“It’s the next generation of battery, based on nanotechnology to make it incredibly small and light. It can power an electronic device for weeks instead of days.” His face lit up with the intensity of his enthusiasm. “It could bring power to remote villages that can only access the power grid sporadically. Long-distance travelers won’t have to search for plugs in airports. Military outposts can carry smaller, more portable generators.” The light in his eyes died. “Except it doesn’t work.”
“Yet,” Chloe said.
He looked at her. “Are you trying to give me a pep talk?”
She shrugged. “You told me yourself that you have the best R and D staff in the industry. They’ll figure it out.”
“You’re more optimistic than I am.”
“Maybe you should help them. After all, you invented the original battery.”
For a moment, he looked as though he was considering her suggestion. Then he waved a hand at the laptop on her desk and said in a voice heavy with weariness, “Then who would answer all those e-mails?”
Chloe decided not to point out that there was a long list of executive vice presidents in the company’s directory who could handle some of Trainor’s workload. His management style was his business. She turned back to the computer. “I’ll start reading again.”
The volume of e-mails he received was staggering. Many of them he told her to delete after she read them to him. Others he dictated short answers to. Every time she thought they’d reached the end, another batch would land in his in-box.
She skimmed down the new arrivals. “Well, here’s one that’s different. You’ve been invited to a wedding.”
He shoved himself higher on the pillows. “A wedding? Those invitations usually come in thick envelopes with overembellished calligraphy. Who the hell sends one by e-mail?”
Chloe was beginning to think she’d made a mistake in picking out that particular message. Even though it had come to Trainor’s business address, it looked to be from a family member. “Major General Joseph W. Trainor does.”
Trainor’s face turned to stone. For a long moment, there was dead silence. Then he said in a voice that sliced like a knife, “Hand me the laptop.”
Chloe nearly dropped the sleek, cutting-edge computer as she scooped it off the desk and shot out of her chair. She stumbled over one of the wheeled spokes supporting the chair and banged into the bed, jarring it and her boss. “Sorry,” she said, holding the laptop out.
Trainor took it without a word and swiped one long finger across the screen to open the e-mail. She stood by the bed, watching the play of emotions on his face. None of them indicated any joy about the upcoming nuptials.
“This is unexpected,” he finally said, slamming the laptop closed and tossing it halfway across the bed on the side opposite Chloe. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. Were his feelings hurt because he hadn’t known a family member was getting married? Chloe shifted on her high heels as she tried to figure out what to say.
He dropped his hand. “No matter how old you get or how far away you go, your family can still get to you.”
“Because they sent an e-mail instead of a paper invitation?”
He rolled his head on the pillow so he was looking straight at her. “No, because my father is getting married.”
Chloe smoothed a wrinkle out of the comforter as she scrambled for a response. Although his father was obviously older, that shouldn’t make his remarriage upsetting. “It’s nice that he’s found someone he loves,” she finally managed.
“My father is sixty-one. He’s getting married because his forty-two-year-old girlfriend is pregnant. He sent me an e-mail because it’s a shotgun wedding, so there wasn’t time to mail invitations.”
That’s when Chloe knew the Russell jinx had hit Nathan Trainor too. Two disasters in one day could not be a coincidence. Of course, she hadn’t been aware that she could ruin people’s personal lives too.
She swallowed hard and blurted out the first thought that flitted through her mind. “So you’re going to have a baby brother or sister.”
A look of revulsion skittered across his face. “Half brother or sister,” he corrected her. “I won’t be changing its diapers or dandling it on my knee.”
“I’ve never been clear on what dandling meant anyway,” Chloe said, relieved he hadn’t exploded.
“I don’t intend to find out.” He retreated back into his unhappy thoughts, leaving Chloe to balance uneasily on her heels. She eyed the laptop he’d tossed to the other side of the bed. Should she risk attracting his attention by walking around to fetch it, or was it better to let him finish his cogitations?
Luis caught her looking at it and reached out to pick it up before walking around the bed without a sound. She nodded her thanks as she took it from him and held it in front of her like a shield.
Trainor exhaled. “I’m going to sleep. Chloe, I’ll call Ed, and you can tell him what you’d like to do for the next two hours. He’ll arrange whatever you need.” He shifted his attention to Luis. “You can take my temperature and give me whatever medications Ben foisted on you. However, you will not tell him I couldn’t walk across the room or that I stopped working to sleep.” There was steel in his voice, and Luis instantly murmured agreement. Trainor looked back at Chloe and used the same tone. “You will not tell him either.”