Chapter Fourteen
Darsh
When I set out to find a purpose, a use for my time as one of the general partners of Cuffed, I’d been at a loss. Everything seemed to run so smoothly. My career in finance didn’t offer anything they didn’t already have covered. The membership thing had been a real stab in the dark.
But when the others accepted my offer so enthusiastically, I had to put everything I had into it and make them happy they had welcomed me as a partner and accepted me in this position.
Membership chair was a job title for a fraternity, very collegy, but somehow I liked it better than any of the other suggestions that had been made.
And, seeing the sign on my office door gave me a kick.
Someone had even to do it in Greek letters.
Cute. Possibly a little sarcastic, but I loved it anyway.
I came in early, just after nine in the morning when I expected to be alone except for maybe a few members of the cleaning crew, but I found doors open and lights on in occupied offices along the hallway. Seemed some of my partners had the same idea.
“Darsh, can I see you a minute?” Talon called as I passed his office. “If you have time?”
“Of course I do.” I veered off and through the doorway. “What can I do for you?”
“Come in and have a seat. I want to compliment you on the page you had added to the website. We’ve been getting some inquiries and general responses.”
I followed him over to the desk and took my usual chair. “Excellent. I’ll get on those in a couple of hours if that’s okay. Or I can do it now?”
“There’s no rush. But I am interested in hearing what your impressions are of those who are messaging us.”
“Absolutely. And, at least for the present, I planned to bring you the files on anyone I want to bring in for an in-person visit.”
“We trust you, but we’re glad to give input.
Anyway, the real reason I stopped you was to let you know we’ve narrowed the applicants for your personal assistant to three.
I’ve forwarded you their curricula vitae, so you can schedule a zoom interview and then bring them in to meet in person if you like any of them. ”
“That’s great! I don’t mind doing my own typing—”
“And copying?”
Remembering my admission about jamming the copier, I winced. “Yeah that I mind. I’m just really bad at it.”
“You’ll have to be sure your new hire is good at it.”
“I suspect any PA will be, but I’m excited to speak to the candidates. I’ve been so busy getting everything up and running and I’ve taken advantage of some of the other PAs.”
Talon nodded. “When you have the system running, it will take less of your time, too.”
“Then I’ll need another job.”
“Not likely. We don’t want any of us to be full-time office workers, and I’ll tell you a secret if you promise not to share it with a soul.”
I held up my hand. “Not anyone. Juicy gossip?”
“No…well, yes, actually. We haven’t made this formal or you’d know about it, but we have feelers out for a club in another city.”
“I see. And a new club means…”
“Members. Exactly. So I’d say Fate brought you to us at just the right time.” He leaned back in his chair and looked up at me. “But then Fate always has her ways, doesn’t she?”
“So I’ve heard.” I hesitated, feeling a little awkward, but these men, especially Talon had become good friends as well as partners.
They’d been friends before we were partners.
And if I couldn’t share with them who could I tell?
“I’ve asked Blaze, the employee I mentioned, to come as my guest tonight. ”
“Fate?”
“I think so. I hope he does, too.”
“Have a little faith. I’ve seen you speaking together, and my wolf is utterly charmed by you two. He knows mates when he sees them.”
“They know everything, don’t they?” I
“They think they do, for sure.”
“I’d better get to work. I want to review those possible assistants ASAP. With a new
—” I pressed a finger to my lips when he raised a brow. “With everything I have to do, I can use the help.”
Lucky I did have a busy day planned because otherwise I’d gone stir crazy waiting for evening.
The highlight was interviewing the trio of possible assistants.
Each had their own good qualities and skills, and I made a note to tell Talon to keep them on file for other positions, but I was mostly settled on a young wolf who had left his pack early and made his way in life, taking night classes while working any job he could until he gained the skills for a job like the one we were looking to fill.
I’d thanked the other two on our zoom calls but Cory was coming in for his face to face in the late afternoon. He arrived fifteen minutes early and was escorted in by one of the front-desk employees. “Your five o’clock is here, sir,” she said.
“Thanks, Eleanor.” I stood up and met them at the door. “You can go back to the desk. Welcome, Cory.”
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you in person, sir.”
“You as well.” I almost told him to call me Darsh, but that would come in time.
I was sir on the floor even before I was an owner, so the term was fine.
“Have a seat and we can talk.” Leading him to the table in the corner of the room, I settled in one of the chairs and waved him to another.
It was a smallish conference table I’d requested for meetings of less than the full ownership or with people interested in membership who had questions.
Like this man. “What do you want to ask me?”
The Zoom interview had been pretty standard, but this one was more about learning whether he would be comfortable here with us. Although he had no experience with the lifestyle, he was curious to learn more.
After I’d sent him to fill out his paperwork, I had meetings to attend with various people, taking up the last hours of the business day.