I'm pleased you enjoyed the crossover between the two stories. I will warn you that James and Isabel's lives will become a little rocky.
Before you read this one, you must look at the first seven, or you won't understand their relationship or the storyline.
All characters are over the age of 18 involved in any sex scenes.
I must thank Jeff for his editing skills and quick turnaround in this chapter.
As always, I will ask you to score, and if you would like to comment, please do. All comments, ideas, or just a thank you are always appreciated. I read each one and answer as many as I can.
I have had a couple of e-mails from people who put me right on some points in my storyline. Sometimes I put things in to suit the story, not reality. Forgive me if it ruins it for you. I don't see it working any other way.
Please enjoy..................
I'm sitting at my computer because Olivia Jackson has told me she will be talking to Michael Carter today about design for C&W's head office in Charlestown.
My eyes gaze at the ring I have had made by Mr. Stewart. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I am now struggling to think of a way to ask Isabel that all-important question. My love for her has grown so much, that anything I think of just pales in insignificance to my heart's fullness.
We are in our respective last years of University and I am the happiest I have ever been. My attention is taken as my Skype screen comes to life.
I briefly stare at the name Olivia Jackson before accepting the call. "James, thank you for waiting to take this call," A smiling Olivia Jackson says. I can see both Mr. Carter and Mr. Walker sitting behind her.
"Hello, Mrs. Jackson, good to put a face to the name," I say. "Mr. Carter and Mr. Walker, a pleasure to meet you both," I add, but I feel I'm showing off.
"Hi, James, the pleasure is mine," Mr. Carter says. "We have just been running your simulation, and we are impressed. I'm also a little shocked you know who I am. Still, with how you have researched Charlestown's planning initiatives, I guess that should have been expected." Christ, I'm sure I've turned red with the praise.
"Thank you, Mr. Carter," I say. "So what happens now?"
"James, I'm not going to drag this out more than I have to, so let's get down to brass tacks. You've come up with a design that is the best and the only one we think will get planning consent. On Thursday, we will present your plan to the board, and if we get the okay, we will then put it in for outline planning. Once that is in place, I believe you will come with your team and do the structural and ground tests." Wow, that's quicker than I thought.
"Yeah, before we bring anything onsite, we will need to check the plans are right and do some ground checks outside. We had a similar soil problem in Dubai, and with your subsidence history, it would be wise to see how far we are from bedrock. If it's as I suspect, we will have to draw up plans to underpin the building before laying a new base. The one advantage to this is that we can do this under the existing city conservation order," I say, impressing myself.
"You mean we can update the building to conserve the structure?"
I must admit, this Michael Carter isn't anything like I thought he would be. He gets what I have put forward and seems knowledgeable about what is needed. "Yes, pretty much. I believe the company I work for did a similar thing in Denver. That's what gave me the idea," I say, trying to be a little more humble.
"Paps, is there anything you need to ask?" Michael says, turning to his grandfather.
"Ummm, no. I would like to thank James for giving us something we can give the city planners. We've tried to develop the site for years, but we've been knocked back each time. With all the different initiatives you've put in place, we might get past the front door."
Wow, I'm blown away by Mr. Walker's gratitude. If only he knew how much I enjoyed the challenge.
"That's okay, Mr. Walker. It might surprise you, but I enjoyed the process."
"So, if everything goes to plan, I will see you in the summer?"
"Yes, Sir. I finish here in June. From what Mr. Sampson told me. You will be seeing me in early-July. Can I say you bear a remarkable resemblance to Mac, the guy that did the song with Miley Cyrus called Emma?"
"That's because I am the guy that did the record with Miley Cyrus," he says. Shit, I feel I've put my foot right in it.
"Don't forget about Isabel," Olivia says, changing the subject.
"Oh yeah, sorry. Olivia says you will bring your girlfriend and co-worker, Isabel Richards. I gather she's at Cambridge with you and will be working at Sampson Harris as well, but in the legal department."
"Yes, she's looking to expand her knowledge, and Olivia has been kind enough to volunteer showing Isabel the ropes," I say, enjoying the new topic.
"Oh look, he's got that same goofy look you get when we talk about Emma," Mr. Walker says, making me blush.
Mr. Carter doesn't look impressed with his granddad's sense of humor. I have to laugh; I get the same comments. "Talking about Emma, we are thinking of spending some summer at the ranch. You and Isabel will be more than welcome to stay."
"That would be fantastic," I say with enthusiasm. This job gets better and better.
