by L E May
‘I’m sorry, chick. Your song was just on the radio while I was making chicken butties, it got stuck!’ She placed my usual lunch on my desk and wandered over to Steven to deliver his sandwich bag.
‘She doesn’t like to talk about her music career,’ Steph whispered as she placed his food on the desk. Steven’s eyebrows shot up and he turned to stare at me, torn between his own curiosity to know what she meant and Steph’s warning not to ask me. He opened his mouth to speak, unsure what to say and stuttered for a while. I shook my head at Steph and then nodded towards the wall. Steven’s gaze moved to, and settled on, two frames, the first setting off a computer animated character called Jerk Chicken, the second displaying a gold disc.
‘You created Jerk Chicken?’ he whispered.
‘I’m surprised she even eats chicken any more, she’s so sick of that thing!’ Steph said, grinning.
‘Jerk Chicken wasn’t the problem – it was that stupid song. I don’t know why I agreed to it.’ I shook my head.
‘My cousin wanted a Jerk Chicken plush toy,’ Steven mumbled.
‘Well there’s a cupboard full of them over there. Help yourself, you’ll be doing me a favour,’ I laughed.
Jerk Chicken was a 3-D character I created for a project while I was in my final year at university. A slack-jawed, stupid chicken singing, “Chick chick chick chick chicken.” A few years later, I uploaded it to YouTube and within a week, it had over a million views. It went viral; I even received the link myself by email on twenty-three separate occasions.
Then I got a call from a record label wanting to release a single, a dance remix with Jerk Chicken sampled throughout it. They wanted me to make a video to go with it, of course. At the time, I was in shock that my stupid university project had become so infamous, but then I received the draft contract from the record company and I couldn’t believe the amount of money they were offering me. I didn’t have to think long to realise I could leave my job and set up on my own, knowing this song would earn me more than enough money to live off for a few years while I was getting my business started.
As it turned out, I needn’t have worried; Jerk Chicken made my CV look pretty good and work had been regularly knocking on my door since I started three years ago. But the song was everything I hated about music and it remained a constant source of embarrassment to know that all the merchandise and licensing agreements for Jerk Chicken, which earned me so much money, stemmed from that record.
Steven continued staring at me in, what was that? Awe? I felt a flush creep up over my face, which made Steph laugh as she left the office, whistling the tune to herself.
‘Wow,’ he said finally, ‘I mean don’t get me wrong, the song was awful, obviously.’ I shrugged my shoulders and nodded in agreement as he continued, ‘But when I first saw that YouTube video, seriously, I could not stop watching it. I can’t even tell you how many people I sent that link to,’ he grinned. ‘Wow, I’m working for Jerk Chicken!’
‘I hope that my track record following Jerk Chicken is far more impressive than my university project piece?’ I scowled at him.
His eyes widened and he stopped grinning.
‘Oh sure, yes of course, I mean I’ve played your games and they’re some of the best game apps I’ve played,’ he trailed off and I sighed.
‘Yeah, but it’s Jerk Chicken. I know,’ I threw a plush toy at him. ‘Why don’t you honour your newly respected leader with a cuppa?’
‘Coming right up, boss,’ he grinned and bounced towards the kitchenette.
Steven placed a mug of tea and a plate of cookies in front of me and sat down. ‘Homemade,’ he said by way of explanation. They looked amazing – soft and chewy with big chunks of chocolate. I could feel my mouth watering and my stomach clearing a path for the inevitable influx. I mostly follow a ‘seafood’ diet, as in, I see food and I eat it.
‘They look amazing,’ I mumbled as I reached out to take one, trying to be a little calm about it and not just shovelling it into my mouth like I wanted to. The smell alone was driving me crazy; they were so fresh. I will never think badly of Steven again. I bet James wouldn’t have brought these little pieces of heaven to my door.
‘I made some notes about the current projects. I hope you don’t mind?’ Steven said, forcing me to concentrate on work and not biscuits. He pushed a sheet of paper towards me. He’d made some good points about the brief for a mobile phone app, currently unresolved between myself and my client Jack, mainly because he wanted a level of interactivity I didn’t think was possible within the brief.
‘It’s quite a new technique that I was working on in my final project and I think it could work with this,’ Steven finished up and I realised I’d missed half of what he said, but recognised he was offering a solution that would please the client. That would also mean having to hand over a large chunk of the project to Steven because I hadn’t updated my skills yet. Damn it. I knew I was being stupid feeling resentful and even perhaps a little bit jealous, but I couldn’t help it. This was my project, I’d worked hard to win it, and to hand it over to someone else made me feel inadequate. But isn’t that why you hired him, I asked myself. Because his skills are completely up to date? And because I had too much work coming in to do alone. I had to hand some of it over. I bit into another cookie. Oh homemade cookie, I sighed inwardly, if only everything were as simple and lovely as you. I nodded at Steven.
