Chapter Nineteen: Part Two
Kate pointed – for Rick’s benefit – to Giselle first, and then the rest of those unknown to him, saying each person’s name in turn. She smiled when she heard Rick mnemonically repeating each name three times at a low mumble, just as she did. She also noticed that Harold had already shaken hands with JC in a very familiar manner before Edison and Dom both stood to greet him warmly. Kate logged that observation away for further exploration at another time.
Madison and Mason walked over and hugged them both, their eyes sparkling brightly. Madison said, ‘Kate, I can’t tell you how happy I am tonight. We have a special surprise for you.’ The room was suddenly silent; not just their table, but the whole restaurant, all with their eyes on Kate. With his family and staff, Alberto was standing in front of his servery and grinning at her.
‘Gentlemen?’ Madison called out. Alberto leaned across and opened the kitchen door, cueing Tyson and Eric as they led another five men from her old engineering firm. Kate squealed and ran to hug them all. The emotion of the moment had tears threatening in everybody’s eyes, although in some cases, they were already running freely. Standing with his parents and watching the reunion, Rick beamed at his lover.
A few minutes later, Alberto brought sizzling platters of appetisers to their table whilst his daughters and Luka distributed similar platters around the restaurant. The intoxicating aromas reminded everyone how hungry they were, and they set upon the food with gusto.
Waiting until everyone had finished with their appetisers, Mason’s personal presence commanded attention as he stood. Their table, and then the restaurant, fell quiet. He explained to everyone there how clever Kate was, describing how she and Tyson had brainstormed a new water source technology, quite literally out of clear air. He added in how Rick and Eric had made the whole system modular and scalable. Even if they did not understand the nuances, everyone there understood that Kate had been brilliant.
Madison stood and put her hand on Mason’s back in support as he looked at Kate. ‘Catherine, we must confess to doing some things without your knowledge.’
Kate felt off balance, wondering where this was going. Seeing her frown, Mason said, ‘We have been talking with Dee and Carrie. We have also been talking to many, many other people. Kate, we know first-hand, how good you are at running your functions…but…’
‘Kate is an engineer!’ chorused the whole restaurant, even Alberto, before everyone laughed.
Kate was feeling seriously lost, as if she had missed something in translation. Dee stood up with a huge smile. ‘Katie, I am really happy and really sorry to say this, but I think that you are fired!’
Kate felt completely off balance now, everyone in Alberto’s was giggling and smiling, and nothing was making sense to her. Kate asked, ‘What’s going on, Dee?’ knowing her friend would cut to the chase. Dee winked at her in a very satisfied way and sat back down, looking back to Mason.
Mason said, ‘Kate, you and Rick are two of the most capable people and talented engineers I know. We have formed a new company, Ironwood Engineering Solutions, to deal with the increased project load that your combined efforts and brilliance have created. We have made some hires already, but one role is, as yet, unfilled. Since you seem to be available,’ he winked at Dee, ‘we want you to be the COO of Ironwood, to balance out Rick’s role as CEO.’ Kate was holding her breath now. Her world was shifting, but so far she was keeping her feet… just.
‘May I introduce you to some of the new Ironwood Engineering Solutions team? I think you know Eric and Tyson?’ Mason paused, watching with glee as Kate worked out the rest. In shock, and feeling like she would fall if Rick let go of her, Kate realised the enormity of Mason’s offer.
‘Rick?’
‘I am sure, Kate.’
Madison looked at her and took over. ‘Kate, the boys have had their fun. We’ve asked Carrie and Dee if we could take you away from them without injuring the business, knowing that everyone will miss you like crazy, of course. You were a different person when you were working with Tyson that day. You were your whole self. You are an engineer, Kate, and I think you know it. We all do.’
Kate looked around the table and her eyes settled on Natalie, standing behind Dee and Carrie with her hands on their shoulders. Nat said, ‘Catherine, do what is in your heart to do. Yes or No, we’re with you either way.’
‘Alegria,’ Kate stammered out before her tears came fully.
Everyone in the restaurant were calling out their congratulations to her as Kate let Rick sit her down, still in shock and shaking her head. She noticed Eric’s son, also a gifted computer modeller, looking at her shyly from the rear of the room. She looked at Mason and he said quietly, ‘All who want to come back, Kate.’
‘Everyone?’
Tyson answered for him. ‘Kate, Mason gave those who were too close to retirement to come back a redundancy level payout. They’re taken care of… we all are. Kate, we have almost half of the old team back together, and Mason and Rick have recruited an all-star team. What do you say, Missy? Are we going to make things again?’
‘Yes. Okay… YES!’
Everyone cheered as Rick lifted her to her feet before sweeping her up and kissing her.
When the room was quieting down again, Kate noticed Mason slip a small box to his son with a wink. The room was silent again, anticipating whatever was going to happen next. Rick turned to her, the box in his hand. ‘Kate?’