Chapter 9 #2
“Susan, this is Charli Ford,” he says, introducing the two of us.
The HR director is a tall woman with a wide smile who looks like she’s in her thirties. Dark brown hair pinned in a low bun; her chocolate brown eyes are full of curiosity. “Nice to meet you, Charli. I know Mr. Lochlan has an appointment in an hour, so let’s get started.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t reach out her hand for me to shake.
Instead, she hands me a stack of papers. I bite my lip as I glance over them. The top one is a form requesting standard information like name and address.
My heart beats loudly in my ears as I start panicking. I fill out the first two lines, then glance at Teague. “What’s the address for the apartment?”
He reels it off, and I add it to the form.
Susan’s head swivels from him to me, and a strange expression crosses her face. I guess she didn’t know I was living in the same building as him.
Turning my attention back to the form, I enter the information listed on my fake driver’s license, hoping they don’t check its authenticity.
I leave Social Security blank as well as emergency contact.
Previous work experience is easy. I list my last few projects, along with client references for each, then I sign it and give it to Susan.
The other forms are all similar, requesting various bits and pieces of information, most of which I don’t fill out. The whole time my stomach is in knots, wondering what they’re going to say when I can’t provide the additional information.
The non-disclosure agreement is probably the easiest form to fill out and sign. It’s not as if I have anyone else in my life.
I read through the dress code and am relieved to see it’s business casual.
That’s good. Teague’s and Susan’s suits had me a bit worried.
I sign it and move on to the last page. It’s a contract for six months.
Feeling Teague’s eyes on me, I glance up to find his fingers poised above the keyboard as he waits for me to finish the paperwork.
Quickly returning my gaze to the contract, I carefully read through all the legalese, making sure to note the correct salary and timeline, then with tongue in teeth, I sign. I look up and see a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes and a slight lift at the corners of his mouth.
Susan skims through the paperwork and slowly nods.
“There are a few empty spots, but Teague told me you were in transition.” She winks at me.
“All in all, it looks great. I’ll send you an email with all the benefit information, including when you’ll get paid, which will be in two weeks.
We can easily give you a check or load the payment directly onto a prepaid credit card, whatever you want.
Are there any questions I can answer before I go? ”
“No, thank you,” I tell her, wondering if all companies overlook those things or if I’m getting special treatment because of Teague. My guess is the latter.
She leans in and loudly whispers, “I’m happy you’re here. Teague needs someone to help get him organized.”
Teague huffs, but there’s a grin on his face when he looks up from the screen, and I can’t help but notice how genuine it is.
“Thanks, Susan. That will be all.” He waits until she leaves, then turns to me.
“You’re in the system. I’ll walk you through how to access my calendar and some of my current projects.
Then we’ll grab your I.D. card, which you’ll need to gain access to the building. ”
He stands and motions for me to come around the desk and sit in his chair. As I pass by, his cologne prompts me.
“Oh, I have your jacket. Do you want me to bring it to work on Monday?” I ask, sitting down in his chair so I can see the screen.
A calendar is open and jammed full of color-coded meetings from eight a.m. to seven p.m. almost every day.
He wasn’t kidding when he said he was busy.
Relieved to see I’m needed, I relax a bit.
One hand on the back of the chair, and the other pointing to his calendar, he turns his head to face me. “I can pick it up this evening on my way home, if that’s okay?”
“Yes,” I reply, dropping my gaze to his lips for the briefest of seconds as I fight the urge to close the distance between us.
His hand tightens on the leather, and his gaze sharpens, but when I don’t move, he clears his throat and begins explaining what all the colors mean.
Once he’s gone through the calendar, he has me navigate to a cloud-based repository where he keeps all of his current projects. “These are all highly confidential. Do not speak to anyone about the content in these folders. And do not access these outside of the office. Okay?”
“Understood,” I reply huskily. “Are there any in particular I need to familiarize myself with first?” His body is curved around mine, and the smell of his cologne makes me want to bury my nose in his neck.
He swallows, then taps on two of the folders.
“These two. We’re in the process of selling our telematics company to an automotive manufacturer, and all the relevant files will be in here.
You’ll be responsible for making sure a copy of each version of the contract is placed in this folder.
And the second folder contains documents for a new software I’m working on that’s going to take our security systems to the next level. ”
He straightens, and I breathe a sigh of relief. When I look up at him, his brows are drawn together, and there’s an expression in his eyes I don’t understand. I blink, and it’s replaced with his usual smooth expression.
“That’s enough for today. Let’s go grab your I.D.”
We leave his office and head down a floor. When we get there, someone takes my picture, and minutes later, I’m standing in the lobby with Teague. Several people walk by, staring curiously at the two of us, but none stop.
“Monday at 7:30?” I ask, reluctantly holding out my hand.
He stares at it for a long second. “I know it makes you uncomfortable, and that’s the last thing I want. I’ll wait.” His gaze moves to me and the broad smile I’ve sketched too many times appears. “7:30 sounds good. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
Both relieved and oddly disappointed, I lower my hand and return his smile with a grateful one of my own. “Thank you.” For not rushing me. For giving me a fantastic job. For so much more than you can possibly know.