Arrogant Boss

“Let me show you to your office first, and then to the break room. We usually have coffee or tea around ten-thirty with the entire marketing and press team.”

“You work jointly here?”

“Yes.” Rachel shot me a wide smile. “I’m guessing there were more clear-cut divisions at your last job?”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

“Yes.” Very strict ones, in fact, that had often seemed ridiculous to me.

“That’s not really the way Hunt Industries operate. You’ll see soon enough for yourself, but we have more of a collaborative work environment here.”

“One of those tech firms,” I said with a smile. “Do you also have arcade games and bean bag chairs?”

“Yes,” she deadpanned. “We do yoga during our lunch breaks. It’s a company wide policy”

I gave a startled laugh. “Really?”

She grinned. “No. But you’re welcome to petition Mr. Hunt for that. Who knows? He’s had weirder ideas before.”

Rachel showed me into an open office with floor-to-ceiling windows. “It looks a bit bare now, but feel free to fill up the bookshelves and the desk with anything you might need. IT will be up here in a bit to set up your company laptop and cellphone. Let’s go meet the team.”

The team, as she so collaboratively put it, was making a lot of sound in the break room when we approached. Rachel stopped in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

“We’re meeting a new team member today. Is this really the way to introduce yourselves?”

A motley crew of five looked up from the game of Hungry Hungry Hippos they were playing. My look of surprise and bafflement must have been clear on my face, because they all broke out into laughter.

Rachel gave me a chagrined look. “It’s not like this often, I promise.”

“Hi everyone!” I gave a small wave. “I was looking for the press and marketing team? But I see now that I’ve must have gotten lost. Is this the kindergarten?”

Thankfully, they laughed at my stupid joke. A thin man with a kind smile got up and extended a hand.

“I’m Trent. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry about this-I brought one of my kids’ old games in here today. We figured some of the junior software associates down at Tech would have fun with it during their breaks.”

“But we had to test it out first,” a dark-haired woman called out. “You know, to make sure it works.”

Rachel shook her head good-naturedly. “These idiots will be your new colleagues. This is Trent, Veronique, Josef, and Sasha. Together with the two of us, Emily, we all make up the marketing and press team.”

“It’s great to meet you all.”

Sasha smiled. “Likewise. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“I’d love one, thank you.”

“But more importantly,” Josef said, leaning forward, “would you like to join the game?”

I smiled. “I thought you’d never ask!”

I ended up back in my office with a spinning head and a huge, goofy grin on my face, settling down to read through all of the information on Hunt Industries. I had a lot of catching up to do and would try to stay late if I could.

Rachel and I were more focused on traditional press roles, while Trent and Sasha handled marketing. Josef and Maria were copywriters and illustrators, and really talented too, if Trent was to be believed.

This would be nothing like working for Pet and Co, but I had the feeling I would love every day.

I lasted until eleven before I sent Turner a text.

Emily: How is everything so far?

Turner: Good. They’ve just installed my mini fridge and I’ve had to reboot the computer they gave me twice. I’m planning on rebuilding it tomorrow.

I smiled at the text. He’d have unlimited resources here to really explore the limits of what he could do. I’d seen him tug at his restraints for years. Plus a job, with co-workers… and somehow he’d managed to score a job for me too.

I knew how lucky I was to have a brother like him.

I’d nearly reached the end of my introductory information on Hunt Industries when there was a knock on my door.

I looked up, expecting Rachel.

But no such luck.

Julian Hunt leaned against the frame, his hands in the pockets of a pair of perfectly tailored slacks. He wasn’t wearing a suit jacket this time and his white shirt fit snugly over a wide chest and broad shoulders.

“I had to swing by and check up on the newest addition of staff.”

I cleared my throat. “Wouldn’t that be Turner?”

Julian strolled into my office and took a seat in the chair opposite me, arms tracing the length of the armrests. A swath of wavy hair fell casually over his forehead and my hand itched to push it back.

“I just came from the eighth floor. He was doing well. Ripping one of the company’s computers to shreds, but I have no doubt he’ll be able to rebuild it.”

“He will. It’ll likely be faster and better, too.”

Julian grinned. He had perfect teeth, I saw, except for a barely noticeable chip in one of his front teeth. Somehow that little flaw made him more handsome and not less. The world wasn’t fair.

“You think the world of him.”

“He’s my little brother. Of course I do.” I put my hands on my desk and fought to regain the upper-hand on my emotions. “Mr. Hunt, I want to apologize again for the other night.”

“Call me Julian, please.”

“Julian. Thank you again. I’m…” I fought the flush in my cheeks at the strictly unprofessional memory. “I didn’t know that-”

He interrupted me again. “It was my pleasure.”

“You knew who I was as soon as I said my name.”

“Maybe I did.” Amusement was clear in his eyes.

“And that my brother was considering working for you.”