He shook his head in disgust. “I was working overtime to catch up on some paperwork. I had at least three deadlines due by morning, and was still getting my feet wet on the job, so needless to say I wasn’t thinking too clearly. I spoke with a manager at Vicomdata who pretended to know Charlie well, and basically got me to confirm that he’s one of Logan’s employees. It happened so fast I didn’t even realize I had slipped up. The next morning, Charlie was fired from Vicomdata and back here without the information. Needless to say, Logan wasn’t too pleased. We lost the edge on the deal and a large future profit.”

     Chandler let the story shift through her mind. “Jimmy, do you like your new position in management?”

     He shrugged. “It’s okay. I enjoyed my old job better. I’m not crazy about telling people what to do and always calling the shots. But when Logan offered me a management opportunity I realized it was more money and prestige. This is the first promotion I ever got. My wife was really proud.”

     She smiled. “When someone offers you a promotion it confirms you’re doing a good job.”

     “Exactly.”

     “But if your reward is to be locked into a position which makes you unhappy, do you think it’s worth it?”

     He frowned. “I don’t know. I never thought about it. A promotion is supposed to be for the better.”

     “Yes, that’s the idea. But sometimes a person doesn’t realize a simple raise would have done just as nicely.”

     Jimmy nodded. “That’s what I wanted. But I couldn’t let Logan down. He was trying to help me.”

     “How do you know you’ll be fired?”

     “Logan will have no choice. Tommy was mad as hell for the screw up, so he’ll probably order me fired. Logan wants the merger so he’ll have to listen. And my old job is already filled, which leaves me out.”

     Chandler almost winced at the correct assumption. She searched for a way out of the mess he was in. She couldn’t promise he wouldn’t be fired, no matter how much she wished she could. She needed to show him he’d be able to handle the situation.

     “Okay, so you made a mistake. You were caught off guard, and this manager used your friendship with Charlie to get information. Quite unethical in my eyes, but I know business is business.”

     His shoulders sagged. “Yeah.”

     “Do you really think you should be fired because of one screw up in the last—”

     “Four years.”

     “Four years,” she continued.

     “It was a big mistake. I probably deserve it.”

     She thought about his remark. “Be honest with me. You’re a person who worries a lot, right?”

     He grinned sheepishly. “That’s what my wife says. Yeah, I like to make sure all my responsibilities are taken care of.”

     “When you get up in the morning, what thought is always in the back of your mind? What is your greatest fear, the thing you worry about on a daily basis?”

     “Well, I guess that would be what just happened. Or what’s going to happen. Being fired.”

     “Exactly. What scares you the most about being fired?”

     He looked puzzled by the question. “I was afraid of not being able to support my family. Being called a failure. Feeling like a failure.”

     “Do you feel like a failure?”

     “No. I messed up, but I don’t think that negates the last four years of doing well.”

     “Exactly.” She leaned forward. “Do you realize you’re finally free? Your worst fear is about to be confirmed. You’re going to get fired. And you’re still okay with yourself. They can’t take away your own inner core. You can get another job. You can follow a dream you’ve always had. You can march into Logan’s office, free of your fear, and tell him why he’ll be making the biggest mistake of his life if he fires you. From now on, any job you hold won’t have a hold on you. Your wife and baby is what's most important. Now you’ll be able to give them more of yourself, because your work won’t be holding all the cards.”

     Jimmy stared down at the mat. She held her breath and hoped he understood what she said. She wanted him to be free of all the fear and stress he held close to his heart. If he realized there was a whole world out there and losing a job shouldn’t destroy his self respect. In fact, it could open up a new realm of possibilities. If he could only see…

     Jimmy looked up. He smiled. Her heart lifted at the look on his face. He understood. The deep lines of worry that normally creased his brow disappeared. A determined glint shone in his serious brown eyes. She’d gotten through to him.

     She smiled back. “Okay?”

     Jimmy nodded. “Okay.” He got up from the mat, swiping at the wrinkles in his slacks, straightening his jacket and tie. “You know, Logan is usually a fair guy. He’d probably give me a good referral. Or I could even go back to school. I always wanted to finish up my Masters degree.”

