The Enigma Gamers - A CATS Tale

     Juan and Julie sat in their CATS office, quietly thinking while they sipped their coffee. They had been comparing notes on the team’s assignments, and it was Julie who had remarked on the oddity of these newer assignments. Juan knew his business and life’s partner well enough to remain silent while she chewed on something that seemed to perplex her. The way she held her coffee with both hands and stared off into space were all the contextual clues that he needed in order to let her turn these events over a couple of times in her head. She'd been a cyber assassin in the identity laundering world far longer than he. So when she began working on something, it wasn’t just respect but his natural curiosity that made him want to hear what she was thinking.

Finally, Julie decided, “I think we ought to take this Consortium assignment in Australia. There’s not much to go on, which makes me more inclined to have some feet on the ground, hunting for clues. We can take George with us. It'll be a good way to watch him in action and see if we want to have him lead a team in the future.

“You know, I wasn’t completely sure when we made offers to each of the team members that we would have billable revenue for all of them. At the current rate we're being engaged for expanded corporate security assignments, we may need to start looking for more employees.”

Juan smiled and commented, “I had no such doubts! I knew my beautiful, smart, charming, and intelligent wife, as well as the mother of two adorable children, was calling the right game plan. Your intellect, coupled with that sultry feminine method of correctly designing the absolutely best solution but delivering it in a reserved but powerful demeanor, can only be admired. Why, there are places on this planet that you only have to whisper your name to bring a whole conference room to a standstill! You’re a fair minded, powerful combatant in the finest tradition of Amazon warriors. It’s a heady thing to be in your life, my Athena! Why, I’ve been told in person and with sworn affidavits in writing by numerous other males that they are so devoted to you, and in so awe of your aura, they have offered to crawl ten miles on their hands and knees over broken glass just to smell where you urinated last!”

Julie always knew Juan could shine a person on to get what he wanted. But the last line was enough to get her to bust out laughing at the absurd soliloquy. Juan grinned as well. As usual no one ever stayed mad at him for long. He was a charming male who could get away with telling bawdy stories in mixed company.

After she regained her composure, Julie announced, “I need to dial into a conference call with the family and give them a status of our work assignments. Can we do lunch after that, sweetheart?”

Juan smiled, nodded politely, kissed her cheek, and then confirmed, “But of course. While you’re doing that I will touch bases with George and Brayson to see if they are ready for their next assignments.”