Chapter 33
We ended up going to the Memory Tap for lunch. I was surprised to see several team members order a beer or a glass of wine with their food, and everyone spread out on the sunny patio attached to the bar.
I was spared the usual crippling decision of finding a place to sit as Jay made it clear that I was to sit with him and Sebastian at a four-top they had claimed at the far end of the patio.
I noticed Jay was careful not to touch me again in front of Sebastian, which made me feel strangely sad.
I knew the handbook was strict about touching people without consent, but I didn’t mind Jay’s little touches.
Though from the way Melanie was glaring at me as I settled into my seat next to two C-level executives, maybe it was best if the rest of the team didn’t see us being too friendly with each other.
On the sunny patio, surrounded by smiling, laughing people, it was easy to forget that I was at work and this was still a professional setting.
With Neurovance’s philosophy of breaking down barriers between work and home life, it made sense that they needed to maintain strict codes of conduct.
It would be very easy to forget that these were still professional relationships, despite the fact that everyone was so casual and relaxed with one another.
I quietly watched the rest of the team interact as I sipped my soda water. Now that I was looking for it, I noticed that no one else touched each other either. Even as people laughed, interacted, and socialized, there was always a small, invisible barrier that no one seemed to cross.
It made me think of all the times Jay had broken the rules and touched me already. I especially zoned in on the way he’d stroked my hair and face while performing the memory therapy procedures.
It was just further confirmation in my mind that he wasn’t flirting with me at all. I had a feeling that the employees of Neurovance were all a little touch-starved, and it made sense that they might take advantage of the opportunity to touch someone else when it presented itself.
“That noodle of yours is whizzing again, Milo.” Jay laughed, taking a sip from his beer.
He was sprawled out in his patio chair, looking like an underground villain in a hacker movie. His legs were spread comfortably, and he cradled his beer in his lap as he smiled at me.
Sebastian was equally relaxed, though he was aesthetically the opposite of Jay. He leaned back in his chair with his ankle crossed over his knee, his expensive watch glinting in the sunlight.
“A penny for your thoughts, Milo.” Sebastian smiled, swirling his pinot grigio lazily in his stemless wine glass.
“Oh, nothing. Just people watching,” I squeaked, and they both chuckled.
“What do you think of Neurovance so far, Milo? Do you think this is somewhere you can see yourself long term?” Sebastian asked, and I nodded fervently.
“Oh yes. Today was already amazing. The work you’re doing here is like a dream come true for me. I’m so excited to keep pushing the prototype,” I replied, genuinely excited.
I already felt so fulfilled and was eager to dive back in. The thrill I got from solving the types of problems we were working on was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.
I freaking loved both science and tech. I was about as nerdy as you could get, and this place was a nerd’s paradise.
“I can’t wait for a demonstration,” Sebastian purred.
He was watching me with a level of intensity that made my cheeks heat.
“I’ll be your guinea pig, if you need one,” he offered, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
I was about to answer when Jay cut in.
“Nah, that won’t be necessary, Seb. Not at this stage.” He’d said it nonchalantly, but he was staring at Sebastian with a strange look on his face.
Sebastian frowned at Jay, then glanced at me. Suddenly, he reminded me of his father. His blue eyes turned cold and calculating, but only for a second. He blinked, and his expression warmed again.
“Alright, well, the offer stands if the two of you ever want to expand your sample size.”
“We’ll keep that in mind,” Jay replied. His tone was firm, and though the words were polite, the implication was that Seb shouldn’t hold his breath.
A strange tension grew between the two of them, and I fidgeted awkwardly in my seat as they stared each other down.
These two had a weird dynamic.
I jumped as Melanie’s voice cut through the tension.
“Are you Sebastian Stevens?” she cooed, coming up to our table.
Sebastian finally looked away from Jay and smiled at Melanie.
“The one and only. And who might you be?”
“Melanie, Melanie Larson,” she gushed, holding her hand out to shake. Sebastian frowned at her hand, and her cheeks turned pink. “Oh, right. Sorry. May I shake your hand?” she asked, and he nodded, sliding his hand into hers.
“I’m such a huge fan of your work. The ‘Redesign your Mind’ campaign was pure genius!”
I forced myself not to roll my eyes.
The campaign was genius. Just the way she said it came off so disingenuous. Sebastian clearly didn’t feel the same way, though. He preened under Melanie’s praise.
“Well, it’s nice to meet an MTR that has such a deep appreciation for communications.”
“Oh yes. I think every arm of Neurovance is integral to the overall success of the brand.”
Ugh.
That was almost a direct quote from the employee manual. She was really laying it on thick.
Sebastian’s blue eyes sparkled, and he took a sip of his wine as he considered Melanie with interest.
“Well, if you would ever like a tour of NeuroComms, let me know. I would be happy to give you one.”
“I would love that!” she squealed, shooting me a triumphant look like she’d just beaten me out for something I hadn’t even been interested in.
“You two should go after lunch,” Jay drawled, giving me a conspiratorial wink. “I’ll let the floor manager know that I approved your absence, Ms. Larson.”
She hesitated, clearly feeling torn between being dismissed from the rest of her workday at NeuroWell, but also wanting to suck up to Sebastian.
“Only if you think the team won’t need me,” she said, and Jay’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
“I’m sure we’ll manage just fine,” Jay replied coolly, and she frowned.
Sebastian chuckled. “Sounds good. Let me just finish my wine, and I’ll show you around.”
Melanie brightened. “Great! I’ll just get my things.”
She hurried away, and Sebastian raised an eyebrow at Jay.
“It’s not like you to encourage poaching,” Sebastian teased, amusement lacing his tone.
“You can have that one if you want her. She’s trouble.”
“Good thing I like trouble,” Seb said smoothly, and Jay huffed a laugh.
“Ain’t that the truth…”