Break the Rules (The Flanagan Sisters Book 1) (16 page)

The
problem was
,
Jack’s department wasn’t directly
involved in making money for the business. They were a support team and while
if something in safety or the environment went wrong it could cost the company
millions, no one outside of the department thought there was a big risk. He was
going to have to get his figures together, find examples of where things had
gone wrong and use all of his powers of persuasion when it came time for the
budget meeting with management.

They
ate lunch outside on the veranda, everyone more than pleased to get out of the
room. In the middle of the garden there were two picnic tables, shaded by a couple
of trees. Jack decided moving out there might work to keep the ideas fresh and
people awake.

They
carried their things to the tables and finished their discussions about
training. They were considering an online training program to allow shift workers
to keep their skills up to date without having to sit down with a trainer,
which would also enable them to do their training on night shift when the
workload was lighter.

“It
might be modular,” Bridget said. “We could buy one module, whichever would have
the best return on investment, and then get the other modules in future years.”

“I’ll
look into it,” one of the trainers said.

Jack
was impressed by the way Bridget had taken part in the session so far. She had
so many ideas and sensible suggestions to improve the plant. He was looking
forward to hearing what she had to say about safety.

He
wrapped up the training discussions and turned to his safety staff. “I’ve been
a little alarmed at the level of safety around the plant,” he began. “We’re in
real danger of someone getting badly injured. The project for encasing the
relief valves in the crude unit is well underway and I appreciate all the
support you’ve given Bridget.”

“The
auditors don’t know what they’re talking about,” Dirk grumbled. “They think
they know about safety but they don’t know shit about what will work on this
plant.”

Jack
couldn’t let Dirk’s comment go unanswered. “You don’t think the issues they
highlighted in their audit report are a problem?”

“They’ve
always been there and nothing’s happened.”

This
was the kind of attitude Jack was trying to change on the rest of the site, he
didn’t need someone in his own department with it as well. “We’ve been lucky so
far. Bridget developed the action plan from the department’s suggestions, and
its implementation will go a long way in improving the safety on the plant.”

Dirk
grunted. “You’re just saying that because you want to get in her pants,” he
mumbled.

Bridget
gasped and then it was so silent Jack could have heard a pin drop. His staff
exchanged glances, waiting for his reaction.

Dirk
crossed his arms. “I’d be careful, Jack. She almost killed three guys at her
previous job because she was sleeping with her boss.”

Chapter 16

Jack clenched his fists. Across from him Bridget
flinched, her mouth dropping open, and then fire appeared in her eyes, telling
him she was about to explode.

“That’s
enough,” he said, struggling to maintain a calm tone. “By suggesting the
project is a waste of time, you’re not only insulting Bridget’s and my
integrity, but also the rest of the team’s. Go inside, and I’ll talk with you
in a minute.” He wasn’t going to dignify Dirk’s disgusting comment with a
reply.

Dirk
glared at him and then looked around the table. He swore and stomped inside.

Jack
let out a breath and slowly unclenched his fist. “I want to set a few things
straight,” he said, making eye contact with each of his team members. “I moved
in with Bridget because her roommate married my brother. I needed to find new
accommodation and she needed someone to help pay the rent. It was a practical
solution.” He paused, glancing at Bridget who was watching him carefully,
waiting for what he was going to say next. “If any of you have concerns this
arrangement will affect the way either Bridget or I behave at work, you need to
raise it with HR or with me.” His team members had expressions of shock and
interest. All of them met his gaze. “But if anyone insults either Bridget or
myself
the way Dirk just did, there will be disciplinary
action. Am I clear?”

Everyone
nodded.

“We’ll
take a fifteen-minute break.” Jack waited until they all stood and moved away.

Bridget
made a beeline for her room and both Sally and Trish followed her. He didn’t
have time to go after her himself like he wanted. He needed to control his
anger and deal with Dirk. He really did not need this now. Dirk’s reaction was
exactly the thing Bridget had feared. Would she use this as a reason to break
up?

Taking
another breath, he went to face the jackass.

* * *

Bridget
moved as fast as she could without running, heading to the privacy of her room.
Part of her wanted to rage and part of her wanted to sob. She’d never got along
with Dirk, but for him to say those things in front of the whole department was
just plain wrong.

She
burst into the room and slammed the door behind her. She paced, clenching and
unclenching her hands. She really wanted to hit something.

Preferably
Dirk.

