Morgan sat back and watched Kathleen make her presentation as he flipped through the pages of her binder ahead of her. He tried to focus on her words, but her green-gold eyes and luscious lips scrambled his brain. Only a few phases broke through the fog of annoyance and attraction, one of which he had to address.
“Wait, did you say we need to switch from our computer-based training program to a more group-based, interactive one?” That’s not going to happen. “The industry, the world for that matter, is moving more toward digital and you want us to pull back.”
“Yes, statistics show people respond better in a working group setting like the one I’m recommending. They learn from their peers, and it strengthens relationships between coworkers.”
Morgan dropped his hands. “My team already works well together. They don’t need a feel-good session to make them better at their job.” He closed the binder. “Stick to the regulatory updates, and I’ll make sure our systems are brought current based on those changes.”
Kathleen raised her chin and held his gaze. “While I appreciate your opinion, it doesn’t count, Mr. Jones.”
“What do we have here?” Victoria asked as she entered the office with Adrian on her heels. She placed her hat back on the desk.
Morgan and Kathleen got to their feet. “Victoria Kingsley, meet Kathleen Winston, the trainer OSHA sent.”
Victoria extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you, and welcome to Kingsley Oil and Gas. I take it things are going well.”
“Not exactly,” Morgan stated.
* * *
Unfortunately, thanks to Mr. Tall, Handsome and Too-Damn-Sexy-for-His-Own-Good.
“Miss Winston seems to think we should abandon our tried-and-true computer-based training in favor of her more interactive-type program,” Morgan explained. His jaw tightened.
Kathleen glared at Morgan before turning her attention to Victoria. “It’s not my program, and I didn’t suggest you abandon your computer-based training altogether—just adjust it a bit.”
“A bit.” Morgan pointed to the binders that sat on his desk. “According to the data in your unnecessarily long, although well-put-together, presentation, you recommend we cut our program by fifty percent.”
“And replace it with a more productive method of training,” she countered.
“Says you.” Morgan crossed his arms.
“Says several experts. How did you even see that? We haven’t even gotten to that section yet.” Kathleen made her annoyance clear. She thought he was acting like a petulant child.
I bet you stomp your feet and hold your breath, too, if a woman doesn’t drop to her knees on command. Oh, my goodness. Where the hell did that come from, Kathleen?
“I’m good at multitasking, and I pay attention to details.”
Another warm sensation ran through her body. “I bet you do,” she murmured.
Victoria laughed as she reached for her buzzing phone. “Well, I see you have everything under control, son.” She started reading her incoming text.
“‘Son’?” Kathleen’s forehead creased; she was clearly shocked by the revelation. “I thought you were the plant manager.”
“No, that would be me,” another man replied, raising his right hand.
Victoria placed her hands on her hips. “Morgan Kingsley, did you not properly introduce yourself to this young woman?”
“I tried, but she launched right into her presentation. I think she was a bit awestruck.” Morgan smirked.
Kathleen’s left eyebrow rose. “As were you,” she snapped back before she could stop herself.
“Touché,” Morgan acknowledged.
“Enough.” Victoria picked up her bag and hard hat. “I have to get back to Houston.”
Morgan dropped his hands. “I’ll see you out, Mother.”
“No, Adrian will. You and Miss Winston are going to get to work.” Victoria turned and faced Kathleen. “While I appreciate your input and we will take your recommendations under advisement, we will continue to do what we feel is best for our company. If you can’t accept that, I have to rescind my offer to allow your presence at my plant.”
That can’t happen. “Yes, of course. I understand,” she replied nervously.
“Good, now pass me one of those binders, and I’ll read through it on the ride home.”
Nice going, Kathleen—you almost get yourself kicked out of here before you can even get started. Kathleen handed Victoria a binder and watched as she kissed her son goodbye and left. She had heard and read a great deal about Victoria Kingsley but nothing compared to meeting her in person. While she was very firm and definitive in regard to her business, watching her maternal interactions with her son was something clearly not many got to witness. She felt honored.
“Well, I guess that’s that.” Kathleen started packing up her bag. “I’ll focus on the regulatory changes as you requested, Mr. Kingsley.”
Kathleen watched the handsome Kingsley drop his shoulders and lean against his desk. The closer he got to Kathleen, the more out of control she felt. Kathleen knew she had to bring her wayward mind and body under control. He was part of her investigation, after all.
“It’s Morgan, and if you prefer you can conduct your sessions using your interactive method. If the team is receptive to the idea, I’ll consider incorporating your way into some of our program.”
Kathleen offered up a small smile. “Was that too hard?”
“Not at all. I can be a reasonable man when I want to be, Miss Winston.”
“I guess we’ll find out just how reasonable you are when you attend my class, and please call me Kathleen.”
“All right, Kathleen, but I have no intention of attending your class,” he said matter-of-factly.
Kathleen felt a slow smile spread across her face. “Why? Are you afraid you just might learn something and realize my method is better than the program you so covet?”
“Not at all.” His face went blank, and he held her gaze.
Kathleen dropped her eyes and reached for her rolling bag. “Shall I get started?”
“Absolutely.”
