by Shirley Jump
“It’s my business to know.” He smiled. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She wanted to tell him the thought of such a big project daunted her, particularly without her father’s valuable advice. She wanted to tell Finn that she worried the hospital design would be too big, too detailed for her to oversee successfully, and most of all, she wanted to ask him how he had done it for so long single-handedly, but she didn’t.
She already knew the answer. She’d read it in the interview in Architect magazine. Finn McKenna wasted little time. He had no hobbies, he told the reporter, and organized his workdays in the most efficient way possible, in order to cram twenty hours of work into twelve.
And, she knew better than to trust him. He hadn’t earned the nickname Hawk by being nice to his competitors. No matter how they sliced this, she was one of his competitors and needed to be on her guard. For all she knew, Finn was working right this second—and working an angle with her that would benefit his business.
At that moment, as if making her thoughts a reality, Finn’s cell phone rang. He let out a sigh, then shot her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I have to take this. It’s a client who’s in California right now, while we build his new offices here. I think he forgot about the time change. This should only take a second.”
“No problem. I understand.” She watched him deal with the call and realized that Finn McKenna had made himself a success by sacrificing a life. That wasn’t what Ellie had wanted when she had gone into architectural design, but the more time she spent behind her father’s desk, the more it became clear that was where she was heading.
That was the one thing her father didn’t want to see. She thought back to the conversation they’d had this morning. Don’t end up like me, Ellie Girl. Get married. Settle down. Have a life instead of just a business, and don’t neglect your family to protect the bottom line. Do it before…
He hadn’t had to finish the sentence. She knew the unspoken words—before he was gone. The heart attack had set off a ticking clock inside Henry and nearly every visit he encouraged Ellie to stop putting her life on hold.
The trouble was, she had quickly found that running WW Architectural Design and having a life were mutually exclusive. Now things were more complicated, her time more precious. And having it all seemed to be an impossible idea.
She thought of the picture in her purse, the dozens more on her phone, and the paperwork waiting on her desk. Waiting not for her signature, but for a miracle. One that would keep the promise she had made in China last year.
Nearly three years ago, Ellie had been on the fast track at an architectural firm in North Carolina. Then she’d gone to a conference in China, gotten lost on the way to the hotel and ended up meeting a woman who changed her life.
Ellie never made it to the hotel or the conference. She spent five days helping Sun Yuchin dig a well and repair a neighbor’s house in a tiny, cramped town, and fallen in love with the simple village, and bonded with the woman who lived there. Every few months since, Ellie had returned. She’d been there to meet Sun’s daughter, Jiao, after she was born, even helped feed the baby, and the following year, helped build an extra room for the child. In the process, Ellie had formed a deep friendship with Sun, a hardworking, single mother who had suffered more tragedies than any person should in a lifetime—her parents dead, then her husband two years later, and near the end of one of Ellie’s trips to Sun’s town, the woman finally confided the worst news of all.
Sun had cancer. Stage four. After she told Ellie, she asked her an incredible question.
Will you raise Jiao after I’m gone? Take her to America, and be her mother?
Finn ended the call, then put his cell back into his pocket. “The Piedmont hospital will be quite an undertaking for WW,” he said, drawing her attention back to the topic.
Was he curious, or jealous? His firm had been one of the few invited to submit a bid. She remembered her father being so sure that McKenna Designs, clearly the leader in experience, would land the job. But in the end, either her father’s schmoozing on the golf course or his more competitive bid had won out and McKenna Designs had been left in the dust.
Was this true congratulations or sour grapes?
Ellie gave Finn a nod, then crossed her hands on the table. “I’m sure we’re up to the challenge.” Did her voice betray the doubts she felt?
“I know a project of that size can seem intimidating,” he added, as if he’d read her mind. “Even for someone with your experience.”
The dig didn’t go unnoticed. She was sure a methodical man like Finn McKenna would already know she’d built her career in residential, not commercial properties. He was expressing his doubts in her ability without coming right out and saying it.
He wasn’t the only one with concerns. She’d gone into architecture because she loved the field, and chosen residential work because she loved creating that happy home for her clients, and had been rewarded well for that job. She’d never wanted to be a part of the more impersonal, commercial industry.
But now she was. And that meant she had to deal with everything that came her way, no matter what. And handle it, one way or another, because her father’s company needed her to. She couldn’t go to her father and risk raising his blood pressure. She’d muddle through this project on her own. No matter what, Ellie would hold on to what Henry had built.
“We have a strong, dedicated team,” she said.
“Had.”
“Excuse me?”
“You had a strong, dedicated team. As I hear it, Farnsworth quit last week.”
Damn. Finn really did have his finger on the pulse of WW Architectural Design. Few people knew George Farnsworth, one of the oldest and most experienced architects at the firm, had quit. He’d butted heads with Ellie almost from the day she walked in the door, and eventually said he’d work for her father—or no one at all. Which wasn’t quite true, because it turned out Farnsworth had had a lucrative job offer at a competitor waiting in the wings the whole time.
