Stand By Me

Chapter 4 - Backstabber

The next day you began to tell Tessa all about Stark's appearance and the budget for the new project. She was elated until you mentioned the time frame it needed to be running by.  She sank in her chair and rubbed her face, "Ok, so the first step is to order supplies." You interjected, "No worries, I did that last night. I overnighted the shipment and it will be arriving in the next hour." 

"Great! Ok, after supplies we have to assign staff." She looks at you, "I only want the best on this project. Especially given the time frame." 

"I agree and I also addressed it last night. I sent Madison and Jeff an urgent correspondence containing the design draft and a detailed workflow. They are meeting at the shipping dock to collect the supplies. Madison and her team will be overseeing the water chamber and Jeff and his team are going to coordinate the filtration project. Tessa, I am not a rookie." You sat at the chair across from her. You could see that she was stressed out. That's when you noticed her office looked oddly clean. Everything has even been taken off her walls. "What's with the spring cleaning?" You gestured around you. 

"Huh?" She lifted her hands from her head, "Oh, yeah." She looked around and made eye contact with you. "After your outburst with Stark yesterday I thought I could make a quick exist if my stuff was already packed up." 

"Smart move," You laughed. " Luckily you can bring it all back." You stood up from the chair. "I have a really great feeling about this." 

"Where are you going?" Tessa asked as you made your way to the door.

"I know that you have more of the manager expertise but this," You slipped back on your lab coat and goggles. " This, is where I started and you said it yourself Tessa, "You only want the best on this project." After you left her office you went straight down the metal grated steps towards the workshop.

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It was six o'clock when Madison and Jeff had to dismiss their teams. Even though the department was on a time crunch there was a strict no over time policy for hourly associates. Their team members had to head home, no exception. The bright side was that they accomplished a lot of work on the conversion tank and filtration. In fact, the filtration was tested in various water supplies, including sewage, and each test passed with a better quality then most marketed water companies. The holding tank was an easier assembly and you were just waiting for the chemical coating to dry. It only had a few more minutes left and you went up to your office for some water. Then you could head downstairs and weld each part together. 

Before you walked into your office you could see through the glass wall that Tony was leaning against your desk. He was looking rather frustrated with an Rubik's cube in his hand. 

"Am I interrupting something?" You pulled your office door open.

"This." Tony looked at you with the cube in his hand, "Is clearly built incorrectly because I used to do this all the time."

You walked to your office chair and toss your lab goggles down, "Don't worry Tony, that happens with age." 

He put it in his suit pocket while sitting down in the chair across from you.

"What can I help you with Tony?"

"I am here just to check on my investment. Did all the supplies come today?"

"Yes, everything came. We just finished the water conservation tank and filtration system. I am just waiting for the chemical to dry on the tanks tubing before welding them together today."

He looked rather surprised, " Forgive me what? You're doing the welding?"

"Girls can weld Tony." You took a drink from your water bottle and stared at him, repulsed by the remark.