19
Joey sat at the circular table in the space between Nash and Stefanie. Nash had been on the verge of calling Cole to tell them something was off, and Joey didn’t have much of a choice but to intervene. Neither Alexis nor Matt had openly questioned Joey about it yet. Trusting Nash had been his decision, and he’d fix it himself if he’d made the wrong call. Hopefully, it hadn’t been the wrong call. Nash was telling the truth about his brother. Alexis had completed a real-time check while they’d been talking to him, so that was something.
Cole’s voice boomed through the line. “Good afternoon, everyone. How did the meeting with our newest customers go?”
Nash’s eyes went wide, but Stefanie smoothly took over. “It went extremely well. The team seems eager to get started. They have a custom device they’d like to test out close to where we typically operate. I know I’m pretty new here, but I took that as good news. I did ask them to provide a certification that they weren’t planning on dropping anything harmful into the ocean and they agreed to it.”
“It’s very good news, indeed. I’ll have Peggy send them our standard forms. When do they want to book a space?”
“This weekend, if possible.” Stefanie exchanged a look with Joey. “And they want to accompany us on our data run tomorrow.”
“Wonderful. You’ll take them, of course. I’ll have Peggy reserve The Dog House to deploy their equipment this weekend.”
Stefanie tapped a finger against her lips, obviously deciding how hard to push. They were close to the truth and Stefanie had a brain for strategy. Joey gave her an encouraging nod, hoping it was enough to help. “Sir, I do have a quick question. They didn’t disclose what they were sending and we’re operating near California. Can we get whatever permissions and permits we need this quickly and at a reasonable cost?”
Cole’s answer was a little too easy. “Oh yes. I’ll have our legal team sort it out, but it should be no problem at all for important customers.”
Nash eyed the speakerphone skeptically. He looked back at them and mouthed, “It’s not that easy.”
“Oh, wonderful! Let us know the time and place, and we’ll get everything ready on our end.” Stefanie’s voice was bright, but her hands were shaking, just a little. She folded them on her lap. “Would you like to see the rest of what we’ve put together? Nash and I have been working on a prototype platform I’d love to show you.”
Cole’s voice was less enthusiastic than Joey expected. “I’d be happy to take a closer look some other time. Right now, I have another meeting. Send me an email with everything, and I’ll read through it before we talk again. Good job, team. I’m looking forward to hearing from our happy customers.”
Nash pressed the end button on the speakerphone and thumped back into his chair. He eyed them each critically. “Usually, permits take forever. Or at least weeks. They’re never that fast.”
“Maybe they know someone that can expedite it?” Joey’s expression was inscrutable. “Or our friends got permission before they asked?” He brushed his ear. “I’ll check it out.”
Alexis’s voice came through the earpiece and Stefanie startled, just a little. She was piping in sound to them both now. “Checking now. Wrap things up with Nash. He’s figuring things out too quickly. I’ll be in the lobby in a couple of minutes to grab Waffle.”
Stefanie checked the time. “I’m so sorry, I need to go out to give Waffle back to my friend.”
“It’s 4:37. That seems like an odd time to meet.” Nash crossed his arms.
Stefanie laughed, but even Joey could tell it was forced. “I know. I’m late. I was supposed to be out there at 4:30.”
Nash eyed her skeptically. Joey asked him another question about the prototype to give her some breathing room, and she slipped out with Waffle in tow.
Stefanie retreated from a conference room that was getting smaller by the second. She whispered her movements into her earpiece. While she’d been the first to jump to Nash’s defense, her overactive nerves were starting to suspect everyone. She laid a hand on Waffle and he nudged his head into her hand for a pet. She took a deep breath and retreated to the lobby. Waffle trotted faithfully next to her and wagged his tail furiously when he spotted his mistress. Alexis praised him and pulled Stefanie in for a hug. They were supposed to be old friends, but the gesture still took her by surprise. Alexis whispered, “Great job in there. You’re as big of a badass as your sister.” She snorted. “You asked them about a frog. I love it. That’s a new one, even for me.”
Waffle and Alexis left in their matching shirt and dog vest with “Bay Area Barks” emblazoned on them. When Stefanie turned around, Peggy was watching her carefully. Stefanie grinned. “How cute was our employee for the day? I have to tell my friend that her business is a genius idea.”
“As long as no one is allergic to dogs, I think Waffle would be welcome just about anywhere he went.” Peggy looked over the top of her reading glasses. “I’d love to work up a little get-to-know-you sheet on him like I did for you!”
The hair on the back of Stefanie’s neck stood up. She’d never replied to Peggy’s email. “Oh, fun! I didn’t realize you’d put something together. I know I still owe you a response.”
“It’s no trouble at all!” Peggy waved a hand in the air. “I figured you were busy, so I did some of my own research and sent some fun facts to Cole already. Oh! That reminds me! I found your sister’s rocket research lab online when I was searching for
