He's Got Her Goat

by Christine

  After an extended breakfast where Sterling nearly drowned her with his harsh philosophies of how to manipulate situations to his benefit, Paige was reeling. “Why can’t you simply be honest and come to a deal where both parties equally profit from the transaction?”

  “That’s not reality.” His face grew stern. “Someone always wins, and if you’re smart, it’s you.”

  “Everything isn’t a competition. Sometimes people can help each other out and both be better for it.” She folded her arms. “Like what you and Elaine are doing with me, right?”

  Before he could answer, a bellhop interrupted them to say that their limo had arrived. As they headed up the Tollway, Sterling didn’t speak again. He spent his time reviewing his notes and checking his tablet. She stared at him in his business suit, feeling like she didn’t belong. What seemed heartless to her, may just be typical professional behavior. As they exited and approached an old industrial area, she determined she would give Sterling’s advice a try. At least for one day.

  The driver pulled up to a corrugated square building that looked to be constructed about the same year as her farmhouse. It must have been a junkyard or lumber mill at one time because the back acres were surrounded by a massive chain link fence with plastic strips concealing what was inside. All she could see through the padlocked gate were a few backhoes and mountains of what looked like black wood chips or mulch for a garden.

  “Ready?” Sterling was at the front door. She hurried to his side, butterflies doing backflips in her stomach.

  Standing at the dented metal door made her leery. Maybe the paperwork she'd read had been fixed because if you were to judge a book by its cover, Earth Tech looked anything but prosperous. “And you’re sure we’re at the right address?”

  He pointed to a small silver sign with a holographic globe and the letters TECH across it. “Yes, ma’am.”

  As he lifted his fist to knock, she could tell he was nervous too and was reminded how important this deal was to him. She stood a little taller and straightened her jacket as the door opened to a young man who looked about her age. Paige immediately thought he could have been Austin’s brother. He was a bit taller and had a wider smile with full lips, but that same intensity that her friend had was definitely there. Without him even speaking, she could see the clear honesty in his eyes.

  His name came to mind. “Kiyo?” She had read all about him. He was top in his class at Texas Tech and an innovator in process design.

  “You’ve got me at a disadvantage.” He took her hand.

  “This is Paige Lindon,” Sterling said. “And I’m the one who spoke with you over the phone.”

  Kiyo seemed reluctant to release her hand and turned to Sterling, giving him a half bow. “Welcome. I think you’ll be impressed.” He motioned for Sterling to go ahead. “If you’ll continue to the doors at the back of the office area—” then he faced Paige and smiled, “I can’t wait to get started.”

  The reserved way in which Sterling walked forward left Paige wondering what was wrong. Maybe he saw something she didn’t. She vowed to be especially alert so as not to miss anything important and would heed Sterling’s instructions implicitly. That meant making Kiyo comfortable and letting him know she would listen to his every word. As Sterling went on ahead, she walked beside the young entrepreneur, studying him. He wore comfortable jeans and a tee shirt, and had a warm complexion. He sensed her staring and caught her eye. They matched fresh smiles. Though he had the intelligence of her friend back home, he had a confidence that she’d rarely seen before, and she liked it.

  Kiyo lifted his hands. “So here’s the brains of the outfit.” The shabby lobby was crowded with dented desks stacked with papers, torn leather chairs and cracked plaster walls.

  “Nice,” she said genuinely.

  Despite the mess, Kiyo seemed proud of everything around him. She could understand that. It reminded her more or less of her own home, and she felt bad about her original reaction at the front door minutes before. Her mind flashed to the deputy’s response when he had first seen her house and the difference in Sterling’s reaction. Surely, Sterling would understand that a crowded office meant potential, which is what he was hoping for. Her gaze met Sterling’s scowl which deepened the lines on his forehead. Why couldn’t he tell that this was the sign of someone with more work than they could handle? Someone who was poised to grow.

