Seeming to understand, he bobbed his head in agreement. “Tell me about this Marnie. What does she do?”
“Chief Operating Officer. My guess, she’s actually running the company and judging by how concerned she was about making things better for her sister, I think she may be holding back from taking over, based on some sort of hope Georgie will get better.”
“And Zoe?”
“Oh, she’s Marnie’s assistant. She is a real sweetie, Dad. You’d love her. She’s Marnie’s niece and she practically begged me to take the job.” She didn’t bother to share other details like how attractive she was or how flirty.
“Why do you think it was so important to her and the other woman?”
Tyler blew out a frustrating breath. “Honestly? I think it has something to do with Georgie. Evidently, she chose me from all the screened candidates, saying she would need my academic skills for a future project.”
“Well, there you go. Did you ask her what the project was or what you would be doing?”
She sat silently, uncomfortable with admitting her reaction to Georgie’s behavior. “We didn’t actually get that far in the interview. I kind of freaked out.”
“What?” He couldn’t hide his shock at her confession.
“Yeah.” Tyler crossed her arms, slumping down further. “I’m not proud of it, Dad.”
“Okay…Can you tell your old man what happened?”
Grabbing her coffee cup and swallowing a cold mouthful, she took in his tender look, surrendering the last ounce of embarrassment. “She was showing me one of the new products they’ve developed. She called it a man-overboard tracking system. I got spooked when I saw the video of the test she’d done out on the lake. Dad, they went out in a snowstorm in December and she jumped in the freezing water to prove the tracking system worked. All I saw was rough stormy water, ice, wind and snow, and the thought that someone would actually voluntarily jump in freaked me out! The worst part is how hurt she was by my reaction. Maybe it was from her war experience. I don’t know. Later, when I was talking to Marnie and Zoe, they mentioned that you can’t trust her not to do stupid things like that. It’s as if her head injury has erased all common sense. It scares the crap out of me!”
“That I understand. It’s like being a dad. You can’t help but freak out now and then, worrying about your three daughters.”
Tyler gave him a lopsided grin, appreciating how he still worried even with them all grown. “You never freaked out. That was always Mom’s job.”
“You are so right, but that didn’t stop me freaking out on her, every time I was worried about you girls!”
His grin was back and so was the sparkle she adored. “You never told me that.”
“Hey, a guy’s got a rep to maintain!”
She giggled, starting to feel better. “You know, you’re right. I should just go back over there and ask her what she has in mind.”
“That’s my girl!”
* * *
Tyler called the contact number she had for DME, hoping to connect with Zoe but the woman who answered transferred her directly to Marnie Pulaski. She invited her to return and speak with Georgie or tour the office, anything Tyler needed to help make her decision.
The twenty-minute drive was just long enough to let her misgivings creep back in. She fought with herself until the moment she pulled into the parking lot.
Waiting, Zoe was grinning like a rock star. “I’m so glad you came back. I’ve got a pass and badge right here. Between you and me, I haven’t seen Marnie move that fast since the twins first learned to drive!”
“She has twins?” she asked amiably.
“Boys. They’re sixteen now and are just learning to drive. Can you imagine?”
“Oh I can! I’m a twin. I think the year Kira and I learned to drive almost killed my parents. You?”
Zoe was laughing. “Oh my God! I’ve a twin brother and he works here too. Can you imagine that?”
Tyler laughed at her banter. Zoe had a real zest for life. She had a reasonable idea that Zoe flirted with everyone. It was hard to tell whether the flirtatious banter meant she was interested in her or simply pleased that she had returned for Georgie’s sake. “How is she doing? I mean, since I left?”
Linking Tyler’s arm with hers, Zoe half dragged her into the waiting elevator. As the doors closed, and they began to climb, Zoe patted her arm encouragingly. “She and Henry have just finished their lunch. Now Granddad’s off for his nap and she’s got her head deep in a book.” Her arm still linked through Tyler’s, she led her directly to Georgie’s office.
