Tropical Convergence (19 page)

Dar chuckled. "Shirley said she'd wait to pass judgment until after her first major problem happens. She's a little skeptical about all the promises."

"Are we really that conservative?" Kerry asked. "The models we use, the pricing structure--that always seemed like good business practice to me."

Dar leaned back and thought about that for a while. "We're not really," she concluded. "Our new net is cutting edge, and most everyone knows that. I think it's that we've been around so long, and we're so big, it's hard to react as fast as a smaller company would. That's probably true."

"Hmm."

"On the other hand, we have very deep resources," Dar went on, in a thoughtful tone. "So once you're under contract to us, if your business changes or you need something done immediately, it's nothing more than a phone call."

"That's true. I've done that for customers a hundred times. I never thought of it that way," Kerry said. "Isn't that something the sales people can use when they go to contract?"

"Tricky."

"Obviously." Kerry admired a sudden burst of color as it spread across the sky. "That really is pretty, but I'm glad I'm not under it. I hate the smell of gunpowder."

They both jumped a little and turned as a knock sounded inside the room, echoing faintly through the sliding glass door. Dar frowned. "Are we expecting anyone?"

"Hell no." Kerry got up and shoved the door open, trading the warm concrete for the rough nubble of the carpet against her bare feet. She pressed her hands against the door and peered through the eyehole, pushing back in annoyance when she recognized Michelle's face on the other side. "Son of a bitch," she muttered. "What do you want at ten o'clock at night?"

For a short moment, she debated with herself, seriously considering ignoring the knock and returning to the balcony. Then with a sigh, she grasped the door hand and turned it, her breeding overcoming her baser inclinations by a whisker. "Yes?"

Michelle gazed back at her, for once dressed down in a shirt and jeans and having left most of her pretensions at home, it seemed. "Hi."

"Hi," Kerry responded, leaning against the jamb but not allowing the door to open past her body width. "What can I do for you?"

"Can we talk?" Michelle asked. "I know it's late, I know it's been a long day, I know you're not pleased to see me here."

Kerry felt a warm stream of air suddenly on the back of her neck, and somehow managed not to jump as Dar's hands settled on her hips. Her partner remained silent, however, leaving the decision up to her. "If you know all that, why push it?" she asked. "Maybe tomorrow's a better idea."

"It probably is. But I'd like to talk to you anyway," their unwelcome visitor stated. "Both of you," she added, a little belatedly.

Kerry's face twitched a little as she was pinched very gently on the behind. Then the warmth behind her disappeared, and she straightened up. "Make it fast." She backed up a step and opened the door. "We've got plans for the rest of this evening."

Michelle raised her eyebrows as she slipped past, giving Kerry's faded T-shirt and bare feet a glance. "Thanks."

Kerry followed her inside. Dar had settled on the couch, her long, bare legs sprawled out across the carpet and her arms spread across the back of the cushions. It left enough space next to her for one other person, provided it was someone Dar liked.

Michelle prudently took the chair across from her, and waited until Kerry sat down within the spread of Dar's reach before she crossed one ankle over her knee and cleared her throat. "Okay, I'll cut to the chase, since we all don't want to be here."

"No." Dar let her arm drop down over Kerry's shoulders. "We want to be here." She turned her head and regarded her partner's profile. "What I can't figure out is why the hell you don't follow your business plan and leave us alone." She glanced back at Michelle, raising her eyebrows in question.

Michelle exhaled. "Because you're part of my business plan," she responded. "Look. I know my infrastructure right down to the nuts and screws just like you do." She looked right at Dar. "I know what the capacity is, and I'm at it. I can't expand anymore."

"And?" Dar shrugged. "I could have told you that. You've promised the same service level to all the accounts you picked up this year. If..." She pointed back at Michelle. "If everything runs perfectly, and no one has any increase in demand, you can provide what you promised."

"Yes."

"But things never do work perfectly," Kerry said.

"Except in your network," Michelle concluded. "So that's why I'm here. I know what ILS must pay you. I also know you've been with them forever, and maybe you're ready for a new set of challenges. I want to hire you."