She’d been scrambling ever since to find a worthy replacement. And coming up empty.
“You seem to know quite a bit about my business, Mr. McKenna—”
“Finn, please.”
“Finn, then.” She pushed the cup of tea to the side and leaned forward. “What I want to know is why.”
He gave her a half-nod. “What they say about you is true.”
“And what, pray tell, do they say about me?”
“That you’re smart and capable. And able to talk your way out of or into just about anything.”
She laughed. “The talking part is probably true. My father always said I could talk my way out of a concrete box.”
“Refill?” The waitress hovered over their table, coffeepot halfway to Finn’s cup. Then she noticed the two still-full cups. “Okay, guess not.”
Finn paused long enough for the waitress to leave, then his sky-blue gaze zeroed in on hers. “You asked why I have such an interest in your business, and in you.”
She nodded.
“I’ve done my research on your career, Miss Winston, and on WW Architectural Design because—” he paused a beat “—I have a proposition for you.”
“A proposition?” Ellie arched a brow, then flipped on the charm. Two could dance in this conversation. Finn McKenna had yet to tell her anything of substance, and she refused to give away her surprise or her curiosity. He had likely underestimated her as a businesswoman, and after tonight, she doubted he’d do it again. “Why, Finn, that sounds positively scandalous.”
He let out a short, dry laugh. “I assure you, Miss Winston—”
“Ellie.” She gave him a nod and a slight smile. She had found that a little warmth and charm, accented by the slight Southern accent that she’d picked up in her years in North Carolina, often served her well in business deali
ngs, and she used that tool to her advantage now. No giving Finn McKenna the upperhand. No, she wanted to know what he was after, and more importantly, why. “That’s the least you can do, considering I’m calling you by your first name.”
“Ellie, then.” Her name rolled off his tongue, smooth as caramel. “I…I can assure you—” he paused a second again, seemed to gather his thoughts “—that my proposition is business only.”
She waited for him to continue, while her tea cooled in front of her. This was the reason he’d asked her here—not for a date, but for business. A flicker of disappointment ran through her, but she told herself it was for the best. Despite what her father had asked of her, she didn’t see how she could possibly fit dating, much less marriage, into her already busy life.
She had her father to worry about and care for, a company to run, and most of all, a home to prepare for the changes coming her way very soon. Getting involved with Finn McKenna didn’t even make it on to that list. Heck, it wasn’t even in the same galaxy as her other priorities.
“I know that without Farnsworth, you’re in a difficult position,” Finn continued. “He’s the most senior architect on your staff, and you’re about to undertake a major hospital project. The kind of thing WW has built its reputation on, and the kind of job that will bring millions into the company coffers.”
She nodded. The Piedmont hospital was a huge boon for WW. Her father had worked long and hard to land that project. He was proud as punch to add it on to the company resume, and she was determined not to let her father down. This job would also firmly establish WW’s place as a leader in medical facility design—a smart move in an era of increased demand from aging baby boomers.
“As the new CEO,” Finn went on in the same precise, no-nonsense manner as before, “you’re already at a vulnerable juncture, and losing this project, or screwing it up, could cause WW irreparable damage.” He’d clearly studied her, and the company, and was offering an honest, if not a bit too true, perspective. He squared his spoon beside his cup, seeming to gather his thoughts, but she got the feeling he was inserting a measured, calculated pause.
She waited him out. A part of her was glad he’d gotten right to the point, avoiding the male-female flirting dance. She’d met far too many businessmen who thought they could finesse their way through a deal with a few compliments and smiles. Men who saw a woman in charge and took her to be an idiot, or someone they could manipulate over dinner. Finn McKenna, she suspected, was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get man, who saw no need for frills or extra words. Straightforward, to the point, no games. That brief moment in the lobby had been a fluke, she decided. This was the real Finn, aka the Hawk. He wanted something from her and clearly intended to stay until he had it.
“I have two senior architects on my staff who are more than capable of handling the hospital project for you,” Finn said. “If you agree to this business proposition, then they would oversee it, sort of as architects on loan. You, Miss Winston—” he paused again, corrected himself “—Ellie, would remain in complete control. And myself and my staff at McKenna Designs would be there as a resource for you, as you navigate the complicated arena of medical facility design, and the troubled waters of the CEO world.”
Troubled waters? Did he think she was totally incompetent? She tamped down the rush of anger and feigned flattery.
“That’s a mighty nice offer, Finn. Why, a girl would be all aflutter from your generosity…” Then she dropped the Southern Belle accent from her voice, and the smile from her face. He’d made it all sound so smooth, as if the benefit was all to her, not to him. “If she hadn’t been raised by a father who told her that no one does anything without a payoff. So, I ask you—” she leaned in, her gaze locking on his “—what’s in this for you?”
