Chapter 8: Feelings

When everyone has arrived and introductions made, Marcus takes them through what he envisions and expects from the project.  He then puts some key people in charge of smaller groups so they can report to him and update him on progress.  Grant is in charge of the sub group that will research and design the inner finishes and furnishing, with Amber as his second to help decide on colour preferences and overall finishes.

Amber also tells them about their visit to the textile factory and the advances they’ve made that will really help them out.  When Ms. Harper a rather snobby designer who thinks that education is everything.  Questions Amber about her qualifications to be in such a leading role.

Amber looks at her and tells her to ask her anything of the new tech available to them and their uses?  She asks her a few questions, which Amber answers well with a lot more info than most know.  When Ms. Harper seems to struggle to find another question to ask her.  Grant says “people don’t need the official letters after their name to know what they are talking about or what they are doing.  That is a little small minded and snobbish on your part.”

At this Ms. Harper shuts up, pursing her lips annoyed that he dared to reprimand her.  “I was the one that asked Amber to come on board after meeting her and talking to her.  I found her to be a wealth of information and passionate about design and helping people.  You really shouldn’t be so quick to judge people” Marcus also reprimands her.

She nods at his words and apologises to Amber.  “That’s okay I would have proven to you, that I can and will do a great job” Amber says making the others in the room sit up and take note of her.  Not everyone would have the balls to say anything to Ms. Harper.  Let alone having two other main figures in the design industry speak up for her.

The meeting ends after 4 hours of discussion and organisation.  Marcus telling them the date of their next meeting, which will assign budgets and dates that initial planning of materials to be used, should be finished by.  They are meeting now, but the ground won’t be broken until at least 6 months later, all being well. 

Grant takes Amber back to her place, “don’t mind Ms. Harper she is known as a snob but is good at her job.  As part of the site is clay, sand and marsh land, she should be able to figure out the best way to solve the foundation laying.  In order, that there is no undue stress placed on the finished building” he comforts her.

“I didn’t mind, really” she assures him.  “That’s good then, we should make our own group chat and arrange some meeting to discuss how best to move forward” Grant says as she takes out her phone taps away in it.  “Done, I have also scheduled fortnightly meetings every Monday at 9am.  That way we can discuss what we need to get done and what we still need to research.  Before the Thursday meeting’s that Marcus has mentioned.  I will also set up a chat for just you and I as well as a group email account” she informs him.

Grant is impressed and says so.  “I was Clive’s assistant when I first started, so it became second nature to me.  To set things up when he talked about them or at least start off the request, so I’d not forget later on.  The email and group chats are linked to out calendars so any times and dates mentioned, can be easily placed on them with a day before reminders” she clarifies

Once parked in front of her building she thanks him and tells him to get in touch with her anytime, if he needs help or just wants to talk.  He watches her walk into her building with a slight smile.  Amber seems calmer than Stacey was, but just as passionate in what she does.  He suspects that he is going to enjoy getting to know her more.

In the following weeks they, get together regularly and discuss the direction they wish to go.  He also keeps her up to date with his companies work and any new break throughs they’ve had and about his talks with Mr. Knight.  He can see the changes in Amber from Stacey, even though he was told not to compare them, he finds it is very hard not too.

Amber also see’s Grant as someone she can rely on.  He is hard working and listens to her well as well as passing on info he may have come across and thought she’d find interesting.  When its time to all get together for the next meeting.  She and Grants group have a lot to discuss with the others.  Grant picks her up outside her work before hand and takes her to the meeting at Marcus’s office again.  Each group is given 30 minutes to report on what they’ve been looking at.  Grant lets Amber talk about all they’ve discussed.  She has no problem answering all their questions.

Marcus then discuses in some detail the budget.  The main budget being the build its self but there is still plenty left for the interior and furnishing.  As Amber asked the council to send a person to liaises with them, Marcus asks her to be their main contact.  She agrees and exchanges contact information with them.

They break for lunch and mingle with the rest of the team getting to know them more.  Grant gets a call from Jane again just as lunch is finishing.  “I do not need you to remind me to eat! Please concentrate on your own job as that is what you are being paid for” Amber hears him say.