Tyler pulled them to a halt before they could interrupt Georgie. “Shouldn’t I wait until she’s done reading?”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “Come on. She reads for an hour after lunch every day and only because Marnie insists she take time to do something beyond all that geeky stuff.”
Georgie reclined on the sofa, feet on the table, e-reader in hand, her attention fixed on her book. She seemed not to notice their nearness, even after Zoe unceremoniously kicked her feet off the coffee table.
“Georgie, come on, time to reenter the real world!”
Completely unfazed by Zoe’s behavior, she folded the e-reader and laid it carefully beside the wireless keyboard. “Good to go.”
“You feel like a cup of tea?” Zoe asked, “I thought we’d sit down and have a chat. Sound good?”
Georgie nodded. “Good. Yes…Tyler? Tea?”
Tyler quickly decided it was time for a little test of her own. “No actually, I’d prefer a coffee.”
Georgie shook her head. “Smell…I vomit.”
That surprised her. Not the vomiting comment, simply the fact that Georgie DiNamico explained herself without rancor or further detail.
“Is that a continuing problem? The vomiting, I mean.”
Georgie nodded, taking the time to appraise Tyler directly. “Good questions. I forget…to explain…limitations. Do you understand?”
“I understand but I have concerns. I certainly don’t want to invade your privacy but there may be times when I might require more information.” Tyler wasn’t surprised when Georgie didn’t immediately answer but when the long, thoughtful moment began to stretch into an uncomfortable silence, she was unsure how to proceed.
Thankfully, Zoe intervened, jostling her cousin, giving her a playful grin. “I’ll go plug in the kettle. Tyler here wants to learn about some of your new projects. Are you up for that?”
“Really?” Georgie asked, looking directly at Tyler, her expression conveying her pleasure at being asked.
Tyler took the same seat she had occupied earlier. “Ms. DiNamico, I really am interested in this job. My concern stems—”
“Marnie’s offer…not acceptable?” she asked, clearly confused. “Just Georgie,” she backtracked, instructing Tyler amiably about her name.
“Okay Georgie. I haven’t accepted the job yet, because, well, because I want to put my skills to work. I’ll be honest with you. I’ve been out of work for over a year. I don’t want to just accept any position that comes along. After all, I’ve waited this long, I might as well shoot for what I really want.”
“Which is?”
As much as she knew the question was coming, she hadn’t realized until that very moment that she hadn’t been honest with herself, much less anyone else about her real desires. “I’m not sure where to start. I did my masters in economics, which I really, really enjoyed but it wasn’t until I started working in ethics that I found something to sink my teeth into. So, I guess I’m asking, do you intend to put those skills to use?”
“I read your thesis. Agree…hypothesis, most…insightful. Question…questioning my suppositions. Good!” She held a hand out flat and moved it in a straight course, much the way pilots and small children pretend their hand is an airplane zipping through the air. Then her left hand zoomed up, heading straight for the other hand. At the point where the two imaginary airplanes would collide, she stopped. Turning he
r right hand over, she explained, “Technology.” Turning the left over, she added, “Ethics.” She separated the two hands, then dove them toward each other; they missed each other by inches and headed in separate directions. If Tyler had missed the metaphor, the frown Georgie was sporting made her opinion clear. She flew the two hands at one another again but this time the action resulted in a collision. Both the hand signals and her expression said, this is not acceptable. In a third example both hands were held out straight and level and fit perfectly with what she was learning about this woman—and warned her of the challenges ahead.
Tyler had to ask, “It looks like you’re suggesting they are equal but separate states.”
“Balanced…or symbiotic?”
“Are you asking or telling?” Tyler demanded, and suddenly realized how that must have sounded. Shit. This was still an interview! She needn’t have worried. Georgie was sporting a mischievous grin. For the second time Tyler found her own assumptions being challenged. Changing direction, she asked, “You read my thesis?”