  There were no other employees in sight, and she began to wonder if Kiyo had hiring issues like hers. “So do you run most of this single-handedly?”

  “No, the rest of the crew is in there.” Kiyo pointed to the stainless steel doors where Sterling waited. “Except for Steve who does the books. He’s with another interested party.”

  Sterling’s face puckered. “The other party is here?”

  “We’ve made our desire to partner with someone an open matter. You know, first come first served.” Kiyo bent closer to Paige. She could feel his excitement. “We currently have five large corporations in the wings ready to sign, but we can’t meet the demand.”

  She laughed. “I hear you. I have the same problem.”

  “You’re not a vulture like him?” Kiyo pointed to Sterling who obviously wasn’t amused by the comment.

  “No, my uncle and I formulated a beauty bar using goat milk. He passed away, but I’ve been keeping it going.” She grew embarrassed once the words were out. She wasn’t supposed to share anything personal. “It’s nothing really.”

  Kiyo touched her chin with the tip of his index finger and lifted her face to his. “If your skin is any indication, I’d say it is a real breakthrough.”

  Paige couldn’t remember anyone being so free with a compliment, and the way he said it made her believe it was what he really thought. He hadn’t simply said it to flatter her, she could tell. Instead of shying away, she met his eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Now what?” Sterling cleared his throat.

  Kiyo rubbed his hands together. “We all change into bunny suits.”

  Sterling raised one brow. “Sounds kinky.”

  What was up with Sterling? Paige was almost embarrassed by him. “Bunny suits are worn to enter a clean room. At the university, I did some work with genomes and had to use one.”

  The left corner of Kiyo’s mouth raised slightly. “Graduate work, Paige?”

  “Yes, actually.” She wanted him to know her credentials and that she deserved to be there. “My undergrad’s in business, but my masters is in bio-chem.”

  “You may be just what this company needs.” Kiyo chuckled under his breath.

  Paige assumed that Sterling would be proud of her for gaining the client’s confidence like he had told her. Instead, Sterling had a surly look on his face, but as Kiyo opened the door to the changing area, both their expressions changed.

  All surfaces were made of white vinyl which sparkled in the piercing halogen light. Shelves held plastic wrapped packages with labels below them, clearly marking the contents. It was so much like her college lab, she felt she had gone back in time.

  “Any special instructions?” she asked.

  Kiyo pointed to a bay of lockers. “You can put your belongings in there.”

  Flashing a smile at both men, Paige said, “Great,” before heading to the lockers. She removed her bracelet and jacket, storing them in the locker and turned to retrieve her sterile overclothing. In the corner of her eye she saw Sterling had his shirt half unbuttoned.

  She put her hand on his. “No. You only have to remove your watch, belt and jacket.”

  Behind her, she could hear Kiyo’s muffled laughter. Sterling tried to laugh too, but it seemed forced. She felt sorry for him.

  Turning to Kiyo, she tried to alleviate the tension in the room. “He’s at a little of a disadvantage in that we’ve done this before. He hasn’t.”

  As they continued donning double gloves, hair caps, their full suits with hoods, goggles and boots, Paige stayed closer to Sterling, and he seemed to grow more comfortable. By th
e time they were done, the only difference between the three of them was their height. They looked like crepe paper snowmen. At last they were ready to enter the clean room.

  The doors opened, and the first thing Paige noticed was the bright green table. “What’s up with that color?”

  Kiyo was at her side. “Most electronic components are black, silver or white. In order to not lose the smaller parts, we found this was the best color.”

  “Clever.” She surveyed the five non-descript workers, each focused on the different computer parts with tweezers. There were different canisters before them holding tiny chips and circuits. “What are they doing?”

  Kiyo lifted the largest container carefully. “These are still functioning parts that will be used to refurbish the least damaged computers we take in. The other components are separated by the precious and semiprecious metals we’ll reduce out of them.”

