Putting It to the Test Read online

  Their normal routine involved ducking out for deli sandwiches they brought back to their desks, using the quick stroll around the corner to stretch their legs and talk about sports. Matt’s encounter with Carly this morning had him suggesting they dine out, and “burgers at Quimbly’s,” a nearby fifties-style diner, was all Adam needed to hear to agree.

  “Because she’s hot,” Adam said. He squeezed a dollop of ketchup on his bacon cheeseburger and set the red plastic bottle back in the caddy next to its yellow-mustard mate.

  Matt shook his head. “Lots of women are hot and none of them drive me crazy. Carly Abrams drives me crazy.”

  “They always say love exists on the edge of insanity.”

  Ignoring the comment—because he refused to grace that stupidity with an answer—he pointed a crinkle-cut fry toward Adam. “She actually thought I’d come over to her desk to look at her answers to the survey.” Scoffing, he added, “That is one twisted woman.”

  Though, granted, he had looked at her answers. Not just the one about being into wild, kinky sex but the one before it, as well, the one that said she was most definitely not conservative in bed. He genuinely hadn’t come over prying for info on her survey, but he couldn’t deny what he’d seen haunted him.

  And the more he thought about it, the less he believed her story about toying with Old Man Hall. It was a nice try, but Matt couldn’t shake the suspicion that Carly Abrams really did have a wild side in bed.

  And he’d been semierect ever since.

  “You have to admit, this is the first time you weren’t given the big project,” Adam said. “There have been rumblings over how you’re dealing with that.”

  “I couldn’t care less about Singles Inc. I’ve already spent two years proving myself to Hall. I don’t need another big project to showcase my abilities.”

  And it was true. Matt hadn’t come to Hall Technologies just to do more Web design. He’d come to learn the ropes from Brayton Hall, the man who was about to blow the lid off the traditional Web-design and electronic-advertising firms. Hall had spent two decades at IBM, being in on the ground floor of Internet technology back when the public barely knew what a dot-com was. He’d learned the rules from one of the industry leaders, then set out on his own to break them.

  With the larger firms building corporate structures that turned them into slow-moving barges, Hall Technologies stayed nimble, hiring some of the brightest independent Web designers, who were accustomed to coming up with innovative ideas and delivering them fast. To the big players they were barely a blip on the radar, but Matt knew that was all about to change and he had every intention of being the guy to Hall’s right when it happened.

  “Not when there’s a management position hitting the rumor mill, huh, pal?” Adam asked.

  Matt was about to take a bite of his double cheeseburger when he stopped. “You heard about that?”

  “Word’s slowly getting around. I don’t know how much truth there is to it, but we’ve got over a dozen designers in the department and the company keeps growing. Hiring another manager seems to fit.”

  “So what have you heard?”

  Adam casually glanced around the room, making sure people with the wrong ears hadn’t stepped into the restaurant, before answering.

  “Only that he’s looking to start up a specialized project team. Hall wants to go after some of the bigger clients and he’s got ideas on how to do that without turning into another corporate slug. What those ideas are, I don’t know, but I’ve heard he wants someone to take the lead on it so he can continue to focus on acquisitions.”

  “Yeah,” Matt said. “That’s what I heard, too.” And the thought left him salivating. This was exactly the kind of thing he’d been waiting for, the precise reason he’d left his cushy job to prove himself all over again to Brayton Hall. The man was brilliant, and Matt wanted to be the recipient of that wisdom to someday maybe make partner or rival Hall with his own design firm.

  Either way, it was a win-win situation, and instead of bothering himself with Singles Inc., he’d rather sniff out what he had to do to land that new position.

  And when he got it, he’d be glad nothing had ever come of him and Carly. Despite her disdain for him, she was one of the sharpest minds at Hall Technologies. If Matt was to land this job, she’d be the first one he’d ask for. Granted, there was a chance she’d laugh in his face at the offer. He knew she’d resented him since the day he’d been hired, and his visit to her cube this morning had been yet another attempt on his part to chat it up and maybe broach a truce.

