The Bet's Still on

The project's going well. Thanks for asking. Sometimes it feels as though I'm going it alone because Arkel seems to think he can borrow my people at will, and I don't mind all that much most of the time. I'm just too nice a guy.
I've got Spin and Owl collecting data like crazy, most of the time, and I've been so involved directly that it's a constant distraction. In theory, I'm only directing the work, but it seems that I'm too efficient at doing it myself, and it's too easy to get going along a path and not be able to hand it on to anyone. My fault. My problem. This is one of those problems about being a manager with a technical background. One will get in the way of the other.
With Axis about to go on holidays, I get Wildman as a replacement. Due to his other duties within Engineering, everything is being pushed back. With no Polo to play politics with, and Gabriel being run off his feet, there's little I can do about it anyway.
Merk's gone - and FO can't find him, because he seems to have fallen off the side of the earth. Dryza will return, which will be a pleasant change. She and I get on particularly well, and I can trust her to do things I would normally be bundled with myself. She may not have the background, but she has the capability.
Meanwhile, Doodles is trying to line up someone for my staff, before I even realised that I had need for them! Given that I've always wanted a 2IC, and Booker, the prime candidate, still won't work more than three days a week for me, I live in hope that this is the one. If only I had the budget to do it. I can see it now - having to sacrifice one of the other girls to achieve it. That's not necessarily my idea of moving forward. Then again, I've never worked to a budget - I spend what I need to, and no-one dares question it.
Maybe that's how the bet came about. FO bet me 10K that I wouldn't be able to finish this little project by the end of the year. Truly, it was the only way of guaranteeing its success, calling my bluff and turning it into a challenge. He needs it as much as I do, and he can only think in terms of money. That's why Dryza's coming back. That's why Merk was here. That's why, the last time Dryza was around, I had two contractors sitting around creating stuff for me. Money - short-term, one-off, non-recurring, under-a-given-value money - works wonders with the accounting-minded. You tell them how they can make it or save it, and they're sold on the concept.
I'm not saying that I caused FO to make the bet. I'm merely suggesting that, if he wanted it done, money was the only way he would be able to see it happen, and the only person who could amke it happen in reality was me. Me and money don't get along, so paying me off doesn't help, which left the bet. Bugger the money. There's pride at stake now!
I've got time. I've got (just) enough resources. What I need is a little luck, and I can make some money.