Jack
By the time Jack returned to Garlan Consulting, Benjamin Archibald was no longer the mystery occupying most of his thoughts.
That irritated him.
He disliked distractions.
Unfortunately, the image of Leia Clark smiling across the lunch table kept inserting itself into his mind at the most inconvenient moments.
It wasn't simply that she was beautiful.
Jack had known beautiful women his entire life.
Beauty was common.
Competence wasn't.
The woman had discussed urban redevelopment with the same enthusiasm most people reserved for vacations and hobbies.
More importantly, she disagreed with him.
Comfortably.
Confidently.
Without ever becoming defensive.
That was rare.
Dangerously rare.
His office overlooked half the city, but he barely noticed the skyline as he loosened his tie and sat behind his desk.
Instead, he found himself remembering her answer.
"I like creating spaces."
Simple.
Sincere.
Unlike most people in the industry who chased prestige, money, or awards.
The thought lingered.
Then another question surfaced.
Why wasn't she working for him?
He pressed the intercom.
"Melissa."
"Yes, Mr. Garlan?"
"Send Gerald Hoss to my office."
"Right away."
Jack leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling while waiting.
He already knew Leia had applied years ago.
He'd looked through archived records before leaving for lunch.
Her application existed.
Her portfolio existed.
Her interview evaluation existed.
Yet somehow she had not been hired.
He intended to find out why.
A knock sounded moments later.
"Come in."
Gerald Hoss entered carrying a tablet.
He was an efficient HR director.
Thorough.
Reliable.
One of the few people Jack rarely questioned.
Today, however, was different.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Jack motioned toward the chair.
"Sit."
Gerald immediately looked nervous.
That alone told Jack he wasn't going to like whatever explanation he received.
"Do you remember Leia Clark?"
Gerald's eyebrows jumped.
A tiny movement.
But Jack noticed.
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
Jack folded his hands.
"Why didn't we hire her?"
Silence.
Not a good sign.
"Sir, that was years ago."
"I know."
"Perhaps another candidate was better suited—"
"No."
Jack's voice sliced through the excuse.
"I reviewed her file."
He opened a folder on his desk.
"Top of her class."
Another page.
"Exceptional design portfolio."
Another.
"Excellent interview evaluation."
Jack looked up.
"So let's try again."
The room grew uncomfortably quiet.
"Why wasn't she hired?"
Gerald shifted in his seat.
"You want the honest answer?"
"I generally prefer those."
The older man sighed.
Then spoke carefully.
"Her reputation worried us."
Jack's expression cooled immediately.
"What reputation?"
"Well..."
Gerald hesitated.
"The circumstances surrounding her family."
There it was.
Jack had expected it.
Still, hearing it aloud annoyed him more than he anticipated.
"Let me get this straight."
His voice became dangerously calm.
"A talented architect applied here."
Gerald lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
"Her qualifications exceeded expectations."
"Yes."
"And your concern was..."
Jack paused deliberately.
"...gossip?"
Gerald swallowed.
"Sir, it wasn't exactly gossip."
"No?"
Jack leaned forward.
"What would you call it?"
Gerald struggled for words.
"The Clark family has influence."
"So?"
"Mrs. Clark in particular—"
Jack laughed once.
A short, humorless sound.
"Martina Clark?"
Gerald nodded.
Jack sat back.
"In the last twenty years, has Martina Clark ever attended a board meeting here?"
"No, sir."
"Does she own shares in my company?"
"No."
"Does she make hiring decisions?"
"No."
"So why exactly was her opinion relevant?"
Gerald looked trapped.
Because there was no good answer.
For several moments neither spoke.
Jack finally sighed.
Not angry.
Disappointed.
The feeling was somehow worse.
"When I built this company, Gerald, do you know what mattered?"
Gerald remained silent.
"Results."
Jack stood and walked toward the window.
"Talent."
The city stretched before him.
"Work ethic."
He folded his arms.
"Do you know what never mattered?"
"No, sir."
"Who their parents were."
He turned.
"Or how society felt about them."
Gerald looked genuinely ashamed now.
Good.
He should.
Jack wasn't upset because a mistake had been made.
Mistakes happened.
He was upset because the mistake represented everything he hated.
People judging capability without evidence.
People deciding worth before giving someone an opportunity.
"We lost her."
Jack said it quietly.
Almost to himself.
Gerald looked confused.
"Sir?"
"We lost a talented architect."
His gaze hardened.
"And now she's helping our biggest competitor grow."
Technically, Ben Architecture wasn't his biggest competitor.
Not yet.
But given their trajectory?
It wouldn't be long.
And that irritated him even more.
Because he strongly suspected Leia Clark was responsible for most of that success.
"I'm sorry, sir."
Jack nodded.
"I know you are."
He returned to his chair.
"The damage is done."
His voice softened slightly.
"But it never happens again."
"It won't."
"I'm serious, Gerald."
"Yes, sir."
"The next architect who walks through that door gets evaluated on merit."
Gerald nodded firmly.
"Understood."
After Gerald left, silence reclaimed the office.
Jack stared out the window.
His mind returning, once again, to Leia.
He could already picture her reaction if she knew about today's conversation.
She'd probably laugh.
Shrug it off.
Claim it was ancient history.
Yet somehow that thought bothered him.
Maybe because nobody should have needed to shrug off that kind of rejection.
Maybe because she deserved better.
Or maybe...
Because he was becoming entirely too interested in a woman he'd only met once.
He looked toward the folder still resting on his desk.
Leia Clark.
Thirty-two years old.
Award-winning architect.
Top architect of Ben Architecture.
Daughter of Carlson Clark.
And somehow still deeply underestimated by almost everyone around her.
Almost everyone.
A slow smile appeared.
The kind that usually preceded a new challenge.
Or a dangerous idea.
Perhaps both.
He picked up his phone.
"Melissa?"
His secretary answered immediately.
"Yes, Mr. Garlan?"
"Find out who's handling the MMT Developers bidding event next month."
There was a brief pause.
"I can do that."
"Good."
Jack leaned back in his chair.
"Something tells me Ben Architecture will be there."
The smile widened.
"And I have a feeling Ms. Clark and I aren't finished talking."