Cancelled (4 page)

“Happy New Year.” Johnathan only took a sip, never really caring for the drink. “Any resolutions?”

Alex laughed. “Uh, lose ten pounds...and no more dating jerks.” She sat back down on the couch, but gave plenty of space between them. “What about you?”

“Hmm. Lose ten pounds and no more dating jerks? I can get behind those.”

“Those are mine. You have to have something different.”

“Okay, okay” Johnathan caught the couch pillow Alex threw at him to emphasize her point. “How about...lose five pounds and no more dating women of low quality?”

Alex rolled her eyes and followed with a yawn.

“Well it's been fun, but I'm old. And exhausted.”

“I guess we're both old, then.” Johnathan's body still felt confused from the time change, but he knew getting to bed now would help put it back on track.

“Good night.” Alex leaned in to give him a quick hug before scooting to the familiar room she usually slept in. Crashing at Johnathan's used to be a regular thing for the three owners of AJE Robotics. Eric always gallantly took the couch.

After making it to the bedroom, she turned back around and walked over to the coffee table. She picked up the silver perpetual clock with a pearl inlay face Johnathan gave her for Christmas, holding it tightly in both hands. “I love the music it plays. The song is so familiar, but I can't remember the name.”

"La vie en rose," Johnathan offered. She nodded with a grin. His insides secretly jumped up and down to see how much she liked his gift. He waved good night to her once more before picking up the few plates and glasses from their evening of revelry. He turned off the TV and retired to his own bedroom. Before falling into bed, he lifted the fantasy series paperback he was rereading from his nightstand. Somewhere around the third page, he fell asleep with the light on and lost his place.

3

T
he Hedis proposal landed on Johnathan's desk with a sharp flapping sound. He mashed the voicemail button and picked up his receiver once the messages began. Around message twelve, Bob Winter's voice warned his bosses were trying to ditch AJE for a bigger competitor.

Johnathan replayed the time and date. The message had arrived two days before Christmas, the last day of work for most people in the business. Bob was a pretty stand up guy, but Johnathan was glad Alex called him home from Paris; old-military types loved to see shit like that.

He pressed delete and leaned back in his chair. Eric's presence in his doorway made him push ideas of how to get Alexis to go out on a date to the back of his mind.

“You could have backed me up. You didn't have to come charging in here and take over.” Eric challenged Johnathan with every fiber of his body. Johnathan had never seen Eric this angry, but instead of making him worried, it screamed childishness.

“Grow up.” Johnathan returned to memorizing the schematic so he could take any question in fifteen minutes when the big bosses at Hedis joined the conference call.

“Is this about last weekend? I got your message. I thought you were having a great time. Not my fault she was dog ugly in the morning.”

“No, this isn't about last weekend. It's about—no, it is about last weekend. What the hell, Eric? You take off with a limo and can't be reached for two days? And this–” Johnathan held up the Hedis proposal–“What is this garbage? I warned you this wasn't a time to play mad scientist.”

Eric looked down at the floor and Johnathan's custom rug. His office back in the Cave was more of a disaster area, with Red Bull stains and crumbs customizing his carpet. “It was supposed to always be about playing mad scientist,” he said quietly, but loud enough for Johnathan to hear.

Jonathan sighed. They both had big dreams in college and grad school. He was getting the business degree and Eric was specializing in microelectronics. Together, they were going to design and patent a brand new world.

“There's too much risk in the patent world. I never have an issue with your side projects, but as a company, we have people counting on us for a paycheck. You and me included.” Johnathan hated playing Eric's boss, but he owned 34% of the company, nudging him slightly ahead of the other two. It was only fair; his inheritance started the company. Three years later, he wasn't sure the dynamic was still healthy.

“Side projects. Why can't we do both? Why do we have to be whores to people looking to kill with greater efficiency?”

“That's not fair. Alex works hard to verify any defense contracts we work on are defensive weapons, not offensive. We all feel strongly about that.

“Now who needs to grow up?” Eric snatched the folder from Johnathan's hand and recited the project scope. “The 'Bluebird' needs to retrieve packages up to one meter in any dimension and up to 22.7 kg in weight. Providing this important functionality can allow troops and aid workers to obtain supplies in high-combat areas with minimal risk to human life.”

