Authors: Robin Thomas
High Stakes
High Stakes
High Stakes
Robin Thomas
Kate Higgins is an ambitious 24 year old, whose goal is to climb the corporate ladder. Emotional entanglements just aren’t on her wish list. When her boss, Shelley, tells her she is in line for a promotion, Kate should be thrilled. The catch is she has to work on a weekend project with her arch rival, Pete Forest. The one who performs the best will get the promotion. Sparks fly, especially from a determined Kate. By Monday morning, however, both Kate and Pete discover that promotion is the last thing on their minds.
With grateful thanks to Rob, Richard and Ruth, who are always there for me, and also to my many writer friends who have inspired and taught me so much.
To my mother, Margaret Susan Fequet Martin, who believed there should always be time for dreaming
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Contents
Also Available from Escape Publishing…
6:30am: The glass doors slid open. As I scurried into the silent lobby, I glanced at my watch. An hour before most people trickled in and two hours before official starting time. Good. I would have cleared my desk, made the first few calls and have a coffee on Shelley’s desk, waiting for her when she arrived at 8:15. Points to me. I needed them. Pete had stayed late every night this week and was already looking like the blue-eyed boy. But he wasn’t an early riser. I smiled as I stepped in the lift.
6:40am: The office was quiet with only the distant hum of a vacuum cleaner. The file I’d nearly finished last night, before exhaustion had numbed my brain, was still waiting for me. She’d wanted it like, yesterday. As if. Shelley never tired asking for the impossible. But she’d get it this morning on her desk, with the coffee. I’d even tie it in red ribbon if it would make her happy.
6:53am: Was it too early to call the last supplier? It was nearly 8:00 in Sydney.
6:55am: I slammed the receiver down. Who the hell isn’t at work by nearly 8:00? I’d try again in five minutes. That’s all I needed, one price, and then it was done. Time to grab a coffee. My third since 5:30, but I needed the caffeine jolt.
7:30am: At last, success. Wonder he keeps his job with the hours he keeps. Ze file iz done! Decided against the red ribbon. Shel has no sense of humour. God, here comes Pete. Never mind. Paste smile on face.
‘Morning, Pete.’
‘You’re in early.’
‘Nah, not really. Only just got in.’ Tell the enemy nothing. I slid from my desk with the file.
‘Finished that one at last, eh?’
He is one smartass. He knew it was due in yesterday.
‘No probs. Did it yesterday. Just checking it. You know what she’s like.’ He was standing uncomfortably close. I hated that he was taller than me, even when I was wearing heels.
‘Actually, I have always found Shelley quite reasonable. As long as you do the work, keep to schedule, she’s happy.’
‘Oh yeah, I know what you mean. She can be understanding; even when you make mistakes, like that estimate you did last week. Even though it was a few ks out, she really stood by you.’ I had the satisfaction of seeing his face deepen two shades. Smug Pommie B.
‘Well, I guess you would know. If you hurry, you can just pop that file on her desk and she’ll think you finished it yesterday.’ He winked at me and sauntered off to his cubicle. My fingers tightened around the paperweight on my desk.
7:40am: The swing doors to the office burst open and Shelley made her entrance, three inch heels clacking, Dior silk scarf flowing behind and manicured red nails digging into the takeaway coffee. Double shot black. No sugar.
Damn, I still didn’t have the file on her desk and she already had her coffee. Why did she have to pick this morning to come in earlier than usual? That little squabble with Arsehole had taken up valuable time.
‘Good, you’re both here. Pete, Kate, my office – now.’
Clutching my file, I took a deep breath and followed in the wake of her Calvin Klein perfume. Naturally, Pete was at the door of her office before both of us, grinning and opening the door.
With a flick of her hand, she motioned for us to sit. She walked to her desk and stood for a moment, looking out the window and sipping her coffee. No indication yet whether her mood was up or down. That was Shelley all over — cool, analytical, deadly.
I quickly placed the file on her desk, and then settled back in my chair, ignoring Pete on the other side of me.
She turned and scanned her slate grey eyes over us; then, with a half-smile, sat down. ‘I won’t beat about the bush. There’s a promotion going and you two are considerations.’ Pete started gushing gratitude, but she held up a hand to silence him. ‘The board meets at the beginning of the month and will make its decision then, based on my recommendation, of course. I’ll be looking at all the usual things; top performance, time management, and willingness to go that extra mile. But there’s something else too. This new position involves leadership skills, because whoever gets it will be managing a small team of about four to six people. People skills are probably the most important criteria of the lot.’
Says the person who has none, I thought.
‘Both of you have what it takes if you put your minds to it. However, you’re loners. In early, out late. That’s good, folks — but you’ve got to mix, get to know others, understand what makes them tick. Most importantly you have to get on with each other. Whoever doesn’t get the promotion will be on the team of the one who does. So,’ she paused and smiled. It sent a chill down my spine. ‘I have decided that you’ll both work on one project. It’ll mean cooperating, understanding each other and watching each other’s back.’
So we can stab it. Shush, I told my brain.
‘The question now is,’ she continued, ‘can you do it? I know there’s a bit of rivalry between you two. That’s fine, that’s healthy. But can you put it aside for the greater good of the company? This isn’t just about a promotion, this is about an attitude. To get to the top you need to put the business first and yourself last. I don’t need to tell you it’s a tough world out there. There are opportunities, but only for those who have the guts to take them. Well? Feedback?’