Was
he the only one thinking those things, or were the others too polite to say it
out loud? Was she ever going to escape the stigma of the Lionel affair? Did
everyone secretly believe she was to blame?

The
door behind her opened and she whirled around to find Sally and Trish.

Trish
gave her a sympathetic smile. “How are you holding up?”

Bridget
took a couple of breaths, trying to calm herself enough so she could speak. She
focused on business first. “Does everyone believe my project is a waste of
time?”

“Of
course not,” Sally said. “Dirk’s a bitter man who can’t handle being told no.”

“It’s
a nightmare working with him,” Trish added. “I hope Jack can get rid of him.”

Feeling
a little better, Bridget stopped pacing. She turned to Trish. “We discussed the
corrective actions as a group. You all had suggestions of your own.” She was
sure of it.

“Yeah,
and you listened to them. That action list was developed by the whole
department.”

The
relief was soothing. Dirk had made her doubt herself. Bridget took a breath.
“What about what he said about me and Jack?”

Sally
and Trish exchanged a look.

“There’s
always going to be talk,” Sally said. “You know what people are like.”

“And
it’s no one’s business,” Trish added. “You’re both adults. I’m pretty sure you
can keep work and your private life separate.”

Bridget
stared at Trish. “You think there’s something going on between us?” Had they
been so obvious or was it only because of the house situation?

“I
saw the way Jack looked at you when I asked him out.” Trish shrugged. “I
figured even if you’re not involved, he’s interested.”

Damn
him! Bridget sat down on the bed and put her hands in her head.

“Hey,
Bridge, there are worse things than having a single, sexy man interested in
you.”

“He’s
my boss.”

“Once
bitten, twice shy,” Sally said to Trish. “You know what happened.”

Everyone
knew. That was part of the problem.

“Bridge,
we know how dedicated you are,” said Trish. “We’ve heard you take on Kevin.
There’s no way you’ll let anyone come before the safety of the plant.”

Trish’s
confidence in her was comforting.

“Why
don’t we go out there before Jack gets back?” Sally suggested. “You can ask the
others what they think. They’ll tell it to you straight.”

She
was right. If anyone disagreed with her they’d let her know. Bridget got to her
feet. “Let’s go.”

Outside
the others were hovering in a group talking. Jack and Dirk hadn’t returned.
When Bridget approached, they stopped talking and faced her.

“All
right,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Who agrees with Dirk? If any of you
think I’m incompetent or that living with the boss will skew my judgment, you
need to speak up.”

Jeremy
was the first to respond. “We know Dirk was talking bullshit, Bridge.”

She
smiled at him. He’d always been on her side.

Ken
stepped forward. “I was just messing around earlier. I didn’t mean it.”

“You’ve
always got our backs,” one of the trainers said.

“I’ve
never seen anyone stand up to Kevin the way you do,” Sally said. “We’ve been
able to achieve a lot for the environment this year because of you.”

Bridget
breathed out a sigh of relief. “If you have any concerns, you’ll let me know?”

They
nodded. She glanced at her watch and then at the door where Dirk and Jack had
gone. She wasn’t sure how long they would be.

“Shall
we get back to work?”

* * *

Jack
took a moment outside of the room to calm
himself
further before walking in. Dirk was sitting slumped in one of the chairs.

He
looked up as Jack walked in and scowled. “It’s not like I didn’t say what
everyone’s thinking.”

“Your
comment was completely unacceptable and Bridget would be perfectly within her
rights to raise a harassment case against you.”

Dirk
paled.

“What’s
your problem with Bridget?”

“She’s
got everyone fooled. The incident at her last job proved her incompetence but
Jeremy was so blinded by her that he convinced Dionysus to hire her. To give
her the job that was meant to be mine.” His words were bitter. “Then she
besotted your predecessor so much she was asked to be acting manager when he
got sick.”

“So
you think you deserve to have my job?”

Dirk
nodded, glaring at him.

Jack
kept his tone even. “In the five weeks I’ve been here, I haven’t seen a single
example of your ability to lead,” he said. “During the exercises yesterday you
didn’t listen to others, you went off on your own and seemed incapable of
working as part of a team. I would suggest that’s more likely the reason you
didn’t get the job you wanted.”

Dirk
flung his chair back and got to his feet. “Nobody’s going to listen to me
anyway. Not if it means disagreeing with you or Bridget. I could go to HR.”

“That’s
a good idea,” Jack said. “I’ll arrange a meeting with them tomorrow. I’ll send you
the details.” He stood. “It’s time for us to rejoin the others.”

