Not like Katerina,Reyna whispered in her mind.Wild, like us.
"As you can see, this is our break room." Lydia glanced at the small insulated pack Harper carried. "You can put your lunch in the refrigerator. We have permanent markers to put your name on things," she nodded toward the refrigerator door,which indeed had a magnetized pen holder with varied colored markers.
"Perfect." Opening the door, Harper slid her pack with its roast beef sandwich and small salad onto one of the shelves.
After Harper shut the fridge door, Lydia motioned to the neat line of metal storage units along the wall. "Make sure to bring a padlock, but feel free to pick any empty locker you'd like."
At Harper's nod. Lydia led the way from the break room, down the hallway, and through a door with a security panel. Lydia showed her the code for the staff door, then led the way into the public area of the bank.
"To the left," and she pointed, "is where the bank officers have their offices... the president, loan officers, myself, and so forth."
Lydia led the way through maze of low-walled cubicles. The atmosphere was suitably hushed, the business of finance gearing up before the doors opened. Harper breathed in the familiar scent of paper and ink, mingled with coffee and the faint traces of cleaning products from the night before. The teller counter spread across the entirety of the back wall of the bank, along with two drive-through teller windows. Her trained eye noted the security cameras positioned at strategic points, their red lights blinking steadily.
Through the main space, Lydia gestured toward a cluster of compact offices opposite the larger executive spaces. Wide windows offered a clear view of the bank's central floor. Overhead lights cast a cheerful sheen over the gleaming wood furnishings.
"As one of our personal finance advisors, you'll have your own office," Lydia explained, as she pushed open the door to a small room. "This will be yours."
Her gaze swept the private space, taking in the premium L-desk, plush executive seat positioned behind it, and pair ofvisitor chairs across. Storage drawers lined one wall, while standard computer equipment occupied the desk's shorter segment. Beside her, Lydia surveyed the room with an approving expression, giving a firm nod of satisfaction.
"You're free to put any personal touches that you like, of course. Just see that you keep them appropriate."
Harper nodded, her lips curving into a small, polite smile. "Of course," she agreed, her soft voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. She clasped her hands together, the gesture betraying her slightly nervous nature as she stood in the new office space Lydia had shown her.
Lydia glanced out the door, and lowered her voice. "That was a tremendous thing you did, Harper. Lighting into the bear like that, not aware he was also a shifter. My lynx is as wild as they come, and to be honest, I don't think I would have had the courage to do what you did. I'm so pleased you are here with us. We all are. If you need anything, you have only to ask."
Heat bloomed across Harper's cheeks, and she ducked her head, certain her face now matched the fox-red shade of her hair. The memory of facing down the bear in the woods still made her pulse race. "Th-thank you, Mrs. Metaxis."
"Lydia, please." Her boss waved away the formality with a warm smile.
"Lydia, then." Harper managed a half-smile. "To be just as honest, if I'd taken any time at all to think about it, I probably wouldn't have had the courage, either."
A soft chuckle escaped Lydia as she pivoted toward the exit. "I can understand that! You'll find your login credentials waiting on the notepad. Remember to discard them after you access the system. Check your upper drawer for the client files. I've instructed the head receptionist, Jeanette, to hold any incoming calls until this afternoon. That should give you enough breathing room to review everything and get familiar with how we operate.You'll primarily work with local entrepreneurs and small business owners. And if you find yourself with any questions about a client's portfolio, your predecessor Benjamin Hayes - now enjoying retirement - is available for phone consultations. I've written his contact information in your planner."
Leaning forward with a conspiratorial glance over her shoulder, Lydia confided in a low voice. "He's a badger shifter."
At Harper's stifled laugh, Lydia beamed, then glanced at the clock on the wall above Harper's new desk. "I'll leave you to settle in, then."
As she whisked away, Harper rounded the desk to sit in the chair. It was deep, and supportive, with a lumbar support. Nice. She adjusted it for her height, then pulled the notepad toward her after dropping her purse into the large bottom desk drawer. First things first, she needed to get logged onto the system. While her computer was booting up, she pulled out the file folders, stacking them neatly on the desk's polished surface.
The tantalizing aroma of coffee wafted through her new office, as Jake's shadow fell across her desk. She glanced up with a grateful smile, her amber eyes lighting at the sight of the steaming cup in his hand.
"Coffee!"
"Still take it black as Satan's heart?" He teased, coming forward to hand her the cup.
"Yes," she said, taking a long, appreciative sip. The rich liquid warmed her from the inside out, chasing away the last remnants of early morning sluggishness. A contented sigh escaped her lips.
A quick look at the clock had her realize over two hours had already gone by. "I'll be skipping my morning break," she decided. "I'm not so much working yet, as looking over client portfolios."
"That's fair," Jake said, nodding. "So far so good, then? Not overwhelmed?"
She grinned at him. "Nah. It's been great so far."
"Awesome. I'll be taking over duty at the front door at the top of the hour. I'll be there til lunch, then I'm meeting Becca over at the Greek deli. You want to join us?"
"No, I brought lunch, remember?" She smiled. "You two have a great lunch, and I'll see you this afternoon."
Jake lifted his hand, tipping an imaginary hat to her, and went on his way.