Eric tossed the folder back into Johnathan's lap. “How long do you really think it's going to take them to use the Bluebird's robotic arm to handle bioweapons, or even tactical nukes?”

Eric left Johnathan with two minutes to get to the conference call.

Dashing over to Alex's office, Johnathan nodded to the administrative assistant, Zachary. The kid was an engineering student over at George Washington, but still had two years to go. If he showed some aptitude, they would start transitioning him into the engineering assistant job next fall. Zachary handed Johnathan a coffee.

“Don't worry, she's only looked for you once.”

Johnathan grinned, and with his back to Alex's door thanked him for the coffee. He twisted the knob behind his back, and rolled into her office, closing the door behind him.

“Eric won't be joining us.”

“Oh, is there a problem?” Bob Winter's voice filled the room.

Johnathan looked at Alex and mouthed
Shit
. Alex pointed at the clock. 9:03.

“No, no, there's no problem, Bob. Just a few fires with our other clients that Eric is putting out.” Johnathan chuckled to smooth things over, and settled himself into his normal chair. “How did you like the proposal?”

A female voice rose from the speaker, more nasal and proper than Bob's booming one.

“You're certain these figures are correct? The manipulator can be prototyped at 80% of the original budget, and production will have a 5% savings over projected cost?”

“That's Sydney Porter, she's our Alex over here.” Bob explained.

“Nice to meet you, Sydney. Yes, those figures are correct. When I changed the hydraulic lines to ones we've used on many projects before, our inventory showed a number still in stock from a project we finished up for Rohmler in December. We can use those on five of the prototypes, and I spoke with my contact over at the fabricator. We've negotiated a slight discount because of AJE's proven business to them in the past. I hope we can continue that relationship with our vendor with more similar work in the future.” Johnathan summed up the cost savings so the people in the room at Hedis didn't think they overpriced their first estimate.

“That sounds great—” Bob started but was interrupted by someone on his team.

“Why wouldn't you roll those savings into your own profit? I don't understand why they are just now making it into the proposal if you intended to give them all along.” The nasal woman was back. Jesus, who the hell was she?

Johnathan looked at Alex. She gladly took over.

“Sydney, I'm sure you can appreciate our estimates don't count on left over inventory from other clients. In this case, Rohmler doesn't want them back, and we have them to use. The prototypes are field operational anyway, and all of the materials we use fit mil spec. This was a cost savings Mr. Michaels was able to exploit and we decided as a firm to pass it on to our customer,” Alex said.

Johnathan marveled at Alex's candor. He wanted to tell this woman to fuck off.

“I see. I just wonder if this savings suddenly appeared because we now have competing—” The nasal voice was cut off by many coughs and throat clearing on the other end of the line.

“Bob?”

“Yeah John, right here.”

“Let's clear the air. You know I'm a straight shooter."

"That's what we like over here," Bob said.

"I have taken care of the problems on my side regarding this design. It fits the spec, and more importantly, it fulfills our side of the contract we have with your company. The one with a no compete clause, Ms. Porter.” Johnathan paused, waiting for a response. Bob finally rogered up.

“I'd have to agree with you there Johnathan. Understand, it wasn't until the over budget proposal came in that we shopped around.”

Johnathan frowned. Exactly how dumb did this blustering man think he was?

“Let's not get into semantics. You hired AJE because we provide quality and what the big boys can't, a lack of bureaucratic bull shit. Eric Hinson went above and beyond on the quality side of the initial design. We're sensitive to the cost restraints on your side of the house, but the original design was the kind to set a standard in paramilitary and humanitarian robotics. Even with the new cost savings, Eric Hinson's genius will still play a big part in every step of this prototype. Hedis Aeronautics won't find a better deal of value and brilliance anywhere else.”

Alex stared at the phone. Johnathan worried he messed up, until Alex finally caught his eye and smiled. He wished Eric had been here to see him defend his oldest friend.