  But, as always, he’d opened his mouth, said the wrong thing and started the downward spiral that only solidified her contempt for the ground he walked on. He hadn’t meant to make the crack about the survey. He’d just seen her answers, turned hard as a rock and blurted out the first thing that popped into his mind—that her answer couldn’t be true.

  Because he needed it not to be true.

  If he did get to assemble this new team, and Carly was on it…Well, he’d already been hot enough under the collar when it came to her without believing she had a wild side when it came to sex.

  Knowledge like that, if proven true, could likely kill him.

  “And I take it you’re the man for the job?” Adam asked.

  “I’d like to think so. Any rumors where that’s concerned?”

  “Only speculation. There isn’t anyone in Programming or Sales with the expertise to handle it, so most people are assuming they’d pick someone from our unit, most likely you or Carly.”

  He raised a brow. “Carly?”

  Adam shrugged. “She’s been here from the start, had been the number one designer before you came along. And she’s a team player, a favorite among the programmers and business-development execs. She’s got the affection of everyone on staff, so in that respect,” he said, tipping his glass toward Matt, “I’d consider her a contender if I were you.”

  Matt dismissed Adam’s enthusiasm but didn’t let the sentiment show on his face. Sure, everything he’d said about Carly was true, but since Matt had come on board, Hall had practically been grooming him for a spot on the management team. All signs pointed to the idea that she would be working for him someday, not the other way around, but he didn’t need to further strain his relationship with her by spreading that notion around.

  So he lied.

  “Yeah, I suppose Carly would be another viable candidate.” Then, getting back to his meal, he added, “I guess we’ll have to see how things pan out.”

  2

  “DO YOU THINK I’m funny?”

  Carly posed the question to her friend, Bev, as they stepped out of the offices of Hall Technologies and into the bright midday sunshine. For almost a year now the two women had been spending their lunch hours power walking through the industrial park that housed Hall Technologies and several other high-tech firms just north of San Francisco. That was, of course, unless the weather was bad or one of them was up against a deadline. Or if they had errands to run or there was a sale at Paulson’s. And never on Fridays, when the Sub Shack ran their two-for-one lunch special.

  In truth, today was the first time in two weeks they’d sufficiently run out of excuses and opted for the walk.

  “What do you mean? Funny ha-ha or funny strange?” Bev asked.

  “Funny. Humorous. Someone who can make a joke and take one.”

  Letting the door swing closed behind her, Carly followed Bev down the sidewalk toward Lakeford Park, a block from the office. Structured like a town square, the park was the primary destination for the nearby office workers looking for a comfortable place to enjoy the sun. A half dozen restaurants lined the shady square, most only open for lunch, though Lone Dog Coffee caught the morning rush, and Flippers—equipped with a liquor license—stayed open for happy hour.

  Separating the tree-lined park from the soggy marshlands to the east was a paved jogging path that supposedly stretched all the way to the small airfield a few miles away, tho
ugh Bev and Carly never cared to see for themselves. Between the plantar fasciitis that ailed Bev’s feet and Carly’s general hatred of exercise, the two always opted for the short route, which involved cutting off the jogging path at the far end of the park and circling through the square, picking up something for lunch on the way back around.

  “I don’t know.” Bev shrugged. “I suppose I’d consider you funny.”

  “You suppose?” That didn’t sound convincing.

  “Yeah, I suppose. I mean, you wouldn’t make my top-ten list of hilarious people, but you’ve had your moments.”

  Carly frowned as Bev picked up her pace, her blond ponytail whipping like a pendulum once they crossed the street and started down the jogging path. Intent on losing the twenty pounds she’d gained since her wedding four years ago, Bev had more enthusiasm for their workouts, and Carly nearly had to break into a trot to keep up despite being five inches taller.

  “Why are you asking me if you’re funny?”

  “Because Matt Jacobs thinks I’m not.”

  Bev eyed Carly inquisitively. “Since when do you care what he thinks?”

