Break the Rules (The Flanagan Sisters Book 1) by Claire Boston Page B

pretty sure she had. He’d witnessed her passion first-hand. She wouldn’t
have pulled her punches for the management team. They just hadn’t listened. But
there was no point in making a big deal of it now. What was done was done.
    Besides,
he had another issue to raise . “It’s come to my
attention that the technicians don’t check their email regularly. Email is one
of the only ways we can communicate with the guys who are on night shift. My
team has had to work extra hours to speak with them in person, in order to
ensure they have the information they need.”
    The
production manager straightened in his chair. “Most of the guys are computer
illiterate. They wouldn’t know how to use email even if they tried.”
    Jack
glanced at him. “Email is an essential part of our communication strategy. If
they don’t know how to use it, isn’t it your responsibility to ensure your team
has the skills they need?”
    “They
work with tools and machinery, not computers. They’re so rarely near one,” he
argued.
    “Then
I suggest you come up with a better communication strategy so my team doesn’t
have to work extra hours. They work long enough as it is.” So, he wasn’t making
any friends in today’s meeting. It didn’t matter. Jack wasn’t here to make
friends, he was here to make sure the plant’s safety was sufficient and his
team wasn’t overworked.
    By
the time the meeting was over Jack had made sure the management team understood
the status quo wasn’t good enough anymore and he expected their full support.
Since safety was theoretically the company’s number one priority, it wasn’t
hard to get them to agree. Whether they actually followed through remained to
be seen.
    Kevin
stopped him on the way out of the meeting and congratulated him on his
progress. “It’s nice to see you in charge.”
    “Thanks.”
Jack continued to his office. The praise only depressed him further. He wasn’t
doing anything differently from Bridget. He slumped into his chair.
    Bridget
ducked her head around the door. “Hey, boss, I’ve developed the new safety
topics and sent you a link to check them.” She smiled and then frowned. She
stepped into the office. “You all right?”
    The
sight of Bridget made it all worse, not better. It was the job keeping them
from exploring what they could have together. “Rough meeting. I’m not popular with production or maintenance at the moment.”
    “Told
them how it is?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well,
you should get a better response. Kevin is raving about you.”
    He
frowned. “I’m not telling them anything that you didn’t.”
    “But
you’re male, it makes it easier to take. Men expect
other men to be forceful. Old school men don’t like it in their women, and
Kevin is one of the old boys.”
    Jack
didn’t argue with her.
    “Need
a hand with anything?” she asked.
    “No,
I’ve got it covered. Let me know by Thursday what needs to be done while you’re
away.”
    “Will do.” She smiled at him and it did lift his spirits. “It’ll get easier.”
    “I
hope so.”
    He
wasn’t just referring to the job. Seeing Bridget today after their talk on the weekend
was difficult. He could see her point of view, he could even understand it, but
it didn’t make it easier. If he ever met this Lionel he wasn’t sure what he’d
do. The jackass had ruined his chance with Bridget.
    Jack
shook his head. He had to stop obsessing and accept that he and Bridget were
colleagues and hopefully friends. That’s all it could be at the moment.
    But
he wasn’t ruling out the future.
    * * *
    Sunday
evening Bridget practically floated through her front door. Her dive course had
been amazing . She’d wanted to stay underwater for longer, but her
instructor – and the level of oxygen in her tank – made her head to the
surface.
    Jack
had been right. It was like exploring another world. She couldn’t wait to go
again. The dive shop ran regular dives each weekend if the weather was