He
took immense satisfaction at the shock that crossed Dirk’s face as he walked
out of the room.

* * *

The
rest of the afternoon went without a hitch. Jack was pleased that Bridget
seemed OK. Whatever had happened while he was talking to Dirk had calmed her,
and she took part in as much of the discussion as she had before Dirk’s
interruption.

Dirk
returned to the group and sat silently, scowling the whole time. There wasn’t
much Jack could do about that but he would document exactly what had happened
when he got home and present it to HR in the morning. He did not want someone
so toxic in his department and this was the first step in getting rid of him.

When
they were finished, Jack promised his team he’d collate all their ideas and
they’d meet again next week to whittle the projects down to something he could
present to the management team. While the team collected their things and said
their goodbyes, he packed up. Bridget was talking with Trish and Sally and they
both hugged her before they left.

Jack
waited until everyone was gone before he approached Bridget. “How are you
feeling?”

She
ran a hand through her hair.
“Exhausted.
I want to go
home and soak in the bath.”

He
shut the image out of his mind. She did look tired. As they walked to his car
he asked, “What happened while I was speaking with Dirk?”

“Sally
and Trish talked to me. Trish is convinced we’re involved, but she doesn’t
care. Neither does Sally.” Bridget shrugged. “I spoke with the rest of the
team, asked them straight out if they had a problem and they don’t. I think
it’s just Dirk.”

“I’m
sure it is.”

“Did
he tell you what his problem was?”

Jack
hesitated. “I can’t tell you that, Bridge. But I can tell you I made it clear
his behavior was unacceptable.”

“Thanks.
I appreciate you sending him away. I was going to blow my top.”

He
smiled. “I know.” Jack unlocked the car and put their bags in the trunk, before
sliding into the driver’s seat. Pulling into the traffic, he said, “You came up
with some great ideas today, both for safety and the other sections.”

“I’ve
been involved in everything for the last six months,” she reminded him.

“The
team respects you a lot.”

“I
listen is all,” she said. “Sometimes all they need is someone to listen to
them.”

Jack
nodded. They all had limitations as to what they could do, whether they were
time, money, or approvals, but to have someone listen to your concerns helped.

“Were
you pleased with the outcomes?” Bridget asked.

“Yes.
I got to know the team better and we’ve got a lot of great ideas to work
toward.”

They
were silent for the rest of the drive. Jack carried their bags inside and once
the door was closed, he gathered Bridget into his arms.

“I’ve
been wanting
to do this for hours.” He held her for a
long moment, needing to touch her, to offer her comfort.

She
hugged him back. “What was that for?”

“For
not being able to go to you after Dirk said those things.”

“You
did the right thing,” she said. “Work has to come first.”

Bridget
was right. She came first in everything to him, but while he was her boss, he
had to be the manager and not the lover. Perhaps they couldn’t work on the same
team and be involved. Perhaps it was a distraction for them both.

But
he wasn’t willing to let her go.

She
stepped back. “I’m going to take a bath. I need to soak my muscles and relax.
Some of the exercise we did yesterday is creeping up on me.”

He wanted
to ask if the bath was big enough for two, but he suspected she needed some
space. “Do you want anything to eat?”

She
shook her head. “I’ll make some toast when I get out if I’m hungry. We ate a
lot today.”

He
let her go. She wouldn’t like it if he tried to crowd
her,
she wasn’t one who needed pampering or molly-coddling.

No
matter how much he wanted to.

* * *

Jack’s
cell rang as he sat down on the couch with a beer and a sandwich.

“Jackson,
did your move go well?” his mother asked.

“Hi Mom.
Yeah, I got a few of my things out of storage because Tanya took her stuff to
Hal’s.”

“How
are things with your new roommate? Is it working out all right?”

Jack
hadn’t told his mother about his relationship with Bridget. He hadn’t wanted to
jinx it. “Fine, Mom. Bridget’s easy to live with.”

“It
was so good of you to move in with her to help her out.”

“It
came as a surprise to both of us when Hal and Tanya got married so suddenly.”

His
mother murmured in agreement. “That’s what I’m calling about. I haven’t
received your RSVP for the party.”

“What
party?”

“Hal
and
Tanya’s
of course.
This
Saturday.
Don’t tell me your brother didn’t pass on your invitation.”

“I
haven’t seen Hal since I moved out.” Jack wasn’t surprised. Hal had been so
caught up in Tanya that he’d barely seen him even when they were living
together.