‘Congratulations, kid, you just won your first job. Can you put together a plan of how this will work, and we’ll meet with Jack later this week?’
Steven stared at me, then shook himself.
‘Yes, yes of course, thank you. Wow, are you sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure, now take these away from me before I eat them all.’ I reluctantly pushed the plate of cookies towards him and stood up.
‘Do you still want to go through the new contract with me?’ he asked, reminding me why we had sat down at the meeting table together. Humph! I grumped inwardly. So you can steal that away from me too?
‘I do, but I’ll put together an overview and email it to you tomorrow. I think if you can get your plan started this afternoon and we can go finalise it with Jack you can get cracking on this as soon as possible. I was going to have you share the new contract because I wouldn’t be able to do both by myself, but if you can take this one off my hands I’ll be able to do more of the new one.’
I grinned then, as I realised we were embarking on two big pieces of work at the same time: quite an achievement for a small time developer. In the past, I’d worked on a client project for six months and then worked on something of my own, dividing my time between commissions and developing something I hoped would sell and earn me lots of money. Taking on two clients at once was a big step, but seeing Steven’s enthusiasm made me feel excited about expanding. Maybe I’d take on some more staff, after all. Someone who would make the tea, for instance!
Chapter Four
The familiar notification sound clicked on my laptop signalling an instant message. I was updating my Facebook status and accepting some friend requests. Steven had added me on Monday night but I was only just checking my account three days later. The instant message was from him, thanking me for adding him as a friend. I debated whether to reply or just ignore it. On the one hand I didn’t really want my employee intruding in my life outside work, but on the other hand I didn’t want to be rude. I typed, You’re welcome, see you tomorrow, and hit enter. Then I closed my laptop and switched on the television. No doubt there would be a message waiting for me next time I logged in that I wouldn’t need to reply to.
The following morning, Steph arrived early with our sandwiches and sat down on the sofa, closing her eyes for a few moments’ respite from the rush of the café. Friday mornings were always busy, with everyone treating themselves to breakfast, although lunchtimes were often quiet with people going out to the market or the pub for lunch.
The office was an old infant classroom which had areas built in which w
ould have served as a play shop or play house. There was also plumbing built in for a cleaning area for arts and craft activities, which Dave had used to build in the kitchenette.
Being on my own for so long, there was very little furniture in here other than the sofa for less formal meetings, a table for formal meetings, and a couple of desks. I had added the second desk as soon as I placed the job advert a few weeks ago. A bookcase and filing cabinet stood in the second alcove, along with the Jerk Chicken cupboard to complete the set-up.
The sofa was big, green, and swallowed you up if you sat on it for too long. It was the best sofa in the world. Cosy and warm in winter, I spent as much time as I could on the sofa under a blanket.
‘We are heading to The World’s End after work tonight, Steven – I hope you’ll join us.’ Steph informed him, opening her eyes. Steven glanced across the room to me and I shrugged.
‘Friday night, drinks after work. It’s sort of a thing they do,’ I explained.
‘You really get to know a person when you go out drinking with them, don’t you agree?’ Steph asked casually, ‘It’s a miracle we ever got to know this one of course, bloody hermit.’
‘I’m not a hermit, I’m just slightly anti-social,’ I corrected her. Steph snorted.
‘You go home and play video games. Don’t you get tired of video games?’ she asked, shaking her head.
‘Just checking out the competition,’ I grinned at her and she sighed.
‘Well now if it’s work, maybe you should be playing video games during office hours,’ Steph suggested.
‘That is not a bad idea, especially now I’ve got someone else here to do all the hard work for me,’ I grinned at Steven, who pulled a face at me.
Steph stood up and touched his arm.
‘Come the pub,’ she implored him, ‘we usually head over at 4:30. Try and drag this one along with you, it’s been too long since she went out and getting tipsy would do her some good.’ She leant in closer to him and whispered, ‘Getting laid would do her even better, but that’s just my opinion.’
‘I heard that, Stephanie.’ I folded my arms and turned my face away, pretending to be offended, but she laughed at me.
‘You were meant to. Make sure you take your staff to the pub, don’t be mean and leave him to drink with strangers. It’s your duty as a good boss to get him drunk, especially on his first Friday.’
I sighed and nodded. Why not? It’s been ages since I went to Friday night drinks after work. I realised it would be good to catch up with everyone and get to know Steven a bit better outside the office. Besides which, everyone knows the best times are had when you don’t plan for them. I felt a flutter of excitement deep in my belly and realised I was looking forward to having a night out.