  Sterling perked up. “Precious metals?”

  “Yes,” Kiyo said. “We get aluminum, mercury, silver, platinum and gold.”

  “Gold?” Paige had never heard of such a thing.

  Kiyo turned to her. “The pins in many CPU’s are gold. We liquefy them with an acid process that allows us to utilize the metal.”

  “I’d love to see that.” Her chemistry training was kicking in. “Hydrochloric acid?”

  His smile was the only part of him exposed by the suit. “Right, mixed with . . .”

  She wracked her brain to fill in the blank. “Nitro- something.”

  “Nitric Acid. Very good.” Kiyo set a hand on her shoulder. “If you like this, you’ll love the next room.” He guided Paige to the door, and she hoped that Sterling was enjoying this as much as she was.

  The minute the swinging doors opened, she smelled what was going on. “Batteries!”

  Kiyo took center stage between two workers smashing lithium batteries and dropping the pieces in a large vat. “We neutralize the acid with a base mixture and can sell the lithium back to manufacturers. We have processes in place to harvest almost every byproduct from most electronics. You may have noticed the plastic in the backyard, which we shave into pellets for various commercial purposes as well.”

  Sterling had been very quiet. Paige turned to him. “What do you think?”

  He addressed Kiyo seriously. “So, this neutralizing solution is made with a base like Paige’s soap? Do you use lye as well?”

  Both Paige and Kiyo started to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Paige looked to Kiyo. “Should you tell him or should I?”

  “Go right ahead.”

  If Kiyo was testing her, she’d pass. “Lye and battery acid can be used to create a bomb. Add cold medicine and you get Meth. No, he’d have to use a much milder base than I use for my soap.” She sniffed the vat. “Could it really be . . . it’s so simple. Any additives?”

  Kiyo shook his head with the enthusiasm of a schoolboy.

  “Soda,” Paige said. “But how?”

  “It was a challenge.” Kiyo pointed to a monitor behind the vat. “We adjust alkaline levels automatically to be the most time and cost effective, and, of course, the greenest.”

  Paige could see the liquid in the vat roiling and bubbling as an employee dropped a fresh batch of battery parts in the mixture. Sterling stepped up beside her.

  “What kind of soda pop do you use?” he said seriously.

  She almost burst out giggling, but Sterling’s exposed frown stopped her. “It’s sodium bicarbonate. You know, baking soda,” she said.

  Kiyo tapped the arm of the worker who was taking his next load of batteries to be crushed. “Why don’t you take Mr. Keller back to the office and show him our latest reports? He might also be pleased to see our current projections.” Looking at Paige, Kiyo said, “I’m sure your beautiful associate can give you a complete rundown of the remainder of our tour.”

  “Thank you.” Sterling left without another word.

  Paige was beginning to feel a little guilty about having such a wonderful time, but then she wondered if this was part of Sterling’s plan so that he could check out their numbers without interference.

  All concern shot out the window with Kiyo’s next question. “Do you care to see the two other battery rooms?”

  “Zinc and Nickel, right?” she answered.

  “You’ve done your homework.” His grin was framed by his hood, and she couldn’t remember feeling so connected intellectually to someone in a long time. He spoke her language.

  As he led her down the hall, she asked, “Are you still planning to show me that liquefied gold?”

  “Of course,” he said. “I’ll show you everything.”

  Chapter Twenty

  STERLING HAD HAD ENOUGH. He ripped the white bunny suit from his body and yanked on his suit coat. Logically, he guessed she was only trying to do what he had instructed her, to make the client take her into his confidence. But did she have to be so good at it? And why did she need to make him look like such a fool in the process? Perhaps he was a fool. In fact, he knew he was when it came to Paige. She threw him off. For example, right now he should be panting like a thirsty dog to get his hands on Earth Tech’s current financials, but he couldn’t care less. He’d give it all up right now if he could run back, grab Paige’s hand and pull her away from that smooth computer geek.