‘Brill idea, Shelley. I’d love the opportunity of working with Kate. She’s such a little go-getter! I’m sure we’ll get on fine.’ He flashed me a toothy grin and I forced a grimace in response.
I didn’t want to but I had to ask. ‘Since we’ll be working together, helping each other, how will you be able to decide who is the best?’
‘Leave that to me, Kate. By the end of this I’ll know who the leader in this relationship is.’
Relationship? Jeez, the only relationship I wanted with that creep was long distance, preferably with several continents between us because I’d kicked his arse that far.
‘What’s the problem, Kate? You want out of this?’
‘No, not at all. I welcome the challenge of working with someone of Pete’s calibre. I’m sure we’ll both learn a lot.’
‘Good. Here’s what you’re working on.’ she tossed a folder over her desk. ‘This is the PD policy for the staff. It needs updating. In the current environment, professional development is taking on increasing importance. It’s no longer a case of attending a few workshops or seminars that the company puts on. People have to be more proactive. They have to invest some of their own time and resources into furthering their careers — that is if they are interested in becoming valuable employees. I want a total rewrite of the policy and an updated pro forma for every employee to fill in outlining their own plans for PD, along with identification of their strengths, weaknesses, reflections on what they have done well, what they can improve on — that sort of thing. When you’ve done that, I want you to fill one in for each other. By the end of this you should know each other pretty well. I’ll be interested to see the results.’
I tried to keep my jaw from falling open. She was a devious, conniving, sadistic bitch. I reached over to take the folder before Pete did. ‘When do you want it, Shelley?’ I asked.
‘Monday.’
Shit, I thought. Today was Friday.
‘No problems,’ Pete said. ‘I’ve read the policy already and I have a few ideas. But Kate, you might like to familiarise yourself with it before we get together.’
I opened my mouth to say something, but Shel gave me no chance. ‘Fine, the sooner you get started the better.’ She waved a dismissive hand at us and picked up the phone.
As I headed out the door, she said, ‘And Kate, make sure this one’s on time.’ She glanced at the file I had placed on her desk and then back at me.
I gave her a sickly smile and nodded.
7:55am: I glanced around the nearly full office. Even though official starting time was 8:30, hardly anyone arrived that late, except losers. Pete followed me to my desk.
‘When do you want to get started?’ He was grinning at me. He thinks he’s got it aced, I thought.
‘Never,’ I said.
‘Oh well, saves time. I’ll just let Shel know the decision’s been made for her.’
‘Shut up, Smartass.’
‘Looks like we’re off to a good start. Come on, chill. We’ve got to work together so let’s make the best of it. Why don’t we read over the policy and bounce a few ideas over lunch. ‘
‘Thought you’d already done that?’
He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Yeah, when I first joined Calco. As for ideas, I’ve always got them in spades. ‘
‘As in shovelling it?’ I raised my eyebrows.
‘Oh, you are one clever cookie. You can either work with me or not, Kate. I don’t give a damn. Just make your mind up. The outcome is going to be the same anyway.’
I took a deep breath, ignoring the last provocative remark. ‘Right, let’s make one thing clear first, though. No bullshit. We don’t like each other, never have. That’s a given. But we’ll call a truce for now. Let’s play it straight up and honest. No games.’
‘Agreed.’ He held out a hand and I shook it. His hand was firm, warm and his smile looked genuine. I didn’t trust him a millimetre.
‘OMG, the world’s coming to an end. Did I actually see Pete and Kate shake hands?’ Mike Carmichael’s voice boomed through the office and several curious glances shot our way.’
‘Shove it, Carmichael. Business only — not that it’s any of yours!’ I gave him a death stare and he chuckled, and then turned back to his computer.
‘Lunch at noon?’ Pete asked.
‘Yeah, somewhere quiet away from this lot.’
‘Meet you at Shannon’s then.’
I nodded and he went back to his desk.
I glanced at my watch. 7:59. It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet and already it was a lousy day.
9:35am: Nearly through the PD document. Time for coffee number four, which wasn’t bad, considering my last one was 6:55. Still couldn’t believe what Shel was making me do. I’d rather climb Mt Kosciusko starkers in July. I’d rather swim in shark-infested waters clutching a leaky meat tray. I’d even rather be a contestant on Master Chef and I hate cooking. I walked past Pete’s cubicle. His feet were on the desk and he was talking on the phone. He gave me a casual wave as if we were best buddies. What was he up to? Thoughts ricocheted in my head as I got a coffee from the canteen.
‘Hey, Kate,’ Carmichael’s head popped around the corner, ‘you got a thing going with Pete?’
I glared at him.
‘Just asking.’ His pale, freckled face broke into a grin and he ran a hand through his untidy red hair.
‘Shelley gave us a project to work on together, is all.’ I shrugged.
‘Wow, when is World War Three?’
‘We’re adults. We can be civil.’
He looked at me.
‘Well, we can.’
‘Sure.’ He twisted his cup in his hands.
I turned to head back to my desk.
‘Kate?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I was wondering, you free tonight? You want to have a drink after work? A few of us are going to a new wine bar open on George Street. They’ve got a guitarist there.’
‘Thanks, but I can’t make it. I’ll probably be working late. Shel wants this thing finished by Monday.’