Read Online The Boss's Proposal by Kristin Hardy - Free Book Online Page B

for it quickly and found herself face-to-face with Dylan, their fingers tangled around her pen.
    â€œI didn’t realize you wanted to hold hands,” he murmured, amusement lingering in his eyes as he held out the Montblanc.
    Max snatched it away.
    He grinned and straightened. Then, with that effortless polish she couldn’t help but admire, he switched gears and looked at the committee members. “We’ve talked about what you need to make your jobs easier, but I’d like to get the bigger picture. What kind of impression do you want this building to give? What do you want people to think when they drive up to the medical center?”
    â€œThat they’ll get the most up-to-date care available,” Walt Ardsmuir, chief of surgery, responded promptly. “The main building has history but we need to bring it into the twenty-first century.”
    Dylan glanced at Max with a raised brow that had her resisting the urge to grind her teeth.
    â€œSo you’d like a more modern effect on the out side?”
    â€œIt’ll set the tone,” Fischer agreed. “It’ll be the first thing people see when they come in. Make sure it doesn’t fight with the look of the main building, though.”
    â€œI have in mind something that will bring the two together,” Dylan assured him. “Inside, we can go with something a little more modern and open, as well. If we push the rooms on the first two floors to the outside, we can create an open concourse down the middle, for example. It will give a sense of light and space.”
    â€œSounds very impressive,” said Fisher.
    â€œThe heating bills will probably be impressive, too,” the head of facilities grumbled.
    â€œNot with the right design. We’ll use energy-efficient materials, maybe even look into geothermal heating.”
    â€œBRS is accredited for green design,” Max put in. “We’ll deliver a green-certified structure that will minimize your operating costs. We can save you money.”
    â€œOn operation, maybe. We need to know how you can save us money on the construction,” said the CFO, Leighton Barnes. “Our last major building project ran way over budget and schedule. We have to get this project put out for bids by the end of the year so we can get permits and materials and be ready tostart building as soon as it warms up enough to break ground.”
    â€œThen start with a firm that knows how to work around the weather,” Dylan said. “BRS has been designing buildings in the northeast for thirty-two years. You’ll get a team that can work with your schedule and meet your deadlines.”
    Down at the end of the table, one of the nurses shifted impatiently. “Excuse me?” She put up her hand. “Susan Harding, oncology. You know, we’ve been talking for at least half an hour here, and I’ve hardly heard the word ‘patient’ come up once.” She wore a smock covered with little explosions of fire works that matched her short red hair. And her personality, Max thought. “I know cost is important, but it doesn’t matter if we get the cheapest or the most modern-looking building in the world if it doesn’t let us take care of the patients, does it?” She looked around the table. “I mean, isn’t that why we’re here?”
    Ardsmuir cleared his throat. “Well, obviously we want a design that addresses our needs—”
    â€œOur needs? What about the patients’ needs?” Harding cut in.
    â€œWe’re going to have state-of-the-art treatment rooms.”
    â€œThat’s good, but if we’re serious about this center of excellence thing, we’ve got to go the extra distance. There are facilities that provide all kinds of extra care options—massage therapists, counselors,support groups,” she said, ticking them off on her fingers. “Emotional well-being increases patient survival