     “Anything is possible.” She watched him walk to the door, his shoulders set in a determined line. “Jimmy?”

     “Yeah?”

     “Do me a favor. Don’t forget about the deep breathing I taught you. Always focus. Never take life too seriously. And I promise to send you copies of the nutritional charts in the mail.”

     He laughed. “Thanks. My biggest screw up was not listening to you in the first place. If I’d just taken a couple of deep breaths to calm down, I probably wouldn’t have slipped. Next time I won’t make that mistake.”

     She watched him walk out the door. After a few moments she eased herself up from the mat. There was no way she would let Jimmy lose his job without a fight.

     She needed to think of a plan.

     “Mr. Grant?”

     Logan swivelled around in his leather chair. A tall man with silver hair stood in the door way dressed impeccably in a black suit and red silk tie. Green eyes stared back at Logan with an openly assessing gaze. The man’s shoes were polished to perfection, and a gleaming gold Rolex flashed from his wrist. Everything about the man shimmered with raw energy.

     For a moment Logan felt thrown by the striking resemblance Alexander Santell bore to his daughter. Logan carefully screened his expression to attain an element of blandness. Santell was a powerful adversary if crossed, and until Logan knew what game the man was playing it would be wise not to show any other thoughts that crossed his mind.

     “Mr. Santell, please come in. I wasn’t expecting you until six.” Logan stood to welcome the man.

     Santell strode across the room in long, graceful strides and reached out to grasp Logan’s hand in greeting. “I was able to wrap up my last meeting very quickly, and I thought it would be nice to talk to you alone before my lawyer and associate arrive for our conference.”

     Logan nodded, but couldn’t help but be struck by the powerful aura the man projected. “I see. Please, take a seat. Would you like coffee, brandy?”

     “No, thank you. Damn doctors are constantly on my case to cut my intake of caffeine and alcohol. I say if you can’t live the way you want why bother tacking on a couple of years?”

     Logan smiled, and sat back in his chair, settling himself comfortably. “I agree with you. There seems to be problems with everything we eat and drink today. I’m just waiting until they tell us the air we breathe has been poisoned for the last decade.”

     Alexander Santell let out a rich, booming laugh. They studied each other for a few moments, making mental notes. “So, have you thought about my offer?”

     Logan nodded and kept his expression bland. “I must admit I’m curious. My employees and I have been trying to secure a meeting with you for a while, but you’ve insisted you want nothing to do with a merger. Then, suddenly, the offer of a lifetime drops in my lap. Naturally, I’ve been interested in your change of heart.”

     Santell’s eyes narrowed. “And well you should. I don’t want my company merged with someone who trusts every offer thrown at him. I need someone who has the ruthlessness and business sense I’ve had since I was young. All the trade journals and even my fellow associates say, you’re the man of steel. I know quite well how you received your nickname. The real story, that is.”

     Logan’s tone held a faint warning. “I don’t discuss my past, Santell, neither with my friends nor enemies. As you don’t fit in either category yet, I advise you to keep the topic to business.”

     Santell gave another booming laugh. “Yes, I’m sure you would. But what if this business contract happens to involve my daughter?”

     The mention of Chandler threw Logan for a few moments, before he quickly gathered his composure. A lazy smile curved his lips. “I had a feeling she’d be mentioned in this little chat. I assume you know we’re working together?”

     “Hell, yes, I knew the moment she walked into your office. What surprised me was the reason you accepted her offer. Every other company in the city laughed her out of the office. Yet, you agreed to the proposal. Your actions made me start wondering. Do you mind if I smoke?”

     Logan waved for him to continue as he reached for an ashtray he kept in the top drawer. The older man opened his jacket and pulled out a cigar. He clipped the tip, lit it, and drew the smoke into his mouth, sighing with pleasure.

     “God, the Cubans sure know how to make a cigar.” He paused, enjoying his smoke while Logan waited. “I wondered about the real reason you accepted her offer. Knowing your business savvy, I doubted it was for the classes. So, it came down to two choices. Either you were interested in becoming involved with my daughter personally, or you decided it would be good to have her working for you as leverage.”