Kerry looked at Michelle, then she turned and looked at Dar. "I know she's talking about you, not me," she stated, with a half chuckle.

"Actually, I'm not stupid," Michelle contradicted her. "Both of you. I know what conflict of interest is and I hate wasting money."

Holy crap. Kerry kept her mouth shut and waited for Dar's reaction. She could feel the slow, rhythmic stroking of her partner's fingers against the back of her shoulder and she was close enough to hear Dar's steady breathing.

Dar sniffed reflectively. "You don't have the money."

"To pay you?" Michelle chuckled. "Mm...you do have an ego."

But Dar shook her head. "You don't have the money to put in the infrastructure you'll need to compete, not only with us, but with the rest of the big dogs," she demurred. "I checked your market cap. You're tapped right now."

Their visitor got up and walked around the back of her chair, pacing with short, deliberate steps. "If I can get projections justified, I can get the money. I have backers lined up who are just waiting...watching to see if we can make it over the top. They were very impressed at the progress we've made so far, but now I need to take the next step." She paused and leaned on the back of the seat. "You are the next step. There is no fuzzy logic involved. Every deep pocket I have behind me knows who you are and what you can do."

Dar merely watched her, a faint smile on her face.

"So," Michelle concluded, coming around to the front of the chair again and sitting down. Dressed as she was, she seemed more like them, than the starched figure they'd been dealing with for the last few days. "That's what brings me here. I'm sorry it's been so uncivilized the past two days. My fault. Stupid choices."

Kerry decided to remain quiet. She was in no way tempted by the offer, and she knew despite Michelle's words that she'd been included for reasons that did not wholly encompass her qualifications as an IT executive. However, Dar's words earlier that evening echoed into her mind, and she had to wonder if her partner wasn't at least a little bit flattered and intrigued by the interest.

And in fact, she didn't blame Michelle one bit--far from it. She gave the woman high points for going after a prize she herself valued above all others. In fact, if she'd chosen this approach from the get go, she might indeed have gotten the synergy she'd been hoping for.

However.

"I don't expect any answer," Michelle went on. "I wanted to put the idea out there. We've got the rest of this damn show to get through, and it would make my life a lot easier if we could can the feud now."

"It's not my feud," Dar finally spoke, in a quiet voice.

Michelle watched her face closely, but apparently found nothing there. She lifted a hand and let it fall onto her denim-clad knee.

They were all briefly silent. Then Kerry cleared her throat a little. "Want some coffee?" she offered, indicating the table. "It's pretty good here."

Michelle glanced at it. "No thanks." She half grimaced, half smiled. "I'd never get to sleep. Doesn't it bother you?"

"Not really, no." Kerry shook her head. "Though I generally prefer tea at night." She leaned against Dar unobtrusively. "Why don't we agree to behave like professionals for the next few days? I'm sure we can all handle that."

"Mm." Michelle glanced at Dar.

"You didn't get any special treatment," Dar said. "This is how I always act when people get in my face. Have your people stay out of my face, and we'll have a grand old time." She pinned Michelle with a cool gaze. "Your staff has been messing with us since I got here. You made me spend half the night in that damn hall because of your little tricks, and your managers keep harassing my staff. What makes you think any of that makes you or your company even the least bit appealing for someone like me to work for?"

Michelle, surprisingly, didn't counter her accusations. Instead, she ducked her head to one side. "Granted. Like I said, bad choices. I take responsibility for that."

Dar relaxed a little. "All right then," she conceded. "We should have no problems anymore in that case. Stay out of my face and don't antagonize me and I guarantee tomorrow will be a hell of a lot more pleasant than today was. Deal?"

"I think we can manage that."

"I think
you
can manage that," Kerry spoke up. "I think if you really want to get this to happen, send your Rottweiler home."

Michelle sighed. "You're not making it any easier with all this overprotective bullshit, Kerry."

"Tough." Kerry didn't bother to protest the comment. "Did I come over to your booth during your presentation and heckle you?"

Michelle lifted a hand, then let it fall. "We're big girls. We can take it."

"Why should you have to?" Dar asked. "Why not act like professionals like the rest of us?"