  “I don’t. I was just taken aback when he said he didn’t think I was capable of making a joke.”

  The mere thought added pep to Carly’s stride, irritation fueling an extra dose of adrenaline. Ever since Matt walked away from her cubicle this morning his comment had been stuck in her craw. “I can’t believe he thinks that,” she added.

  “I can’t believe it matters to you. You’re fun, friendly, and everyone likes you. You don’t have to be the office comedian, too. Besides, it’s only his opinion.”

  “So you’re saying he’s wrong. I am funny.”

  Bev shrugged. “I’m saying, why the big fixation over Matt Jacobs and his opinion of you? Neil insults you all the time and you never bat an eyelash.”

  “Because Neil’s always kidding. It’s just his way.”

  And Neil wasn’t the iron-chested, dark and studly sex magnate that ruled her dreams every night.

  “Maybe Matt was kidding, too,” offered Bev.

  “He wasn’t.” Carly had played the conversation over in her mind a dozen times and remembered very specifically that he had not been kidding. He’d truly been shocked when she’d explained her joke about the survey.

  And, of course, she also remembered the tiny flutters that had swept through her stomach when his shock transformed into pleasure. He’d almost seemed smitten with her, delighted to see a side of her he hadn’t expected, and for a fraction of a second her body had responded with joy.

  Until his words had sunk in and quickly squashed the moment.

  “Forget what Matt said, I’ve got something bigger to talk about.” Bev panted, her breath growing heavy as they followed the path along the edge of the marsh.

  It had felt like a perfect spring day when they’d stepped out of the office, but now, in the high-noon sun, it was beginning to get warm. Carly noted with relief that they were only a short distance from where the path met up with the trees and the rest of their walk would be shaded.

  “You’ve got scoops?” she asked.

  “That compatibility survey they’re making us do for the Singles Inc. project.”

  That got Carly’s attention. Could they have picked the winners already? She’d thought they had through the week to complete the surveys.

  “Remember Patty, my friend at Singles Inc.?” Bev huffed.

  “Yeah.”

  “According to her, things aren’t exactly as we were told.” She glanced briefly behind them, then went on. “She heard one of the candidates had already been picked by Hall. This whole business about filling out the compatibility surveys is only to find out who’s going to be on the project with him.”

  “Him?”

  Bev tipped her sunglasses and flashed a blue-eyed glance at Carly. “Yeah, he’s got the man picked out. Which means all the other men on staff filling out the surveys are just wasting their time. Their surveys won’t even be considered, only the women’s.”

  Carly shook her head. “I don’t get it.”

  “The whole thing is a ruse, Carly. Hall’s not looking for the two most compatible designers on staff, he’s looking for the woman who most closely matches the man he’s chosen for the job.”

  As Bev’s words sunk in, an angry pool formed in Carly’s stomach. “Don’t tell me who the man is.”

  Bev nodded.

  “You’re sure it’s Matt?”

  “Positive.”

  Steam filled Carly’s veins until she recalled her confrontation with Matt that morning and her anger turned to dread. She’d been so cocky about him having to fill out the survey to get the job, had accused him of trying to cheat even. And all the time Hall had already lined him up for the project.

  She slowed her pace and sighed. How long would she continue to make a fool of herself in front of that man? It was bad enough infatuation turned her into a babbling idiot whenever he was around. Now the one moment she’d held her wits long enough to tell him off, she’d ended up being wrong about the whole thing.

  It was too humiliating to consider.

  “Does he know?”

  “I don’t think so. Patty told me they were keeping it really close to the cuff. Only she, her boss and one analyst there are aware of Hall’s instructions on how to tally the surveys. In fact, now that I’ve told you, I’ve been ordered to kill you.”

  Carly would have laughed if she wasn’t so dumbfounded, not certain whether she should wallow in embarrassment over popping off to Matt when she was the one with egg on her face or ire that once again he was being handed the big job.

  Ire was winning by a nose.

  “So all the surveys are for nothing?”

