Kerry put her hands behind her head and pondered the question. “Hm. I don't' feel like cooking but I also don't feel like getting dressed up.” She said. “Not after that wedding. Want to just go to the beach club? Or .. no, we had him over to the Italian place that last time.”
“Let's have something from the main place delivered here.” Dar decided. “Good compromise?”
Kerry smiled at her.
“Thought so.” Dar yawned. “I'll go make some coffee.”
“I'll go check the menu online.” Kerry rolled up out of the hammock and joined her at the door. “C'mon, Chino. We'll get you a little steak too.”
“Growf!”
Kerry poured Alastair a glass of wine, handling the bottle with casual expertise as she handed the glass over to him. “So what's the board's problem, Alastair?”
Alastair McLean, their stocky, gray haired boss, the CEO of ILS, swirled the glass and took a sip before he answered. “Well, now we come down to it.” He said. “Glad we left it till after that nice meal to talk about, ladies.” He rested his elbow on the table and regarded the two of them.
“Uh oh.” Dar leaned back and folded her hands over her stomach. “That sounds like trouble.”
“Well.” Alastair waggled his free hand. “It's like this. Y'know we've been on a talent search the past few months looking for replacements.”
“For us.” Kerry seated herself and put her napkin back on her lap.
Alastair gave her a wry grin. “Let's put the cards down. I can be replaced. You can be replaced.” He looked over at Dar. “You, on the other hand, are a big problem.”
Dar blinked mildly at him. “I've been a big problem since birth if you ask my mother.” She said. “C'mon, Alastair. Don't tell me they can't find another CIO. Give me a break.”
“Board's been interviewing potential candidates since fall.” Her boss agreed. “Not that there's a lack of people out there, but frankly, Dar, you're a tough act to follow.”
Dar rolled her eyes. “Oh please.”
“No, please.” Alastair drummed his fingers on the wooden table surface. “The last six, all told the board the same thing. It would be career suicide to have to follow you in that position. They don't want it, not even at any price.”
Kerry chuckled softly under her breath. “I only had to fill in for her for what.. one day? I totally believe that.”
“So what are they going to do?” Dar lifted a hand, a puzzled expression on her face. “Alastair, I'm not an indentured servant. I am allowed to leave, right?”
Alastair sighed. “The problem is, the logical person to move into that position is someone in your direct chain who you've mentored.”
Kerry cleared her throat.
“Exactly.” He tilted his head in her direction. “So my moment of turning a blind eye to your relationship is now biting us very hard in the ass.”
“The board knew.” Dar said. “We've made no attempt to hide our lives the last few years.” She said. “Anyone with a brain would have figured if I left, Kerry would too.” She frowned. “What the hell would you have done if something had happened to us? We've had a few close shaves.”
Alastair agreed. “That's why they dedicated a jet to you, Dar.” His voice went serious. “You are, like it or not, an extremely valuable corporate asset.” He took another sip of wine. “Of course you're not an indentured servant. None of us are, but we have put ourselves into a sticky situation that I'm not sure I know how to get us out of.”
Kerry watched her partner's face, as the words sunk in. She had, privately, been wondering if they could find someone or someones to replace them, since she was more aware than most of just how integral they were in the operations of the company.
So to hear Alastair say what he was saying didn't surprise her nearly as much as it seemed to surprise her other half. Dar had a weird, somewhat self blinded view of herself sometimes, and this was one of the times it showed. “So, the problem isn't that you can't get a replacement, the problem is, any replacement you want doesn't want the job, and people who want the job, you don't want.”
Alastair nodded.
“Well, crap.” Dar lifted her hands and let them fall, an exasperated expression on her face.
Kerry got up and went over to her, putting her hands on her partner's shoulders and squeezing them. “Honey, I've always told you that you're one of a kind.” She gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “Let me get the ice cream.” She went into the kitchen and got a small tray out, removing the ice cream sundaes the restaurant had sent over that she'd stored in the freezer.
Chino followed her in, and sat down next to her tail sweeping the floor with anticipation.
“Oh, you think you get ice cream too, madame?”
“Growf.”
“So, what are we going to do?” Dar asked. “Alastair, not being able to hire a replacement.. what the hell?”
Alastair smiled. “You surprised?”
“I am.” Dar said. “It's just a CIO position. There are at least 499 other companies in the Fortune 500 and I'm willing to bet most of them have someone like me.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes.” Dar answered honestly. “I'm not unique. What I do isn't unique. It's just infrastructure operations. Are you telling me the donks they interviewed were so scared of stuff I've done they don't have the balls to come in and better me?”
“Yes.” Her boss said. “That's exactly what I'm saying.”
“Alastair.”
“Dar, it's just bad timing.” He conceded. “If we hadn't been so visible during the attacks, hadn't been on TV every other day, and then the follow ups, and those interviews you did for CNN... spotlight's pretty bright on us and now, the government's calling asking for more.”
“I don't want to do anything for that government.” Dar answered, flatly. “And you shouldn't either.”
Alastair lifted his hand, and let it fall. “I've got a pretty thick skin. I know where they were coming from trying to nail me, and while I don't like it, Dar, I do understand it.”
“I don't like it, and I don't want to understand it.” She responded. “I've had enough. I want to spend some time just living my life. The board's going to have to get over itself and just hire someone who can keep the pie plates spinning.”
“And they will, Dar.” Alastair held up a pacifying hand. “No one's saying you can't leave if you want to. What I”m saying is, it might take a little longer than we planned.”
“Grr.” Dar made a low growling sound deep in her throat.
“C'mon. You gave the company a good part of your life. Whats a month or so more?” Alastair said. “Besides, if you cooperate with the board, they'll hand you everything you want.. you can even get out of the exclusion clause if you want to. If you put them in a corner.. “
“If we put them in a corner, what?” Kerry came out with the tray and deposited the sundaes in front of them. “What would they do, Alastair? Take away Dar's stock and pension or something?”
“They might.” Alastair answered, with quiet honesty. “But the thing I don't want, is for them take advantage of the two of you, and decide to get ratty. You served the company with a lot of honor, Dar. I want you to go out that way.”
“Hm.” Dar eyed him over the sundae. “Well.” She picked up her spoon and glanced at Kerry. “We'll work something out. I don't want to get them all in an uproar now anyway.”
Kerry looked back at her. “Now?”
“The other voice mail was that adviser of the Presidents.” Dar said, selecting her cherry and biting into it. “He wants to talk.”
“Oh.” Alastair frowned.