Chapter 10: Sheep

“If we put the plant there, we would be right by the sheep. We would have a close source of wool. That is what we want.”

Harriet frowned. “With a spot that remote we might have environmental issues.”

“None that I was able to discern. There is a lot of green land in Ireland. They are more worried about people having jobs than anything else,” Meg said.

She’d talked to enough locals to know that if they didn’t farm there wasn’t anything else to do. The pubs only employed a few people.

“Is there a town nearby?”

“Leenane. A small town, but it has several roads that feed it. Tour busses go through there so they aren’t too small.”

Meg’s heart sped up. Maybe Harriet would listen to her. Her heart fell when Harriet handed her the photo back.

“No. We are going in a different direction completely. We’re finding a domestic spot.”

“Why? This company built its reputation on Irish wool. Not American wool.”

“It’s cheaper this way,” Harriet said. “I didn’t make the decision. Someone higher up did.”

“Who?”

Harriet’s eyes flashed. “I don’t think that is any of your business. We just do what they ask.”

Meg had the sneaking suspicion that someone higher up hadn’t done the decision making. She had a feeling that this woman had done it. She was new to the company. How did she have so much power so quickly? Meg didn’t like that idea.

She’d been with this company from the start of her career. There was no way she was letting this woman run it into the ground. “Okay.” Meg smiled. “So what’s next for me? Do you need me to go to the actual site and do some logistical analysis for resources?”

Harriet paused her lips twisted into a frown. “Well, your role is still being decided.”

Decided. What did that mean?

“Is my job changing?”

“Something like that,” Harriet said.

Meg knew at that moment that she wasn’t going to let this woman win. “I see. Will I get some input in shaping my new job?”

“No.”

It wasn’t even open for discussion. Meg had the sense her future at the company had been decided. They couldn’t fire her without cause. They could say they are downsizing, but the company had always run lean.

“What should I do in the meantime?”

“Take the afternoon off.”

Meg blinked. “Take the afternoon off? I’ve been back two days. If nothing else I have paperwork to finish.”

Harriet waved a hand. “Just go, Meg. Think of it as a bonus while we are restructuring.”

Meg nodded, but she knew that this woman wasn’t going to force her out of a company she loved.

Meg wouldn’t allow it.

***

Donal took a walk around the Navy Yard. A black limousine pulled up next to him. The window rolled down and a well-dressed man poked out his head.

“Are you looking for Jenkins Security?” he said. “Hop in. I’ll take you there.”

“I, uh wasn’t looking for anything,” Donal said.

“No, come on. I need a backup guard today. You’ll do fine,” the man said. “You can talk to my security guy, Jeremy.”

Not sure what was happening, Donal climbed into the back of the limousine. The car parked at the building near Meg’s office. Donal followed the man in through the front door. The man who had stopped walked in front of him surrounded by large men.

“Jeremy?” the man said.

A man with the largest neck that Donal had ever seen stepped out of an office to the left. His shirt that read “Jenkins Security,” stretched tightly across his chest. “What?”

Jeremy stopped a few feet from Donal, looking up at him.

“I found you another guard. He was just walking down the street.” He turned to Donal. “What’s your name?”

“Donal.”

The man in the suit waved his hand then walked off further into the building with his entourage. Jeremy laughed. “You must have played football. Penn State?”

Donal didn’t know what football was or what a Penn State was. “Uh, no.”

Jeremy shrugged. “Come into my office.”

Donal followed him into a square space with a lot of computer monitors. “That was Harvey. I need an extra guard on him today. He’s had some threats. You have any training?”

He’d protected fairies his whole life, but Donal doubted that would be sufficient. It might be, but they’d probably show him the door if he said that out loud. “Not anything on paper.”

Jeremy studied him for a moment. “Okay. I’m going to hire you. Off the books. You’ll get paid cash at the end of the day.”

“What will I be doing?”

“Just stand around and look fierce.” Jeremy looked him up and down. “I don’t think that will be a problem. If you do well, then I may be able to hire you for odd jobs here and there. Nothing full time or permanent.” Jeremy stuck out his hand. “Welcome.”

Donal shook it.

Somehow he suddenly had a job.

***

Donal was waiting at the bus stop when Meg left work. She’d stayed the whole day, cleaning off her desk. She disliked coming into a messy office. Even if she did take the proffered vacation day, she wasn’t going to sit idly. Or skimp on her standards.

It just wasn’t in her nature to leave things hanging. She’d returned all the necessary phone calls and emails. She’d filed all of her paperwork. If she did take a day off as instructed, she could do it knowing she would start it with a clean slate.

Donal smiled at her. The bus came before they could speak and he motioned her on ahead of him. She found a seat halfway back. Donal sat down next to her

“A good day?” he said.

“Maybe, but I’m taking your advice.”

“Which was what?” he said.

She could listen to the lilt of his accent all day. It was musical. “You blurted out this morning that I shouldn’t leave the company. I don’t know why you did, but I’m not going to look for another job.”

“What changed your mind?”

She looked into his deep blue eyes. Even though she’d just met him, she had the sense they’d crossed paths before today. If she believed in multiple lives she would think they’d known each other at another time. The idea of reincarnation was too fanciful for her serious brain. She worked on facts, not feelings. If she couldn’t see it in front of her it didn’t exist.

“My boss told me that they are restructuring the company. She took the job I wanted, but there might be another one. Or I can find out how to finagle my way into her job.”

“You think you can do that? She just arrived, right?”

Meg glanced out the window, gathering her words. “I think she was given the job because she knows something that someone did. As far as I know, my old boss wasn’t retiring for a few months. Suddenly she’s gone. If this new boss plays dirty then I can find that out.”

“It all seems so complicated.”

“It is if I want to stay at the company that I love,” Meg said. “How did your first day go?”