"Do you ride?" Mr. Carter asks. It takes me a moment to realize he's talking about horses.
"No, never been on a horse," I say. "Unless you count a donkey ride I had on Woolacombe Beach when I was five. Would be rude not to learn if we get the time," I add. I must admit, I do like the old Westerns.
"We have a riding school, so teaching you will be no problem. Okay, James. It's been fantastic to meet you. Can we swap numbers to keep in touch just in case anything changes? Is there anything we can do on our end to get things moving quicker?" Mr. Carter asks. This guy is really sharp.
"Olivia, as well as Ron, have my mobile number, email, and Skype. The only question mark is what lies below the building, causing the structural history. Suppose you can get the core samples done down to bedrock and a radar scan the street side of the main entrance. This will get us to the point of knowing what we will be doing, and closer to the final plan" I say. This could save me a couple weeks of work and the same again waiting for the results. "If they could get that information beforehand, we could get planning in earlier and your start date comes forward."
"As soon as we've got the go-ahead from the board, we will put the wheels in motion." Mr. Carter says, looking at Olivia and his grandfather. "Is that all we need for now?" I see Olivia and Paps both nod. "Okay, James. Thank you once again, and we will be in contact." Mr. Carter says before the connection is cut.
Wow, that was surreal. Michael Carter is Mac; I haven't seen that online. If I remember right, he's the one who doesn't want to be famous; now I know why.
******
The last couple of months have been uneventful. Isabel and I are on cruise control as the last of the papers and projects are handed in, and we get ready to leave life at University.
Since I met Mac on Skype, we have built quite a friendship. We message regularly and often chat on Skype.
It's the week before we leave, and I am getting ready to go out. My class has been summoned to learn how we have done on the first part of my structural engineering practical exam. I'm buttoning up my shirt when my phone rings.
"Hi, Andrew; how have you been?" I ask.
"Good morning, James. All is good, really good. Hang on, let me put you on speaker. Edward wants to be part of this." I hear Andrew put the phone down and a movement of chairs. "Right, can you hear me still?"
"Yeah, this is a little ominous," I say, a little confused.
My two bosses laugh. "It is, and it isn't," Edward says. "By the way, well done. Smithy called us almost in tears when you handed in your final piece of art."
"Ah, you don't know what a kick I get out of making them," I say, trying to play down the praise.
"That may be so, but from what he says, this will be put in the university's main entrance and added to their future promotional literature," Andrew says.
"Now," Edward says. "Andrew and I have been in meetings with our accountants, and we have decided that the prize money from C&W should entirely go to you."
"What? But that's like a million dollars, isn't it?" I say in shock.
"Yeah, but if we bring it into the company, we lose forty percent before we start. Then if we give it to you as a bonus, another forty percent is lost. You get to keep the lot if it is a competition win. The way we have got C&W to word the competition, they've made it an individual award," Edward says.
"I will add that you won't be getting a Christmas bonus this year," Andrew jokes. Well, I think he's joking, but who cares.
"A million dollars. What's that in real money?" I say, not thinking.
"Not sure, over eight hundred thou," Andrew says. "Should be with you anytime."
"Okay, that's that out of the way. The other thing is your trip to the US. We need to know the plan, so we can put anything you might need at your disposal," Edward says like he's reading from his notes.
"Oh, right. I've been in communication with Mac, I mean Mr. Carter. He has invited Isabel and me to his ranch for a break before we go to Charlestown to start work. We are waiting for the groundwork results so that part is done. I might need a second pair of hands to help with the visual survey. But other than that, I will not need much else until the planning is approved."
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Andrew asks.
"I would say Drew, but I think she is tied up in Dubai. Andrew, I think we will need to play it by ear. There's not much to do until I have a final plan and it's been accepted." I shake my head, trying to think, but I have been stunned by my boss's generosity. "I'm sorry I can't be clearer, guys. While I have talked with Mr. Carter, I still need to finalize somethings. I travel back with him after he has done Glastonbury. Isabel and I have been invited to his ranch, and from there, we will go on to Charlestown. I believe I will be out of the country a week or two after Graduation at the end of June until mid August. They want to get planning cleared by September and start the build the end of this year early next."
There's a moment of silence as the two men on the other end digest what I have told them. "That's tight," Andrew begins. "But I guess that's when you will need the extra hands on deck," he adds.
"That's the way I see it, guys." I take a deep breath and let the men at the top make the call.