“Problem?” she asks as he ends the call.  “I wonder sometimes just what I have to do, so she will stop bothering me?  I have made my stance very clear on the matter.  But she still insists on trying to get closer to me” he tells her shaking his head.

“Best to tell her you’ve got someone you are interested in and give her an official warning as it is the work place and she should be concentrating on her job and not how to pick up the boss!” Amber says with some heat.  She blinks as she even shocks herself, with how angry the thought of this woman trying to get close to Grant, makes her.

Grant though is rather pleased that it makes her mad.  He hides his smile and nods in agreement with her.  “I will, thank you” he assures her and again is pleased that his promise seems to cheer her up.  She touches his arm with her hand “if you need back-up let me know” she offers his smile turns to a grin. “I’ll do as you’ve suggested and if she still doesn’t get the hint, I might take you up on your offer” he tells her.  She pats his arm with her hand “good, good, now back to work for us too” she says and they walk back to the conference room, both feeling better than they did a few short minutes ago.

When the meeting ends a couple of hour later.  Grant and Amber leave together and he drops her off back at her work even though there is only an hour to go before the working day finishes.  They’ve arranged some more meetings and she has agreed to go to his company’s research centre with him next week.

Grant goes back to his own office and when Jane meets him, before he has even got to his office, he feels his anger getting the best of him.  “What is it?” he asks sharply “did your meeting go well?” she asks.  He stops before reaching his office and looks at her directly “do I need to report to you now?” he asks her, making the other people in the office stop and pay attention.

Jane flutters her eyelashes at him and giggle “no silly” she says “Ms. Wilcox, do I have to remind you again, that this is the work place? You are here to do a job!  A job that you don’t seem to really care for, as you are always paying more attention to me.  I will be issuing a final written warning.  As all my verbal warnings have been ignored.  This is your final warning to concentrate on your job and your job alone!  Now get back to work” he orders in a very controlled voice that does nothing to hide the annoyance he feels.

Jane now red in the face, nods and walks towards her desk, then quickly detours to the bathrooms.  “Everyone, get on with their work.  I’ll be asking HR to do a work review” Grant instructs ending with the warning.  No-one is happy with Jane and her never ending man quest.

Grant goes back to his office and makes a call to HR asking them to write a final warning to Ms. J Wilcox and to also do a work review on her team.  At the end of the day, the employees under Jane aren’t happy as they’ve all received work review, dates and times.  Some go for a drink after work to moan about Jane and how she is becoming more and more obsessed with Grant.

Grant however feels much lighter and stress free as he leaves work.  He gets the urge to call Amber and so gives her a call before getting into his car.  He tells her he’s spoken to Jane and has given her a final warning.  He then asks her if she fancies having dinner with him.  She agrees and he tells her to wait for him to come pick her up.  As he turns smiling to get in his car, he see’s Jane hovering two cars away.  He texts security and HR before getting in his car and driving towards the exist.  He keeps his eye on his rear-view mirror and sees her dashing towards her own car.

Just what is she thinking?  He thinks driving towards Amber’s work and is thankful she is waiting curbside for him and just jumps in the car as he pulls up.  He checks his rear-view mirror again and see’s Jane’s car at the lights.

“Amber, I told Jane that I wasn’t interested and thought that would be it” Grant starts to say “but I saw her watching me in the carpark and she is now following me about two cars behind, in the white Nissan” he continues.

Amber looks through her side mirror and spots the white car behind them.  “Why would she think this is alright?” she asks, Grant glances at her and shrugs his shoulders “I have no idea.  I have never given her any reason to believe that she is anything more than a co-worker.  It is a little worrying, isn’t it?” he asks

Amber checks her mirror again “more than a little” she agrees with him.   “I’ll pull over into a carpark and stop her.  This is crazy, I thought my warning earlier had finally gotten through to her” Grant says keeping an eye on the road and Jane’s car behind them.

