A Collection of Imagines

John

Such an Asshole pt. 2

The meeting had been going on for more than thirty minutes now and our issue still hasn't been addressed. I fiddle with my papers in my lap, waiting impatiently for the President to call on Greer. I have to admit, it was exciting for the first few minutes when his face came on the monitor, but the longer he talked, I realized that he's just a man with an agenda. However, my nerves still spiked. And it wasn't helping that the blithering idiot that I just told off is trying to grab my attention. 

"I'm so sorry. That was idiotic of me." She hasn't even looked at me throughout the entire meeting. Her eyes stay on the monitor proudly showcasing the President. Others talk to him about pressing issues before going down the agenda to ours and I can tell that she continuously get nervous. Her teeth grit together once she hears my voice. Okay, she's still pretty mad. "I didn't mean for it to offend you. I was just concerned that you didn't know what you were getting yourself into." 

I scoff and shake my head. This guy is unbelievable. Out in the corner of my eye, I see Greer turn his head towards Jack. His death glare is demanding that he stop his pursuit for my forgiveness. Unfortunately, he doesn't heed to his advice. 

"It can get pretty gruesome out there in the field and I didn't know if you've been briefed. I mean, I took a hit and --" 

"I am well aware of what you went through, Ryan. If you weren't listening to anything that I told you prior to this, then I'll say it again. I have been briefed and I am prepared for what I could face," I whisper sharply to him, turning abruptly in my seat. I hoped that no one would hear the altercation, but I'm unlucky.

"Greer, is there something your team would like to discuss?" 

Nathan Singer sends daggers at me through his eyes and my mouth shuts. Greer is quick to shut it down.

"No, not at this time, sir." 

Again, he turns to send glares at both me and Jack. My jaw clenches, mad at myself for not being able to control my anger. 

"Greer, your team is actually next on the agenda for our Russia problem." 

The President's low voice through the monitor compels Greer to stand, motioning me to follow suit. I stand slightly behind me, looking to the side to see if Jack would position himself there. When I don't see him, my gaze finds him still sitting in his designated chair. My brows furrow at the choice and look back in front of me. 

"Yes, I would actually like to introduce a new member to our team, Dr. Annalise Preston. She is our new head of finance/economics on this case." 

"What happened to Ryan?" 

Singer interrupts Greer. It felt like all of the eyes in the room immediately where off of me and where trying to look around me to catch a glimpse of Jack. Oh, that's why he chose to stay seated. I grip the binder closer to my chest. 

"Dr. Preston has been working on this case since her introduction to the C.I.A. She understands the numbers better than anyone else on this team, which is why I made her the head of finance/economics for the Russia case." 

"Still, we have worked with Ryan before and know of his capabilities when it comes to a case like this. So, instead of introducing a new asset into the project that we have no idea if we can trust with vital information, I would ask if we could proceed with Dr. --" 

"Excuse me for interrupting sir," I cut Singer off without another second going by. The whole room is surprised when they hear my voice overlapping with his. I looked to her. She looks so embarrassed that someone is even questioning her loyalty that I felt the need to stand up. She shakes her head when we lock eyes, but I have already set a course. "Dr. Preston is one of the most sophisticated people in economics that I have ever met. If you look at her resume and her capabilities, you find that she went through same education, graduated with the same doctorate and even the same military training as I did when she was a marine. She has been briefed and has worked tirelessly on this project. I fully recommend her to take on this case." 

The entire room is silently, even Singer looks like he has nothing else to say. I look towards the monitor, "If it helps in anyway, I also have a minor in Russian." A smile appears on the face of the President and he nods. 

"Proceed, Dr. Preston." 

Greer and Jack begin to sit back down. I look behind me to watch as Jack stares up at me as he sits down. A small smile grows on his face and he motions me to continue. I turn around and look down at my folder. What the fuck was that? I can feel my cheeks start to flare up. Do not blush. If you blush, they'll see you as a school girl. I shake my head and look towards the monitor. 

Her head whips back to the President and all I could do was smile. I feel Greer's eyes on me, but I just stare at her. Is she ... is she blushing? My face turns towards the floor. I made her blush. My smile grows larger and larger as the statement plays over and over in my head.