  It had all started in the front office. Sterling paused at the metal door leading there. She had said something about her soap, and Kiyo told Paige her skin was flawless. Not that her skin wasn’t, but what right did he have to be so familiar, and why had she responded so openly? She never did that with him.

  He thought about last night when he heard her scream. If she hadn’t opened the door, he would have broken it down. He had looked in her eyes, so filled with fear, and wanted to comfort her, to put his arms around her, but she wouldn’t let him. She all but pushed him out. Then this Kiyo character comes over, and she just invites him into her life? She even told him about her uncle’s death. He had to find that out from Elaine.

  The broad man who Kiyo had sent to direct him back to the office stuck his head through the door. “Coming? They’re waiting for you.”

  Sterling nodded. There was no use even thinking about Paige and him right now since there was nothing he could do until later. Perhaps tonight, he could take Paige out to dinner. There was a little jazz place downtown. They’d dance. His mind was filled with the sight of her in his arms wearing that deep blue dress. He’d get through whatever he had to do this afternoon in order to make that moment happen tonight.

  He pushed the door wide, expecting to find the middle-aged man from the battery room, and was met by two others, only one of whom he recognized.

  “Fancy meeting you here.” Julie removed her sunglasses and smacked her chewing gum. “Want to wash my feet again?”

  Sterling tapped his foot. “So you’re the other buyer. Who told you about this deal?”

  Sliding her glasses back on, Julie lifted her chin. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “That’s why I asked,” Sterling said.

  She came up to him, inches away and touched his nose with her bright orange fingernail. “I’ll tell you if you agree to work together. I don’t want us to be enemies. In fact, just the opposite.”

  He weighed the idea for only a minute. The difference between Julie’s flirtation and Paige’s sincerity was extreme, but he could play along with the prima donna. It was more important for the deal to work out than for him to have a good time. He gave a practiced smile. “How right you are. No use in duplicating our efforts. I’m here to please.”

  A slow grin spread across Julie’s glossed lips. “Those are the words I like to hear, lover boy.”

  An older man with a shock of white hair had cleared a spot at one of the desks and set a number of folders down with two chairs beside it. Sterling assumed this was Steve, thanked him and got to work.

  Julie scooted her chair close to Sterling, draped her arm around his bac
k and watched. He doubted her eyes were even scanning the pages, but, given her father’s wealth and her temperament, he imagined the reason she was there had little to do with the bottom line. Her decision would be made based solely on whim, not data.

  If only she’d turn her charms on Kiyo, maybe Paige wouldn’t be so interested in him. At least Sterling could ask. “So what did you think of the boy genius?”

  She ran a manicured finger across her bottom lip. “I’ll tell you if you go to the water garden with me.”

  “Water garden?” Sterling diverted his attention from the report in front of him. She had him intrigued. The front yard had been nothing but weeds, and the back looked like a modified junkyard. “Where is it?”

  Julie pulled her chair closer and put a hand on his thigh. “Hidden.”

  He smiled at her and mimicked her tone. “Where?”

  She sat back and smiled. “It’s really quite beautiful, and the last place Kiyo took me on my tour.”

  So Kiyo would take Paige there, too. With how close they were getting, Sterling would rather be there when they arrived. As an added benefit, he could convince Julie that this was not that appealing of an investment. If Julie was the only other interested party, he was quite certain he’d get the deal.

  “You lead the way,” he said.

  Julie leapt to her feet with a squeal and took his hand. They walked out the front door, through the now open gate and toward the back area. Beyond the piles of black plastic shavings, a little path made of those shavings curled around new plantings, each with a plaque below it. One read Bigtooth Maple, another Golden Rain Tree and a third Soapberry. As he stared at the sapling, Julie leaned her body against his back and put her chin on his shoulder. “That’s Paige’s bush. Don’t you think?”

  “She’s here, you know,” he said, still facing forward.