Chapter Five #2
Votra breathed in slowly, resting her data pad in her lap.
“I have to admit, I was looking for someone with a little bit more experience,” she started, and Candy’s breath hitched in her throat.
“But you are right. You are teachable. For only having two years’ worth of experience, you show a lot of promise. ”
“Aww, thanks.”
“My only qualm is that our timeline is very short. As you saw in the ad, we need to build out a virtual reality program within the month. That might be difficult to accomplish if I have to teach you a lot.”
Maybe it came down to homosexual audacity, but Candy wasn’t worried about it. There wasn’t a thing in this world she felt like she couldn’t nail the first time she picked it up. She could already program–how much different could creating something in virtual reality be?
“Then teach me. I’m like a sponge. I’ll pick it up so fast, you’ll forget that I was a newbie in the first place.” Candy folded her arms under her chest, pushing her boobs up a little. Votra noticed. “You said it yourself. What I’ve accomplished so far is impressive.”
The corner of Votra’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Yes, well, that is true.” She leaned back in her seat and God, did she look hot. “Why should I hire you over someone that I do not need to train?”
“Because I’m smart and I know that I can make an incredible product once I know what I’m doing.
I’m extremely user experience focused, and that’s something that you can’t teach.
I will make it my personal mission to make Starcrossed the best it can be for the largest number of users.
I’m good at what I do. I wouldn’t have applied for a job I’m frankly not qualified for if I didn’t think I could do it. ”
Votra laughed at that, the sound much more muted than it was last night. “Telling your future boss that you are underqualified is not generally the best interview practice.”
“Yeah, but being honest is.” Candy propped her elbow on the arm rest of the chair and rested her chin in her hand. “And you strike me as someone who appreciates honesty.”
“I do, that is very true.” Votra fidgeted with her hands, not quite meeting Candy’s gaze. “And while we are on the topic of honesty… I had a wonderful time with you last night. But if we are going to work together, I… cannot pursue anything further with you.”
Candy’s heart plummeted into her stomach, but she understood. The irresponsible part of her wanted to say fuck it, she could find a different job. She enjoyed spending time with Votra. She really liked having sex with Votra. Was a job really worth giving that up?
She raked her fingers through her rapidly drying hair. “Sounds like you’re hiring me.” She lifted a sculpted brow at Votra, who graced her with another shy smile.
“I would like to. I can send you the contract so you can look over it.” Maybe she was imagining it, but she could have sworn Votra looked disappointed when she looked down at her comm to Candy’s last messages.
They could have been something. Candy wanted to ask Votra on a date, a real one that didn’t include sneaking around her roommate’s party for some privacy. She wanted to get to know her new planet and Votra at the same time.
But finding a job was the more responsible thing to do. Her parents or Uncle Lochlan would’ve probably given her more money if she needed it, but she didn’t want to rely on them. She needed to do things for herself.
Her comm pinged at her wrist with the contract, and Candy could feel her eyes glazing over as she read over it.
It was probably a bunch of legal stuff–don’t steal my work, all of your intellectual property is mine, blah blah blah.
Candy was fine with signing her life away for a job, and weirdly enough, she kind of trusted Votra with it.
“Yeah, I mean, this sounds cool with me,” Candy said, lazily flicking through the document. “I’m guessing you’ve got a ‘no fucking your boss’ clause in here, huh?”
Votra cleared her throat. “I believe it is on the tenth page,” she said quietly, and Candy moved to the tenth page.
Sure enough, there it was. Both parties agree to maintain a strictly professional relationship for the duration of aforementioned work.
Phrased a little more elegantly than Candy would have, but that didn’t make it suck any less.
“Alright, yeah. I’ll sign.” Candy scrolled to the bottom of the document and wrote her signature with her finger, drawing a little star at the end.
She felt a bit like she was signing her vagina’s death sentence–if she couldn’t sleep with Votra, she definitely wasn’t going to have time to sleep with anyone else.
“There. You’re legally stuck with me now. ”
“Welcome aboard, Ms. Murdock,” Votra said.
God, now she was Ms. Murdock? She could feel her vagina shriveling already. Candy thrust her hand in Votra’s direction. “Thanks, boss.” When Votra looked down at her hand, puzzled, Candy said, “Sorry. This is what we do on Earth when we make a deal. We shake hands.”
“Oh.” Votra carefully placed her hand in Candy’s, and Candy shook it. All she could think about was how badly she didn’t want to let go.