Page 105 of Second Time Around

Chapter 20

As Will finished reading the financial analysis of the new dog food project, his assistant informed him that Nathan Trainor wanted a minute of his time. “Of course,” Will said, although he was surprised. Nathan didn’t generally drop in on him.

Will came around his desk as Nathan walked into the office, carrying a small black case. “Thanks for seeing me without an appointment,” Nathan said, shaking hands. “I took a gamble that it was late enough in the day for most meetings to be over.”

“It’s always good to see you. Would you like water or something stronger?”

Nathan hesitated a moment and then nodded. “Something stronger. I have cause to celebrate.”

Will crossed to the built-in bar. “Champagne or scotch?”

“Scotch. Single malt, if you have it.” Nathan put the case down on Will’s desk and accepted the glass of caramel-colored liquor from Will.

Lifting his glass, Will said, “Here’s to good news.”

Nathan returned the salute and took a taste of scotch. “Excellent stuff. Worthy of the accomplishment.” Setting the glass down on the desk, he flipped open the multiple latches on the case and lifted a streamlined cube of brushed stainless steel out of the custom padding. The elegant object had rounded corners and measured about seven inches on each side. Several black rubber insets dotted the shiny surface.

Nathan placed the device on the desk and stepped back. He swept his arm toward the cube and said, “This is a prototype of the TE-500 battery made portable.”

“But we use the TE-500s for our refrigerator backups,” Will said, thinking he’d misheard. “They’re twenty inches across and weigh forty pounds each. We have special racks for them.”

Nathan’s gaze was fixed on the unassuming cube. “We’ve been working on how to downsize the TE-500 without losing any power.” He looked at Will with a grin of triumph. “It took a lot of hours in the lab but we did it.”

Will ran his finger over the smooth metal case. “That’s damned impressive.”

“It is.” Nathan picked up his drink and sipped it while contemplating his latest invention.

Will envied the deep-seated satisfaction Nathan took in having solved a complex technical challenge. What radiated from the other man could only be described as joy, a quiet exultation that he had used his talents to the fullest.

Nathan flipped open one of the rubber flaps. “This is the charging input. The others are for different kinds of plugs—including USB—so the battery is versatile.”

“How did you do it?” Will let the admiration sound in his voice.

“Ah, that would be giving away patented secrets,” Nathan said with a smile. “Besides I don’t think you’d understand my jargon.”

Will chuckled. “Very true. I know more about ancient Sparta than modern technology.”

“You’re no slouch in the tech area. That’s why I knew you would appreciate it.” Nathan ran his palm over the top of the battery. “This handsome little box has some revolutionary stuff inside it. Not even your average engineer would understand it.”

“How do I get my hands on one?”

“Your name is already on the friends and family list.”

Surprise swept through Will at Nathan’s easy inclusion of him as a friend. “I’m honored.”

Nathan nodded. “It may take a couple of months. We have some work to do on the production and financial side of the project but you’ll get one of the first batteries off the assembly line.”

“My hearty congratulations.” Will felt guilty that he had to force the note of enthusiasm into his voice, even though he was genuinely pleased for his friend. “Reports of your genius are not exaggerated.”

Nathan patted the box. “This was a team effort. I’ve got some amazing minds in my R and D department.”

“But you work shoulder to shoulder with them, as any good general does.”

“It’s not work for me,” Nathan said. “It’s pure pleasure to forget everything but solving the problem in front of me. Chloe will tell you that I lose track of time when I’m in the lab. She sometimes has to chase me down there.”

Nathan’s gray eyes lit with affection when he spoke his wife’s name.

“How did the baby shower go?” Will asked, remembering their dinner.