Morgan came from around the desk and reached for Kathleen’s bag. “I got it,” she said.
“I insist,” he replied as he placed his large hand over hers.
Kathleen felt a spark that wasn’t electrical and quickly pulled her hand back. You have got to get it together. “Fine.”
“And if I may suggest...you are open to suggestions, right?”
Annoyed by the sarcasm, Kathleen rolled her eyes. “Yes, of course.”
“You should lose whatever that perfume is you’re wearing. The men might find it distracting if you want them to focus on your class. Don’t worry—they’d never be inappropriate.”
“I’m not, and I know the drill. Besides, I’m not wearing perfume,” Kathleen explained, walking toward the door.
Morgan stepped in her path, preventing Kathleen from moving forward. He stared into her eyes and said, “If you’re not wearing perfume, then it’s you. All you,” he concluded, his voice low and husky.
Kathleen felt light-headed. She thought for a moment that somehow all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. Focus, Kathleen.
“I want my men to concentrate on the training and not the trainer,” he continued.
Kathleen pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin defiantly. “Maybe it’s you with the concentration problem. Every consider leading by example?” She stepped around him and walked out the door.
* * *
Kathleen’s first day wasn’t as difficult as she’d imagined. It was just the opposite. Everyone was extremely nice but not in a sucking-up type of way, either. The assistance offered to Kathleen no matter where she went or what she requested was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to help. Even her initial class, in which she’d expected to receive pushback, especially from the more seasoned staff, went well. Everyone appeared open to the training, and some were even excited about the opportunity to explore her new methods. Other than that initial hiccup in the office that morning, she had a good day. Kathleen still couldn’t get over the effect Morgan Kingsley had on her mind and body. Her attraction to him was an unexpected hurdle she had to get over. The jury was still out on Morgan and his company.
While Kathleen had limited access to the Kingsley systems, she was given the ability to review all the training material including their archived programs. A big part of Mr. Silva’s charge had been that the new COO had implemented policy changes that put the staff in danger. Kathleen was in the perfect position to prove or disprove that allegation. The first thing she did was check the company’s policy change log against what they had filed with the state. She found no irregularities. In fact, she was impressed with just how well organized they were. However, Kathleen knew just because the paperwork was in order didn’t mean everything was aboveboard. Yet for some reason she felt relieved that the paperwork confirmed what she’d seen so far. It was like she was rooting for them, which was something that she never did this early in the investigation.
Employers often put one thing in writing but expected their employees to cut corners to get the job done faster and cheaper, regardless of the potential risk to themselves and their families. Most employees went along with such antics because they felt they had no choice. Kathleen was determined to make sure the Kingsley employees knew they had a choice. Over the next couple of weeks, Kathleen conducted what she called “featherlight interviews” with her trainees. She would weave investigative questions into her training sessions and found nothing out of the ordinary. While Kathleen appreciated his hands-off approach to her work, she found herself looking forward to their check-in moments, as Morgan called them, at the end of each day.
But Kathleen combed through old and new training records and found a smoking gun. Unfortunately, it wasn’t what she’d expected. The most damaging evidence she found was against a senior-level welder by the name of Mundos Silva. While Kathleen couldn’t review the Kingsley employees’ personal records, she did have access to their training files. It seems Mr. Mundos Silva had experienced a great deal of difficulty passing most of his required training. It had taken him longer than others and multiple times to pass. There were notes in his files indicating that his supervisors had offered him assistance and additional training in areas where he was having difficulty. Unfortunately, Mr. Silva refused the help. Kathleen found that the outside training specialist recommended that Mr. Silva be demoted to a position more appropriate for his current level of ability. The recommendation and change took effect long before there was a change in leadership.
“Damn,” Kathleen replied, after reading the last note in his file. She called her boss.
“Kathleen, what’s up?” Simpson answered.
“I found something.”
“What?” She could hear the anxiousness in his voice.
“It’s not against the Kingsleys, but Mr. Silva.”
“Tell me.”
After going over everything she’d found out so far, she read the final note in the file. “‘Mr. Silva is a valued employee who we should do everything we can to try to help according to the Kingsley Family Stay Whole policy.’”
“What the hell is the Kingsley Family Stay Whole policy?” he asked.
“Apparently anyone who’s been here for more than five years is eligible to receive any form of help they may need in the event of a crisis, to stay whole.”
“What?”
“I just heard about it. The Kingsleys believe in taking care of their employees. There’s even something for those who’ve been here for fewer than five years,” she added.
“Maybe we can get a job there after we’re both fired. It’s time to come home, Kathleen.”
“Not yet. You need to bring Mr. Silva in for a follow-up conversation.”
Kathleen was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Confusion and anger that she might have let herself get played and pleasure that it appeared the Kingsleys were actually what she was finding them to be: good people with a great company.
“I’m already ahead of you, but there’s nothing to find,” Simpson insisted.
“You may be right, but I have to be sure. Besides, I have to finish the training and system updates. That way I can leave, and no one will ever know the real reason for my visit.”
“Fine, but make it fast,” he said before hanging up on her.
Kathleen had a feeling that Simpson was right, but for reasons she didn’t want to explore she just knew she had to stay a little longer...for Morgan.