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Freckles, he meant, Cara’s freckles. Reid snorted, couldn’t help himself and then recovered, saying, “What can I do for you?”
“Keep my parents from trying to sue anyone who looks at me unprofessionally, do that and I’ll forgive you every inconsiderate thing you’ve ever done.”
The truck driver was fair game. Drunk, ran a light, ploughed head-on into Kuch’s Tesla Model S when they were on their way to an investor presentation. “Do what I can.”
“There’s more. Go back to work.”
Reid nodded. “I will. Soon as I work out what that is.”
“At Plus.”
“Don’t think about work, Owen. Dev and Sarina have,” he almost said, your back, and finished with, “it under control.” He had no idea if they did.
“You asked. I want you in the office.”
“You’re not going to be out that long.” He didn’t know about that either.
“Too long, Reid. And Ziggy’s fucked like me.”
Reid scrubbed his face. He knew he needed sleep. It was nothing compared with what Owen needed. “What happened?”
“You were right. It was a big project and we screwed it up.”
“I want to help. You, I’ll do anything for you, but I’m out. We agreed that was the right thing.”
“Now I’m saying we need you in. Don’t know how long I’m going to be down for.”
“You’re fit. You’ll get through this.” Owen’s chest hitched on a hard in-breath. Reid should just tell him what he needed to hear. “Sarina.”
“She wants you.” So they’d already talked about this, when Owen’s life was upended he was still thinking about Plus.
Reid walked to the window of the private suite. They knew enough about Owen’s injury to understand his recovery would be complicated, painful and slow. Kuch had a long road to travel before he was back in business too, but he was out of danger, and a temporary chairman was less of an issue than a missing CEO.
“There are others you could approach.” Pay them enough, they could have any of their tech alumni in the Plus hot seat.
“You’re not saying we.”
Reid moved into Owen’s sight again. “It’s not we. It’s you, Dev and Sarina. You’ll work this out.”
“Are you seriously telling me you won’t come back?”
He scrubbed his face again. What kind of a bastard was he, he couldn’t tell Owen what he needed to hear? The kind that knew Owen wouldn’t want lies, least of all now. “Plus is better off without me. I had my first holiday that wasn’t a couple of days tacked on the back of a business trip or spent roofing or bricklaying. I liked it. I’ve got Zarley in my life and I don’t want to do anything to screw with that.”
“Reid McGrath is going to laze around swimming pools and be available for his woman. Churches all over the city must be falling down.”
“Think your dose is too high.”
“Not high enough.”
Reid watched the slow drip of whatever it was they were pumping into Owen. Plus’ emergency wasn’t his, but he wished he felt some relief at that realization.
“I’m sorry, Owen. I’m not the right person for this. I’d make things worse.”
“Do you think he’s speaking French?”
He turned to find Sarina in the doorway.
“I didn’t understand anything he said,” Owen replied.
