven’t seen anything so far.”

  “I promise not to say anything to her, but so help me if you don’t and she finds out about this, she will never forgive you.”

  “I know.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “Good morning, young Wiley. Can I get you anything?” He smiled at the young woman. He had seen her sneaking out to the bar still at least twice a week, but she wasn’t staying out all night, and she wasn’t coming back drunk. Most importantly, she wasn’t drinking herself to death at night in her room. Baby steps. He told himself.

  “I’ll have a Mimosa and a piece of cinnamon toast.” She yawned as she sat patiently. Giles, dressed habitually in his ‘English Butler’ looking outfit, consisting of a black tuxedo with a vest, an ascot, and a jacket with tails, returned to the table with a large glass of chocolate milk and a plate of blueberry waffles. Ian held in her ear to ear grin and began devouring her wonderful breakfast.

  Giles stood in the kitchen and watched her eat. One thing I can say, th
at kid can eat. She was always such a good child. Leland, you and Lorraine would be so proud of her.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ian was sitting at her desk staring at the computer screen as usual, a hundred different scenarios running though her blond head. Her cell phone rang in the clip on her belt.

  “Ian Wiley.”

  “Hi Miss Wiley, I’m sorry to bother you so early…”

  “Nonsense Miss Sylvan, I’m in the office everyday at eight, what can I do for you?”

  “I’m missing a production file from a little over a year ago. I’ve found everything around it, but this one looks like it was missed when you made the copies. Also, can you check on the status of two possible deals that went on during that time?”

  “Sure, tell me exactly what you need and I’ll drive over there myself. I can’t trust the buffoons I have working for me right now.”

  An already shaky voice turned to trembling at the point. Trina tried desperately to covey all of the information that she still needed. Ian could still hear the tremors in her voice. Why is she so scared of me? So we slept together, I’m not into rough sex so I know that’s not it, maybe she was expecting more? All I know is I need to straighten this out between me and her, I like being intimidating, but I’m afraid she might pee her pants or something around me, she looks that scared!

  ~ ~ ~

  Giles drove the car and Ian sat in the back punching the keys on her laptop. Two and a half hours later they arrived in front of the Wiley Steel Corporation. She smiled when she saw the statue of her great grandfather.

  Ian straightened her black pants and jacket before she walked in. She waved at the receptionist that looked like she was going to faint, then proceeded down the hall. The joint secretary appeared dumbfounded. Apparently, it was a little odd for Ian to show up unannounced. As soon as she knocked on the door the familiar voice called out to her. As the door opened Ian stepped inside, she saw Cassidy standing in front of the large brown desk, Richard Masters sat behind the desk. He almost fell out of his chair as he rapidly stood up.

  “Miss Wiley…good morning…what can I do for you?” He practically ran Cassidy over to get to Ian with his hand extended. Ian shook back and smiled behind him towards Cassidy.

  “I’m actually glad to catch you both, it seems as if I didn’t get all of the information when I was here last.” She squared her shoulders and closed the door. He waved her to the chair behind his desk, she obliged and sat down, Rich and Cassidy sat across from her. “I missed a production file from a year and a half ago, and I need some clarification on two particular smaller deals that were supposed to go through a year ago.”

  She pulled the papers out of her briefcase listing the exact information that she needed. Cassidy fidgeted in her chair wishing she’d kept her suit jacket on, she felt very unprofessional sitting with them since they were fully dressed. She sat in her black suit pants and pale green blouse. When Ian reached out to hand the paperwork to her she saw the light blue sleeve of Ian's shirt stick out past her jacket sleeve. She couldn’t help noticing the silver cufflinks on the shirt. In the back of her mind she figured those cufflinks probably cost as much as the limit on one of her credit cards, she chastised herself for losing track of the conversation.

  “So, if you two could get this together for me as quickly as possible that would be great, I need to drive back for a meeting this afternoon.” She stood up and motioned for Rich to take his desk back.

  “Miss Harland, I’d like to tag along with you for a little bit if you don’t mind. I don’t get to talk to you as much as I do the other directors.” She watched Cassidy’s gray eyes turn the lightest shade of blue, she was certain she could feel the heat radiating from the other woman.

  Great, she wants to follow me around, ugh! As if I haven’t had a hard enough time trying to get past having a casual dinner with you. You’re my god damn boss for crying out loud! And I’m completely lost when I look into those gorgeous sapphire blue eyes. “Sure Miss Wiley, my office is right next door here.” Ian smiled and followed Cassidy out of the room. When they stepped into her office Cassidy went to offer her desk chair just as Rich had done earlier, but Ian refused, stating Cassidy would need it since she was supposed to work on the missing deals and records.

  “I’m sorry Cassidy, I don’t mean to make you nervous. This isn’t exactly easy for me either, just so you know.” Ian sat in the chair by the door and watched in awe as Cassidy ran a nervous hand through her shoulder length black hair.