He gave her a short nod, a brief smile, a look that said touché. And something that looked a lot like respect. “My business has struggled as of late. Partly the economy, partly—” the next words seemed to leave his mouth with a sour taste “—because of a project that had some unfortunate results. Although we have a few medical buildings on our resume, our work has primarily been in the retail and corporate world. McKenna Designs would like to move into the medical building field because it’s a growing industry that dovetails well with our other corporate work. You would like to strengthen your position as the new head at WW by designing a hospital that puts a really big star in the company constellation, as they say.” He spread his hands. “A partnership benefits us both.”
“From what I’ve heard, McKenna Designs took a serious blow in credibility and finances over this past year and you’ve been reeling ever since.” They worked in a small industry and people talked. The people who worked for Ellie had been more than happy to fill her in on the local competition when she arrived in Boston. Finn McKenna’s name had come up several times.
“We’ve had our…challenges.”
“As have we,” she acknowledged.
“Precisely the reason I came to you.” Now he leaned back and sipped at his coffee, even though it had surely gone cold long ago. He was waiting for her to make the next move.
As she looked at him, she realized two things. He didn’t think she was capable of running the firm without his help and two, he was offering a deal that benefited him far more than her. She could hire another architect—maybe even, with the right incentives, steal Finn’s best and brightest right from under his nose—and be just fine. He was just like all the other men she had met, and all the “concerned” colleagues of her father, who saw the little Winston girl as nothing more than a figurehead.
The Hawk was merely swooping in to try to scoop up an opportunity. This meeting had been a waste of time. The one luxury Ellie Winston didn’t have.
She rose, grabbing her purse as she did. “I appreciate the offer, I really do, but we’re just fine at WW, and we’ll be just fine without an alliance with you. So thank you again—” she fished in her purse for a few dollars, and tossed them on the table “—but I must decline. Good evening, Mr. McKenna.”
Then she left, hoping that was the last she saw of Finn McKenna.
CHAPTER THREE
ELLIE had vowed not to think about Finn’s surprise offer. He was only out for number one, she had decided last night during the cab ride home, and she’d be a fool to even consider it. But as the morning’s staff meeting progressed, she found her mind wandering back to that diner conversation.
You’re at a vulnerable juncture.
Losing this project could mean irreparable damage.
A partnership benefits us both.
Had he meant what he said? Could it be a genuine offer? And if she accepted, would the benefits outweigh the drawbacks? Or was he trying to get in—and then take over her company? She’d heard how many times he’d done that to other firms.
She had floated Finn’s name with a few of her colleagues this morning, trying to get more of a read on the man everyone dubbed “the Hawk.” To a person, they’d urged caution, reminding her Finn “preferred to eat the competition for lunch rather than lunch with them.”
That meant any sort of alliance with him required serious consideration. Was his proposal all a way for him to take over her father’s company? Or would his proposal be a true two-way benefit?
She thought of what lay ahead for her life, about the child about to become a part of her life, and wondered how she could possibly juggle it all. Was a partnership a good idea?
“I’m worried, Ellie.” Larry, the most senior of her remaining architects let out a long breath. “We really need a strong leader on this project. Even though we have a lot of great architects here, without either your dad or Farnsworth to head this, well…”
“We don’t have anyone with enough experience and that means we’ll be in over our head from day one,” Ellie finished for him. She’d known that going in, but had hoped
that when she called the staff meeting someone would step up to the plate and produce a resume rife with medical design experience. Hadn’t happened. “We have a great team here, I agree. But no one who has direct experience with medical institutions.”
Larry nodded. “If we were building a bank, a resort, a hotel, we’d be fine. We could do those in our sleep. And I’m sure we could handle this project, too, but we’d be a whole lot better off with a good senior architect to oversee all those details. As it is, we’re stretched thin with the new mall out on Route 1 and the condo project in the Back Bay.”
Ellie knew Larry made sense. Between the integrated technology, clean environment requirements and strict government guidelines, a hospital build was so much more complex than an ordinary office building. Farnsworth’s specialty had been in that arena, and without him, the team would be on a constant scramble to check regs, meet with contractors and double check every element. “I’ll find someone.”
“By the end of the week?” Panic raised the pitch in Larry’s voice. “Because the initial drawings are due by the fifteenth.”
Just a few short days away. “Did Farnsworth get anything done on them?”
Larry shook his head. Ellie’s gut clenched. Farnsworth had lied and told her he’d done the initial work, but clearly his disgruntled attitude had been affecting his work for a while. Her father had designed several hospitals and medical buildings over the years, but Ellie certainly couldn’t go to him for help, and no one on the current staff at WW had the kind of experience her father and Farnsworth had. She’d just have to hire someone.
But by the end of this week? Someone who could step right in and take the project’s reins without a single misstep? And then produce a plan that would meet the critical eye of the hospital owners? She needed someone with years of experience. Someone smart. Someone capable, organized. And ready to become the team leader at a moment’s notice.
“I’ll find someone,” she repeated again. “By the end of the day. I promise.”