“No one here doubts Hinson's engineering talent, but we all have higher callings to fill.” Bob paused and mutterings could be heard in the room connected remotely by technology. “I think my side is all good here. We do need all of these drawings finalized.”

“Absolutely. Why don't you and I workout a time line on our regular conference call on Thursday?” Alex rejoined the conversation and tabled details until later. It was clear Bob had guests in his office that would hinder any meaningful work.

“Sounds great, Alex. By the way, our parent company is hosting a benefit for the earthquake victims. We have subsidiaries on the ground providing support. It's next month on the twenty-seventh. Let me know how many people are coming from your group and I'll make space at a table.”

“Thanks, Bob. I'll get back to you on Thursday.” Alex pushed the button to end the call.

“Benefit? Do I have to wear a tux?”

Alex slid a flier out from her planner. Johnathan never understood how this woman knew everything before it happened.

“If it's this dinner at the Park Hyatt, then yes, it's black tie. Bring your check book. There's a charity auction.” She fingered the edge of the glossy postcard.

“Great. Wonder how much money actually benefits anyone who lost their home and livelihood.” Johnathan stood up to leave.

“Hey, you want to work lunch so I can get the time lines from you?”

“Alex, it's Monday. We don't talk to Bob until Thursday. I need to go smooth things over with Eric.”

Alex pressed her lips together. Johnathan told himself he wasn't procrastinating. He really did need to tell Eric he defended his design and that he needed him on board if they were going to make this work.

Already feeling he needed another vacation, Johnathan walked back towards the Cave. He knew Eric would be tinkering at the work bench. It's where he always went when he was pissed.

Johnathan took complete control over the Hedis account over the next few weeks. Eric finally came around to playing second fiddle after Johnathan turned control of other projects over to him. Working lunches with Alex grew more and more common; advance invitations ceased.

Alex discovered a new deli with the best vegetarian sandwiches and dragged Johnathan on a random Wednesday. Johnathan opted for a Greek inspired grilled chicken salad, while Alex sampled the new crudités plate.

“Mmmm...this ranch tastes like the home made dip my mom makes from sour cream and mayo.” Alex offered a slice of red bell pepper dripping with the white nostalgia. Johnathan readily leaned forward to bit it from her hand. Alex giggled at his caveman manners.

“I didn't mean for you to do that.” She tilted her nose down and gave him an impression of a teacher scolding a pupil. He shrugged, and nosily slurped the bit of dressing on the corner of his mouth with his longer than average tongue. Breaking into laughter at his own antics, he used his napkin to wipe the excess spit from his face.

“Oh. My. God. I do not know you.” Alex shielded her face from him, but he pulled her hand away. Holding on to it just a little longer than he should, Alex settled her left hand back into her lap and returned to her sliced vegetables and assorted crackers.

Johnathan wanted Alex more than ever. He couldn't remember his attraction ever being so all-consuming. Every touch he wanted to make more. Despite his abilities in advanced electronics logic, he couldn't think of a good time to just ask her out. What if she said no? What if she said yes? Not knowing the consequences of either situation, he continued to bide his time.

“Do you want to know the status of finalizing the drawings?” Johnathan stabbed his salad with new ferociousness.

“Please. I plan to bill these assholes the second we get approved to prototype.”

Faxes continued to fly from AJE to Hedis. Every sheet of the drawing made seven or eight exchanges before the Hedis engineer would finally sign off. It wouldn't be so bad if they were working with local engineers. Instead, the faxes went to Bob at the DC office, he forwarded them to engineers in Mexico, and then those went to the Hedis fabrication office in Seattle. It was a Charlie-Foxtrot of massive proportions.

Eric had threatened to take a hammer to the fax machine. Johnathan had laughed at his threat, but wondered if it wasn't partly serious when he overheard Eric gleefully insulting rejected drawings as he fed them to the shredder.

“We're almost there, the last two pages should finalize before the end of this week.”

“You think? I bet they drag it out until after the gala this weekend.”

The benefit dinner was a giant wedge in the office. Despite both of their efforts, neither Johnathan or Alex could convince Eric to attend. Johnathan didn't try too hard to convince him–he relished a night as Alex's default date.