On My Knees - J. Kenner Page 0,28
seen him. I was in New York yesterday and I’ve been at the Century City site all morning. Why?”
“No reason,” I say, and I have to wonder if Damien’s going to tell Aiden the whole truth. I suppose there’s no reason to, especially now that Jackson’s off the project. But at the same time, the truth about Jackson and Damien’s relationship is out there, and I’ve never known Damien Stark to let other people be in control of key information.
“So was it your general malaise at the situation that had you muttering curses when I walked up? Or has something more specific got you riled up?”
“This,” I say, passing him the folder of Glau’s work. “It’s trite and mundane and downright dull compared to the work Jackson was doing.”
He sits down on the corner of my desk and flips through the folder. Then he looks over at my bulletin board where I’ve tacked up Jackson’s sketches. One beat, then another. Then he tosses the folder with Glau’s work in my recycling bin. “So we ask him for a fresh approach or we find another architect.”
“Time’s an issue,” I admit. “Quality and experience are another. We’ve been down this road already, remember? When Glau quit, Jackson was our only legitimate option. Who else had the kind of reputation that would keep the investors happy?”
“Agreed,” Aiden says. “But we’re further down the road now.”
“Not by much.” Although it feels like Jackson and I have been working together for ages, the truth is it’s barely even been a week since he officially signed onto the project.
“No, but sometimes it’s more about psychology. They’ve turned the ignition key twice now. That means that they think it’s a viable project. And no one likes to second-guess themselves.”
I consider his words and have to agree that he has a point. “The investors are invested?”
He chuckles. “Something like that.”
“Even if you’re right, I still have to find someone that I can live with.” I lean back in my chair and focus on the ceiling. “What about Nathan Dean?”
“Really?”
I sit back up again, the chair creaking slightly with my movement. “You’d veto him?”
“I might,” Aiden admits. “More importantly, I think Damien would.”
“Yeah?” I’m surprised. Dean recently told me that he and Aiden have been friends for years. But more than that, Dean designed Damien’s extremely awesome Malibu house, so I happen to know Damien is pleased with his work. And since I was the point person for Damien on that job, I know that Dean is easy to get along with and doesn’t freak out at last-minute changes. I also happen to know that although his experience is primarily residential, he wants to branch out into commercial projects. And considering how much Damien enjoys finding and nurturing talent, I’m surprised by Aiden’s reaction.
“I think the only reason Damien is willing to let Glau back on the project after he quit is because the man has a worldwide reputation. Dean doesn’t have that going for him.”
Aiden has completely lost me. “But Dean didn’t quit,” I say stupidly. I mean, I should know. I was the one who brought Damien the final check to sign once the house was complete.
“The bungalow,” Aiden says, and I shake my head, still clueless. “Apparently Damien wants to build a small bungalow on the property, but closer to the beach. A few months ago, last February, he and Dean talked about it, and Dean put together some rough sketches that Damien loved, but a few months later when Damien said they should go to contract and get started, Dean pulled out. Said he couldn’t do the project, after all.”
“Why the hell didn’t I know about this?”
“No need to hook the assistant in until there’s a contract. I only know about it because I had a lunch meeting with Damien the day Dean pulled the plug, so I got the full story. Let’s just say that Damien wasn’t pleased. He doesn’t like having his time wasted.”
“No, he doesn’t.” I lean back in my chair again. “So it was Damien who told you? Not Dean?”
Aiden’s brow creases a bit. “Actually, Dean hasn’t mentioned it at all. Maybe he figures it’s a sore point around the office.”
“I guess it’s not too bad between them. I didn’t notice any tension when we had cocktails at his house the other day.”
“Who knows? Damien is more than capable of keeping his personal feelings to himself. Besides, I believe Nikki pulled together the guest list. And since the bungalow was going