Michelle considered that, and then she nodded. "I won't promise you won't be challenged," she said. "But I will do my best to keep it civil."

Kerry exhaled almost soundlessly.

"Civil works," Dar said. "Keep it professional and we should be fine."

"Good." Their visitor put her hands on the chair arms and pushed herself to her feet. "Then I won't take up more of your time. It's late, and it's been a long day." Her eyes fell on the jar, sitting patiently on the table and she blinked, reading the label, then glanced at them, one eyebrow lifting.

Kerry smiled kindly at her. "See you tomorrow." She waggled her fingers.

Michelle walked across the room and let herself out, pulling the door after her with a definite, crisp snick.

Dar drummed her fingers on Kerry's shoulder, then tilted her head back and let out a long chuckle. "Oh, ain't this a tangled web."

"They're going to be assholes tomorrow," Kerry predicted. "You're going to have to lock me in the equipment cabinet or I swear, Dar, I'm going to end up going postal on them."

"Wild thing." Dar ruffled her hair affectionately. "I love that."

"Yeah, well...those two black widows can kiss my butt." Kerry snagged the jar and wrapped her hands in Dar's shirt, tugging her upward. "C'mon, Dixiecup. Hedonism beckons."

Outside the window, the fireworks peaked in silent glory, speckling the room with twinkling lights. They were, however, lost on the occupants.

KERRY GREETED THE emerging sun bathing the balcony with a yawn. The warmth felt good right now after the chill of the hotel room, but she knew it wouldn't be long before it went from soothing to annoying and decided to enjoy it while she could.

So much had happened the day before, she spent a few minutes reviewing it all. Then she looked up as the sliding door opened and Dar emerged onto the balcony.

She took the seat next to Kerry and cradled her coffee cup in her hands, sleepy eyes regarding the view amiably. "Kerrison?"

"Yes?"

"I have chocolate in many places God did not intend," Dar announced. "And you, my salacious little mudpuppy, are going to scrub it off me this morning in that there shower." She toasted Kerry with the coffee. "In fact, I think I still have your name scrawled across my leg."

"No, you don't." Kerry licked her lips. "Trust me."

Dar chuckled, stretching her legs out into the sunshine and tensing her thigh muscles. "Tell you what. How about we get out there before all the munchkins and go in the pool for a while, before we get into our monkey suits? Show doesn't start till ten."

Kerry sucked in a lungful of pine scented, though warm, air. "Yeah. I like that idea." She decided. "Let's do it. Then we can grab a fast breakfast down at that little snack bar thing."

They got up, passing together through the glass door and bumping each other playfully as they maneuvered to the bathroom to grab their swimsuits.

Several minutes later, they had towels in hand and were headed out the door. This early, the hotel was quiet, and they could hear workers beginning to set up in the restaurants as they slipped out the back door and headed for the pool.

It was huge. But they had it pretty much to themselves, save a few tentative sunbathers gathering down at one end and timidly spreading towels out on the comfortable looking lounge chairs. Dar tossed her towel on a vacant one on the far side of the pool and dove in without a second's hesitation.

Kerry took a moment to fold her towel and put it down next to Dar's. She straightened and went to the edge of the pool and dove in.

The water was warmer than she expected, but still refreshing. She surfaced and swam to where Dar was somersaulting lazily in place, enjoying the clear liquid for a change after swimming mostly in seawater for the last few months.

Dar had on her silver gray suit. It had a functional tank neckline, but high cut sides that showed off her long legs. She flipped over onto her stomach and started to swim down the length of the pool, her powerful arms pulling her through the water with apparently effortless ease.

Kerry took off after her, working a little harder to keep up as they swam side by side all the way to the other end of the irregularly shaped pool. Arriving at the wall, they turned, then leaned back and gazed across the water, blinking chlorine out of their eyes.

"Race you?" Kerry grinned.

Dar looked at her knowingly. "How many minutes head start do I have to give you?"

Sticking out her tongue, Kerry kicked off and started swimming as hard and as fast as she could, knowing perfectly well it was a lost cause. She liked swimming, but she'd come late to the sport, since they hadn't had a pool in Michigan and the idea of her going to a public pool would never have been countenanced.