He see’s a small carpark and pulls into it.  He parks and waits, but Jane drives past it and carry’s on going to the next lights.  “Grant video her, I think she will come go around the block and then pull in once she thinks we have left the car” Amber suggests.

So, he takes out his phone and starts videoing her white car as she turns right.  He see’s Amber take out her phone and start recording.  She might turn around so you video from behind us and I’ll keep mine focused on the junction in front of us” she explains.  They wait and Amber is the first one to spot her.

She is thankful Grant’s windows are dark.  Jane’s car pulls into the carpark and parks it next to a fast-food garbage can at the other end of thre carpark.  Grant is also videoing her now as, Jane gets out her car and looks around.  There are only a few shops in this small strip mall.  Amber looks around and see’s a noddle restaurant.  “She might think we went into the noddle place” she tells Grant. 

They watch as Jane walks a little nearer to his car making sure to keep mostly hidden from the windows of the noddle restaurant.  When she gets closer to the car she tries looking into the windows but she can’t see through the dark security windows. 

Grant holds up a finger to his lips as he suddenly opens up his door and steps quickly out the car shutting the door before, she can look inside.  “What the hell are you doing, following me?” Grant demands, Jane brushes her hair away from her face laughing “following you? I came to get some dinner.  I thought this was your car and came over to have a look” she answers

Amber shakes her head at the obvious lie.  “I hope so, because if you do anything like this again, you can start looking for another job!” he warns “don’t think so much of yourself, I really don’t now what I’ve done to make you so angry” Jane says but tries to move closer to him.  Grant steps back though and she stops.

“I won’t keep you then” he answers “would you like to join me?” she asks “no I would not” Grant says not even trying to hide his disgust and anger now.  “Another time perhaps, goodnight, Grant” she says and then walks away with an extra swing to her hips.  Grant watches until she is inside the restaurant, before slipping back into his car.

Amber keeps her phone pointed at the restaurant door.  As Grant starts the car and backs out of the carparking space.  They join the traffic again and Amber keeps her phone trained on the restaurant door.  Until they have moved far enough away, she then stops recording.  “Can you believe her?” Grant says, again eyeing his rear-view mirror.

“I’m sorry Amber, I had been feeling relieved I’d spoken to her.  Now I feel a little anxious at her obvious disregard for my warnings.  I’ll go and talk with HR and my parents tomorrow” Grant tells her.

“How about going to Joes, its not far and we can sit in the corner facing the door.  He does a mean burger and his steaks aren’t bad?” Amber suggests, Grant nods giving her a small smile.

He makes sure he doesn’t see Jane’s car again.  Parking around the back of the carpark so his car can’t be seen from the road.  They walk into Joes and as its still midweek the place isn’t too busy.  They take the table nearest the corner and sit down.  They know what they want, so order with their drinks.

They talk about Jane and Grant feels he has to reassure Amber again, that he will report her.  “I haven’t had much experience with relationships, so I would really not know how people act in them.  But even to me her actions seemed a little extreme” Amber admits honestly.

Then they talk about work and what they do in their free time.  Grant really likes Amber’s sense of humour.   Something that is very different from the way Stacey was, who always seemed to be on the serious side.  He also really likes to hear her laugh and watch as her eyes light up and sparkle. Did Stacey's eyes sparkle like this too? he wonders.

Amber really likes the way he listens to her properly.  Then responds after some consideration and thought.  They are both looking at each other a little differently by the end of their meal.  “I like you Grant, very much” Amber surprises him by confessing.

“I like you to Amber” he says and then feels an emotion build in his chest that he can’t identify, but it makes him feel uneasy.  They leave after Grant has paid the bill.  He drives her home, both of them quiet as they think about their growing feelings for each other.

Amber feels a growing excitement, that this could possibly be her first relationship.  Grant on the other hand is wondering what this feeling is growing in his chest, as he thinks about starting a relationship with Amber.  It isn’t until he is pulling up outside her complex, that he realises it is a feeling of betrayal and unease towards Stacey.  They are the same person, but to Amber she is a different person! SHIT! He thinks as he gets out the car and helps a happy Amber out of the car.