Game Player

18 - Cal

"Pieter's coming over in a couple of weeks with that new SVP of legal, the crazy cougar that's got the hots for you." Geoff took a bite of his burger.

"So I've been told.....Pieter wants this leakage sorted out and shutdown. My ass is literally on the line if we don't figure out who's doing it." Cal said grimly.

"Well, both Oliver and Liam have sifted through audit logs and done a whole bunch of forensics and gone through security cameras - but haven't yet found any evidence of how information is flowing out. So far they don't think it's being passed digitally. It's more likely that someone is physically passing this information on so they're concentrating on that aspect. I did remind Pieter that there are several development centers even though the leak seems to stem from the UK team." Geoff updated.

"Well, I'm going to no doubt hear all about it from him and Odette." Cal sighed. "I can't afford to screw this up, we've invested heavily this financial year to grow Europe and if we don't achieve that and lose IP then my heads on the chopping block." He looked at Geoff with concern.

"Yes, I appreciate your predicament and the guys are doing all they can, but we'll throw some more resources at it to see if we can go faster." Geoff finished off his second beer. "On a happier note, your sister's looking hot like usual and her food is even better." Geoff eyed his sister as she made her way towards them.

"I told you to stay clear of her." He warned. "She's only just recovering from having to deal with some fuckwit at Jack's party. Some asshole player she caught cheating that night - she was inconsolable and I had to drive her home. The last thing she needs is another fuckwit in her hair messing up her life."

"Oh, but what a flaming red mess it would be" Geoff mused.

"Fuck off," Cal growled.

"What are you guys doing scowling at each other like that?" She smiled. "Like two scrooges, standing in the corner sipping their beers."

"I was just warning Geoff of the various ways he might lose his balls."

"How lovely, you both never disappoint. Sally's coming later tonight Cal." She watched him with a wicked grin. "And for you Geoff - not wanting you to feel left out - I've invited Angela," she laughed.

"I'm never coming to any of your soirees any more Dione. You just like to torment me by foisting your most annoying clingy girlfriends off on me for the night." Cal said, annoyed. "That's the reason I stayed away from the UK for so long," he joked.

"Be a good sport, Cal. As for me Dione, I'd rather take you out for dinner." Geoff threw out his usual line, expecting the usual answers.

"I'm way too nice for you Geoff Belmont." Dione teased and stalked off.

"She is too nice and innocent for you. You need someone from one of your clubs to keep you interested." Cal affirmed.

"I could teach Dione to become a vixen, she's already got the looks and the hair for it. She just needs a good instructor." Geoff teased.

"You'll find your balls will be missing and fed to the pigs if you carry out any of your wild fantasies involving Dione."

"Well, I can assure you I like my balls intact." Geoff mused. "So have they found a replacement yet for Shane?"

"Not yet but they're looking internally apparently. Sasha recons they've narrowed it down to two candidates - so hopefully, in another week or two they'll have it finalized." Cal supplied.

"I understand from one of our guys in software that the comp hit a snag in the way they have to load a specific type of file. I was told by one of our guys that Datamix doesn't cater for it very well." Geoff looked through his emails, trying to recall the issue. "What it means is that they're going to have to fix this bit of their software as there is a large number of this type of processing so they need a way to automate it seamlessly. It's a fairly significant fix and will be putting them on the back foot a bit and chew into their development roadmap. They'll need to design a solution that will require some R and D, something we invested in six months ago to resolve. It's definitely a morale booster for us."

"I'm fucking Alex." Call decided to just come out with it.

Geoff's head snapped up, his eyes popping out of his head. "You're joking me right?" His face turning red. "You are - right? Cal? I fucking knew it!"

"No."

"You are the biggest fucking idiot I know!" Geoff was incredulous. "You just went on about how fucking precious this job is to you and how you want my help to get your ass off the line yet you're literally fucking your way to career suicide on your own!" Geoff barked at him.

"It's not that simple." He tried to explain.

"It is that simple. Keep your dick wet in someone else! Why go there with the one person that's OFF THE TABLE? You have women clambering to get a piece of you and you pick the one that's the most unsuitable and inappropriate? Why?" Geoff asked, astonished.

Cal realised that this judgment call was out of character but he couldn't help the pull that Alex had on him. It was definitely just the sex but something made him want more of it and only from her. "I had sex with her - a couple of times in fact - before I knew who she was. Your suspicions about me knowing her prior to the meeting at Serkos were correct." Cal explained the circumstance around their meeting.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Geoff asked, a frown on his face.

"I didn't think there would be anything to discuss and that it wouldn't happen again. We're not seeing each other. I'm her booty call as she puts it." He imparted, knowing it would raise an eyebrow.

Geoff almost spat his mouthful of beer. "You're not serious?! What the fuck does that even mean? She dates other men but calls you for sex? You've gone soft!"

"Sex, no strings attached, bail when I want - no questions asked. Every guy's dream scenario I thought."

"Well, talk about keeping your enemies closer Cal. I really think that this has got 'complicated' and 'problematic' all over it."

"It won't get to either of those things." He assured.

"Famous last words Cal. I hope you're right cause not only will you potentially screw up your personal life but throw away years of hard work and an entire career." Geoff said grimly.

"I'll make sure I'm right. If it looks like it would put us or the project in jeopardy, or somehow a conflict of interest arises, then you can rest assured that it will cease." He said firmly. "Now, I don't know about you but as much as I love my sister, I'm not prepared to entertain the women she's invited so I'm out of here - I'm guessing you're of the same opinion?"

Geoff grinned and they headed towards the front door.

######################################

Hi Everybody!

Please vote and comment. Tell me what you like or don't like - be constructive in your feedback.

Thanks!
taylorgmP