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“Please. We both know you’re going to rock it.”
Over the next two weeks, I ran back and forth from the office and home to finish my work and be involved with the hiring. I was thankful that they were involving me. I was a bit particular when it came to working with people. I didn’t always get along with others, and especially in this field, someone of my gender and age could have a challenging time. Some people couldn’t accept that they had to take orders from me. This was why I generally worked alone.
But while I got by, I wanted stability and to contribute to the pack, which had done nothing but support me all my life. I needed to show my pack that I was still a valued member and cared about them. Why? I didn’t know. It could be because Cory was finally alpha, and I knew he was going to be amazing, or it could just be because the changing of the guard was a signal that it was time for this generation to step up.
Or because you want to make sure our friends succeed because we care about them, Tozi suggested.
Or that, I replied, making sure not to delve too deeply into the whys. They were my friends, after all. I wanted them all to succeed.
The first set of interviews for regular staff was done via phone with the same modulator they used when they interviewed me. Dad and Cory insisted that this was the fairest way. It was weird to hear the same monotonous voice repeatedly, but I began to see their point. Without looking into eyes and facial expressions, it was hard to see anything but the words and could begin to see what was real and what wasn’t.
At the end of the two weeks, we’d narrowed the list of six hundred to about four hundred. Considering we would be hiring about two hundred and fifty of those, we had made significant progress, though I didn’t remember a time in my life when I had talked so much.
I was in the middle of an interview when I got a text, and when I saw the name light up, I ignored it and continued with my questions. I didn’t pay much attention to my phone until it beeped again and again. Finally, the phone rang, and everyone looked at me.
“Sorry,” I said, my face heating as I pulled out my phone and turned off the ringer.
“Is everything okay? We could finish this one without you,” Cory volunteered.
“No.” I shook my head and turned off my phone. I would deal with it later. I continued the interview and then asked for a small break after.
“Hey! I thought you were avoiding me,” Paolo said the moment he picked up the phone.
“I was working, Paolo. How can I help you?” I said a bit short.
“Oh, sorry. I thought you were a freelancer and mostly worked at night.”
“I was. I got a job now, though, so I’ll be unavailable most of the day.”
“Oh, I see. What kind of job did you get?”
“I’m working in the new Salonen Security Industries building as the head of the new department.”
“You’re working for Alpha Cory?” he asked, and I detected a hint of anger in his voice.
“I’m working for my pack. Yes. Is there a problem?”
“I thought you didn’t want to be associated with them anymore? You always talked about how everyone judged you for it.”
“That was a decade ago, Paolo. People change. I’ve changed,” I said, not understanding why I was even explaining myself. “What do you need?”
“Right, sorry. I was wondering if you’d like to go to dinner with me?” he asked.
I was tempted, but then again, I wasn’t. Paolo was my first boyfriend, but I meant what I said. I wasn’t the same person I was a decade ago. At least, I was trying not to be.
“Listen, Paolo. It was really nice catching up with you, and I’d like to stay friends, but I’m not in a place where I want to be dating. I just moved back home and started a new job as head of the department. I want to concentrate on all of that. Friends?” I asked.
“Sure. It was a shot, anyway. What’s the head of a department doing with a simple warrior and mechanic, right?” he said, and it sent a pang of guilt through me.
“No, it’s not that. At all. It really is just bad timing.”
“Maybe another time, then,” he said and hung up.
I sighed. I’d seen his intentions to take up where we left off that night at the bar, but I thought I’d have more time before he tried. I really wasn’t looking for anything but to be home again. I hadn’t dated in almost four years. I just hadn’t felt the appeal. I wasn’t drawn to anyone.
That’s not quite true, Tozi answered. I didn’t bother to respond. I went back inside and sat down for the next interview.
After we were done for the day, we decided to eat dinner at the office to go through and narrow down the candidates for the next round.