  “I’m trying not to be, I mean it’s hard, you’re you and I’m…well I’m your employee.” This is beyond weird…what the hell am I suppose to do? “I sincerely hope you find out what’s going with these deals, personally I’m not happy about being partially blamed for it.” There, I said it, I can talk business with her whether she likes it or not, we’re sitting in my office for god’s sake!

  “I never doubted your work Cassidy, I know you aren’t involved.”

  “Is it really more than a bad bid?” She questioned, hoping she was wrong. The company had always been so family driven, she never thought anyone at Wiley Steel could be corrupt.

  “I’m not at liberty to say anything about it at this time, when I have all of the facts everyone will know about it. Right now, all I can say is, so far, I haven’t seen any problems with your department. You shouldn’t worry so much.” Her smile flattened. “Unless you have something you want to tell me?” Cassidy's gray eyes looked like she was being scolded like a child.

  “No...of course not…I’d never…” Ian stood up and smiled again. Her blue eyes sparkled.

  “It’s okay, I’m only giving you a hard time Cassidy, like I said, I know you’re not involved.” She walked over behind the desk next to her. “So, show me what it is that you do, I mean, I know what you do, but I’d like to hear it in your prospective.”

  “Uh…” I don’t think I could do anything with you standing that close to me, my god I’m liable to spontaneously combust from the heat between my legs and the pounding in my chest. “Well, as soon as a deal goes through Rich and I receive emails regarding the time and date deadlines, and the specifics of the project. He meets with the Production Manager to come up with the best plan of action. In the meantime I’m already checking routes, freight costs, fuel surcharges, and so on. Then, Rich and I meet to compare notes and give the department director a more realistic and legitimate date time for completion. Basically, as you know, my job is to make sure the parts or machinery make it to the correct location on time, preferably early, and by using the lowest cost to get it there.” The corners of her mouth turned up into a semi-smile. Ian nodded in agreement.

  “Thank you. Now, I’d like to know more about you, but only if you will accompany me to lunch.” She cocked her head to the side and waited for the answer. Cassidy restlessly tapped her pen against he keyboard. Aww, she’s so damn nervous around me, it’s too cute. What the hell am I saying? What am I doing? She’s an employee Wiley, don’t do this…

  “Yes Miss Wiley, I would be delighted to have lunch with you.” She used her best ‘you’re the boss and I’m the employee so I had better go’ voice.

  “Great, I’ll call for my car, will you be ready in ten minutes?” Ian contemplated asking Rich to lunch as well, how would this look?

  “Yes ma’am.” When Cassidy walked out to the waiting car she saw Rich talking to Ian. The man standing by the open rear door looked like a servant from an English Channel movie. She snickered under her breath.

  “Ah, there you are. Giles, this is Cassidy Harland, she’s the Logistics Director. Miss Harland, this is Giles Fontaine, my Butler.” The Englishman smiled thinly and spoke with a pristine accent.

  Ian slid into the back seat next to Cassidy and Rich rode up front with Giles.

  “I know you two are very busy today, especially since I will need to be heading back soon with that new information that I asked for, but I wanted to thank you both for not only doing this for me, but doing it very discreetly
. I appreciate honest, diligent employees.”

  “Thank you Miss Wiley, I’m sure Miss Harland and I are in agreement when I say that I enjoy working for Wiley Steel, the family environment sets a very eminent gesture to the rest of the corporate world.”

  “Yes, I agree with you Rich.” Cassidy butted in. She could feel the heat pouring from the woman next to her, even though they weren’t touching, she could swear they were.

  “So Cassidy, how long have you been with Wiley Steel? Forgive my ignorance, I know I can find out anything about any of you if I go to Human Resources Manager in my office, but I like to personally know the five main people that help keep this corporation going, that being my five directors.” She looked over at Cassidy and smiled openly, unaware of Giles watching contently in the rearview mirror.

  “Well, I’ve been with the company a little over three years, I’ve been the Director of Logistics for close to two years now.”

  “Where did you go to college?”

  “University of Colorado. You?”

  “I went to Colorado State.” She smiled sheepishly. “Rich, I believe you went to U.C. didn’t you?”

  “Yes ma’am, but I graduated many, many moons ago.” He laughed.

  ~ ~ ~

  After an hour long lunch at one of the finest restaurants in Grand Junction, they all returned to the plant. Ian spent most of the lunch talking business with the two of them, going over various deal scenarios. In the back of her mind she was taking notes, trying to figure just how those majors deals never made it to production. If they had, there was no obvious way that these two wouldn’t follow through and complete them. Ian let Rich and Cassidy go back to work, she explained that she needed to run an errand and would return in a few hours for the documents, just in time to get on the road before the afternoon traffic. At that rate, she’d be back in Aspen in time to meet with the auditor. As the car drove off Giles sensed the secluded blond needed to talk. He noticed her talking on her cell phone before he could speak to her.