Keeping her eyes on Noah, Margaret said, "Ryan, you have a new-born infant, and Carter, you need to stay home to continue the bonding with your son, so I don't think you should go."
"I could go," Hunter said. "I don't have any kids and Natalie might enjoy the trip."
"You don't know anything about computers," I said. The obvious choice, especially if it was a hack, was Noah.
Hunter shrugged. "I know about graphic design, but not hacking. Still, I could go look around to see what was going on."
Margaret shook her head again. "Noah, you need to go."
"I don't work for Strong Incorporated, remember?" Noah said.
I fisted my hands at my side so angry at him. Couldn't he see that of all the things she'd asked him to help him with, this was the most important?
"You don't have to be with the company officially. We will hire you as a consultant. In some ways that might be better, even,"
"Listen, I know about the computers that are used to run this place, but I don't know anything about your supply chains and operations,” Noah said, looking to his brothers as if he wanted their support. I don’t know why he’d think he’d get it. They were pushing him to join the company too.
"It's a hack, Noah," I said incensed. "Aren't computers your expertise?" I bit my lip to keep from adding on something about his expertise was women. Sometimes when my mouth got away from me, Margaret would have to censure me, and I didn't like that. I wanted her respect, so I held back.
He glared at me, this time, not seeming so amused by my comeback.
"That's why I'm going to send Andi with you,” Margaret said.
Wait. What? My gaze shot to Margaret. "What?"
Margaret looked at me. "You know this company, including the supply chain, in all our locations inside and out. Noah has the tech knowledge, and you have the company knowledge."
There was an audible snort, and I looked over to where Hunter was covering his mouth as he looked at his other two brothers who were also looking amused. I wanted to ask them what was so funny, but I was too shocked to get the words out.
"I'll go Gran, but Andi shouldn't be the one to come. Send Hunter."
This time, my head swiveled to Noah. "What's wrong with me going?" I demanded before I could think better of it.
"You're not a Strong."
It was surprising how much that comment hurt, even though he was right.
"Noah," his grandmother chastised. "Andi is more of a Strong than you are when it comes to this company. She's going with you."
Just because I felt qualified to go didn't mean that I wanted to go. In fact, if it meant traveling with Noah, I absolutely didn't want to go. It was quite possible he and I might kill each other.
I started to say something, but Margaret held up her hand to stop me. "This is still my company and I've made my decision. Andi, you need to go make the travel arrangements, leaving as soon as you can."
Like the dutiful employee I was, I nodded and stood prepared to leave the room.
"Noah, you do this for me, and I won't ask you ever again to come on board the company,” Margaret said.
I stopped short and looked over at Noah and his brothers. All of them look shocked.
"I do this one thing and then I'm not going to be hassled about joining the company?" he asked.
Margaret nodded. "That's right. I won't ask you to join the company. I won't even expect you to come in and do your periodic updates and fixes."
Noah looked a little bit stunned, and I realized that on one hand he was getting what he wanted, but on the other hand, Margaret had also been telling him that he wouldn't be allowed in to use the company's resources.
He swallowed. "You've got a deal."
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