  “All the men’s surveys. The women’s are legitimately being used to match against Matt’s.”

  “I can’t believe it,” Carly fumed. She placed her hands on her hips and slowed down to a stroll. “Matt’s walking away with another top project again.”

  “Matt and whoever strikes the closest match to his survey.”

  She stared out over the grassy lawn. The warm day had brought a crowd out from under the fluorescent canopies to enjoy lunch at the tables or hold an outdoor meeting. It was the first sign of spring, normally Carly’s favorite time of year, but today even the good weather wasn’t enough to hold up her spirit.

  “Why do they think he’s so great?” she asked. “So he’s got, like, double master’s degrees. Big deal. He’s arrogant and flippant and not the least bit interested in sharing that wealth of talent with anyone else on the team. Why they keep raising the man to the level of he-god, I’ll never know.”

  “He-god?”

  Carly frowned. “You know what I mean. He doesn’t deserve the constant accolades. There’s a lot more to being a company asset than good Web design.”

  “True,” Bev agreed, stepping over to a park bench and plopping down for a rest. “Though he’s got a few assets someone’s company would enjoy.” She smiled as Carly sat down next to her. “You ever noticed him on casual Fridays? Man, does he have a butt for a pair of jeans.”

  Noticed? Carly had studied that butt so many times she could pick it out of a lineup. But this wasn’t where she wanted the conversation to go. Matt Jacobs had had enough of her attention over the last two years. If there was ever a day to squelch it, today would be it.

  “He used to play pro baseball, you know,” Bev added. “Can you imagine that ass in a pair of those tight-knit baseball pants?”

  The Anaheim Nationals, two years in their AA league before he’d been “cut loose,” as Adam had put it. He hadn’t said much more than that, just enough to feed a few steamy images of Matt in a uniform—and then out of it.

  She shook off the thought, annoyed that she could be so easily pulled off track. This conversation wasn’t about Matt’s assets but how he’d become her personal liability. If this latest move by Mr. Hall wasn’t enough to permanently exorcise her lust for that
man, she seriously needed to consider psychotherapy.

  “Can we get back to the subject, please? We’re talking about Singles Inc. and who deserves that job. Mr. Hall lied to all of us. This project was supposed to be a fair game.”

  Bev blew out a sympathetic sigh. “I know, but in retrospect, none of this surprises me. It’s our biggest account. There’s no way Hall was going to let the project randomly go to two people on the staff. He needed one person in there as his anchor to make sure the job ran smoothly.”

  “And that anchor couldn’t have been me?”

  “Carly, they love your work. You and Matt are the two top designers on staff. They still consider you one of the best.”

  “They did before Matt came along. Now who knows what they think? I haven’t had a challenging project in over a year. It’s just the same old stuff, info screens without any user interactivity. How am I supposed to keep up my programming skills if I’m just putting graphics and text on pages?”

  This job was not working out as she’d planned. She wasn’t supposed to have hit a glass ceiling at the age of twenty-six. She was supposed to be on her way up the ladder, making the steady climb to bigger jobs and a bigger salary. Granted, she hadn’t expected to spend her life working for Hall, but she’d thought as new opportunities opened up she’d continue to be in the running. But since Matt had come on board, her career seemed to have come to a screeching halt, and if she wanted to keep progressing, maybe it was time to accept the fact that she’d have to do it somewhere else.

  “I’m tempted to quit.”

  Bev scoffed. “And go where? The high-tech industry is barely picking up around here. To find anyone hiring, you practically have to move to Texas.”

  “I could go to Web Tactics.”

  “Rumor has it they aren’t doing so well.”

  Carly’d heard that, too. Oh, who was she kidding? She’d just bought a house with a hefty mortgage. She couldn’t risk losing it by leaving a secure job for something unknown. Wherever she went, she’d be the new gal on the team, the first one on the chopping block if a company decided to downsize, and with so many firms being swallowed up by the big fish or relocating out of state, she wasn’t certain she could take the chance.