Georgie pointed to her e-reader, as if that explained her interest.
“Why would you do that?”
Before she could answer, Zoe was back with her tray loaded with the old teapot, the usual makings and two mugs. These were decorated with old-style jets in camouflage paint.
“Looks like you two are getting on fine. Unless you need me to stay, I’ve a ton of work to finish up for Marnie.”
Georgie nodded. Once they were alone again, she pulled the keyboard onto her knees, clicking away before the glass walls changed from transparent to opaque. As explanation, she said simply, “No one…yet. Your input first.”
Tyler nodded reflectively. This woman was certainly full of surprises. On the flat-screen monitor above the fireplace, file folders were displayed and sorted, then one was selected. A new organization chart popped open, this one drastically different from the one she had been shown that morning. Marina Pulaski’s name was in the CEO box. Below that, the company was divided into three separate divisions: DME Holdings was the first, DynaCraft Yachts second, and something called BioDynamic last. “BioDynamic?”
“Biotechnology…embedded technology, wearable tech.”
“What? How do you get from building boats to biotech?”
Georgie seemed unfazed by the question and completely unaware of Tyler’s skepticism.
“Good. I design…safety, marine safety.” To demonstrate her point she displayed the Man Overboard photo again, then pulled up a design specification page and highlighted one of the bullet points.
Tyler read the text, understanding the detail was important. “Wait, your original design called for an RF chip to be injected into people?”
Georgie nodded. “Marnie said no…no microchips in children. True?” she asked, as if oblivious to the concerns her sister had raised.
“Of course it’s true.” Realizing she’d been getting riled up, she took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “Biotechnology is a landmine of ethical issues. I can’t believe you would actually consider marketing a product that requires a medical procedure!”
Georgie held up her hand, as if a proof of her theory. “We have them. I made them. The nurse…injects…” As explanation, she offered her hand for inspection.
Tyler gently took hold, giving it the careful examination of a palm reader. Her hand, smaller than her own was warm to the touch and surprisingly soft. “Where is it?”
Using her free hand, Georgie squeezed the skin between her thumb and index finger.
Fascinated and still holding Georgie’s hand, she asked, “What happens to employees who aren’t willing to let you inject them with a foreign object?”
Making a circle motion, as if searching for the right word or phrase, she stopped and pointed to the visitor’s badge on Tyler’s jacket. Taking her hand, Georgie stood, signaling wordlessly for Tyler to follow. Walking to the glass partition wall that separated her meeting space from her work area, she waved her hand over a blue light in the glass. The white panels slid aside, opening up the two areas.
When Tyler had been taken into Marnie’s office that morning, it had been by the private corridor. She hadn’t had a chance to look around then, and she took her time now, appraising Georgie’s work space. There was a large work desk with multiple computer monitors; several overloaded, but well organized bookshelves; and an old-fashioned partner’s desk.
Heading for the desk, Georgie opened the single drawer facing her chair and pulled out a small box, dumping the contents on her blotter. Turning on a bright task light, she invited Tyler closer. “Look…RF chips.”
“You designed these?”
“No…never reinvent.” Retrieving her smartphone from the pocket of her suit, she opened a proprietary app and then selected the information tab before handing the phone to Tyler.
She read through the About screen then tapped on the More link, and carefully read through the operational statement. The app allowed her to control several functions, from the glass privacy settings to door locks. “This identifies the position of everyone in the building. Can everyone see this?”
“No.”
Not satisfied with the answer, Tyler said point-blank, “You need to tell me who can. You may be violating the rights of your employees.”
Georgie shook her head, retrieving her phone and pulling up an access list. “Company officers,” she said as explanation, handing the phone back.
The list was short and included the expected names: Marnie Pulaski, Henry Phipps and Georgie DiNamico. Plus several more she had never seen. “Luigi Phipps?”
“Lou…VP finance.”
“Jack Pulaski?”
“VP sales.”
Tyler read the remainder of the list off, “Lori Phipps, Leslie Phipps and Stella Phipps. All family members?” she asked, not really expecting an answer, but secretly pleased when Georgie made the effort to connect the dots for her, explaining in her halting way that Lou was her cousin and Henry’s only son. And then there was Jack Pulaski. Jack, it turned out, was Marnie’s husband and the face of DME. They were definitely all family. She had made a funny gesture while trying to explain the working relationship of her cousin Lou and her brother-in-law. Fisting both her hands as if ready for a prizefight, she smashed them together a few times then shrugged. Her crooked grin made it clear she found the discord between the two men amusing. Before Tyler could even sort out what other questions she had, Georgie grabbed a tablet and opened the PDF for Tyler to read. It was the company’s employee privacy statement, which explained the security procedures in place and stipulated the responsibilities and privileges of employees at every level within the organization. It also reassured employees regarding the use of embedded technologies.
It was right there in black and white for her to read. She, like everyone else, would have a choice of what technologies she chose to adopt and which were required for use on the job. She liked that. She liked the tone of the document and the scope of the procedures outlined, including what privacies would and would not be protected. The best part was how the document had been written. It was well organized and stated the expectations and responsibilities of both the company and the employee. It was written in everyday, easy-to-understand language and included a clause that invited input and change. “Who wrote this?”
Georgie pointed to herself in a manner that was both unassuming and shy. “Good?” she asked, waiting expectantly for Tyler’s input. When she didn’t immediately respond, formulating her thoughts, Georgie appeared crestfallen, shaking her head. “No?”
“No? I mean yes, it’s very good. I like that it lays out the expectations from both sides and that it’s written in a manner that’s easy to understand.”
Tyler switched to the second file which appeared to please Georgie. It was a wish list of sorts, and included items like position papers on the company’s new technologies, and something identified as the company’s E3 Policy: Ethics, Economy and Environment. It des
cribed the importance of identifying future challenges to corporate and product liability in each category including the pressures induced by a global market.
“Examining the efficacy of marine products is a long way from probing global economics,” Tyler remarked. “There are several things to consider. Would I be writing from the viewpoint of your family, your employees, the actual market economy or the environment? And that’s just for openers.”
Georgie sat quietly without comment.
“All right, let’s start with liability first. Who do you want to protect?”
“Everyone…customers, employees, family. All…Owners…Operators…Polar bears. Dynamic Marine people, old…new…We are responsible…them, they, are family.”
She wasn’t sure what made her smile more, the fact that her new boss had managed to string so many words together at once, or that she actually believed the company should be responsible to and for both employees and customers. To say it wasn’t what she had been expecting was an understatement. “I can work with that. Tell me exactly what you mean by responsible. Responsible to what, or whom?”
“Company, employees…customers.”
“I feel like we’re going in circles. What exactly is the corporate position? Georgie?” Tyler prodded.
The woman simply shrugged. Her almost black hair falling in her eyes. Her hair, while pageboy short, was rich and vibrant much like the woman herself. She watched as Georgie absently brushed her bangs from her eyes; pointing to Tyler, indicating she thought defining future corporate policy was Tyler’s job not hers. “Propose…strategy.”
“And the goal of this strategy?”
Instead of answering, Georgie waved a hand indicating she wanted Tyler to join her.
Pulling out the matching task chair on the opposite side, she slipped into the seat, watching carefully as Georgie pulled out a large pad of graph paper and made a list. An old-fashioned, written on paper list. Considering their high-tech surroundings and all the gadgets at the woman’s disposal, it was refreshing to see. She passed the pad over along with the pen. Tyler began reading the list silently, then chided herself. She didn’t have a problem communicating verbally. “You want to reduce your carbon footprint. Design responsibly. I’m not sure what that means. While producing energy efficient products, you want me to figure out the best strategy to accomplish these goals?”
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