When we entered The World’s End on the corner of Camden High Street the rest of the tenants were already there. They gave a cheer when we arrived and I heard lots of exclamations about how they never see me out. It was nice actually, to feel such a welcome and I wondered briefly why I didn’t come out for a least one drink after work more often. Steph was probably right that it would do me good to socialise more. Ruth was always inviting me out to gigs and for drinks with her friends but I always declined. I just can’t be bothered with the small talk of meeting new people and I find myself longing for my sofa and my PS3 or my DVD box sets. I felt a flush of shame as I realised that all the people sat around the table welcoming me were people I knew. Meeting people at work somehow made it easier to get to know them and I had no excuse for not socialising with them. Steven touched my arm.
‘What are you drinking?’ he asked, leaning in the direction of the bar. I shook my head.
‘No, it’s your first week, let me buy you a drink. What are you having?’ He grinned happily at me and straightened himself up.
‘Pint of lager would be smashing, cheers.’ He made his way towards the table and I watched as Steph waved him over to a spare seat next to her. I smiled to myself. Steph clearly had a crush on Steven. I ordered our drinks and turned my attention back to them while I waited. I could see why Steph would like him; he was easy to be around. He found a common ground quickly and maintained a flow of conversation. It was hard to feel uncomfortable with Steven; there were no awkward silences. He knew when it was right to be quiet and he knew how to fill a conversational void before it became tense.
It occurred to me that despite all the easy conversations, I didn’t know much about him. Well, if Steph was willing to share his attention perhaps tonight I would get to know him better. I carried our drinks over to the table and found a seat opposite Steven and Steph, pushing his drink towards him. He winked at me in gratitude. Winked! I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and tried to smother the flicker of annoyance. If I was younger than him I’d find him patronising. The fact that I’m the elder just made him irritating. I hoped that in time I would get used to his little ways and stop finding it annoying – after all he was a brilliant programmer, an excellent designer, and he was fitting in nicely around my work routine. I just wish he acted his age and treated me like I were mine.
‘Not often we see you down the pub, Olly. To what do we owe the pleasure?’ Dave asked, nudging me. Dave was the only person, besides Steph, that I saw on a daily basis. He was a good guy, lots of fun to be around, supportive of all his tenants, offered us all great advice. He had been particularly helpful to me in the early days when I was puzzling over the legal status of my business. I’d read so many websites talking about Companies House, directors, partnerships, and shareholders, I’d had no idea what I was doing. Dave was lying on the sofa in Reception when I arrived one morning and called me over, so I’d sat down on the sofa opposite him with a big sigh.
‘That is a big sigh. What’s up, Olivia Jones?’ I’d told him where I was up to in getting my business off the ground which, given that I still didn’t know what my legal status was, wasn’t very far off the ground at all. He asked me three questions: Do you own this business? Have you put up the money to get it started? Where will the profits go? To which I’d replied, ‘Yes, it’s all mine, and the profits go to me to live off.’ He’d shrugged and said, ‘Seems to me you’re a sole trader.’
This was a relief because from everything I had read online I didn’t need to do anything to register as a sole trader. I could register as a limited company and be the sole director and member, but that seemed like a lot of obligatory annual paperwork for no reason. So I opened a bank account as a sole trader and got on with the important job of designing a mobile game app to introduce Inspired Programming to the world.
I grinned up at Dave, glad that he was in the pub.
‘Well you know, now that I’m an employer I thought I should bring my new member of staff to the pub and introduce him to everyone properly.’
Dave smiled and nodded, and regarded me with a look of pride and winked. Dave is allowed to wink at me because he is ten years older than me and has been my mentor for several years.
‘Staff, eh? Look at you!’ He nudged me again and as I straightened up he threw his arm across my shoulders in a congratulatory hug. I rolled my eyes, embarrassed at the attention.
‘So, Steven, how’s your first week been? I hear your boss is a real bitch?’ Dave grinned at me and then leant forward to focus his attention on Steven.
‘Oh I wouldn’t say she was a bitch, a tyrant at times maybe, but she’s OK.’
I narrowed my eyes at him in mock warning and he laughed, ‘I’ve had a good week, I don’t think I could have asked for a better first job. I think I will learn so much more from Olly than I would have learned elsewhere, much more hands on, she’s already entrusted me with a big project.’ He smiled at me appreciatively. Steph giggled.
‘Hands on? You should tell her to keep her hands to herself!’
I raised my eyebrows at the veiled warning from Steph. As if she had anything to worry about from me – aside from the fact I’m his boss and considerably older than him, she was beautiful, funny, and eas
y to be around. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Monday morning gossip was that Steph and Steven ended the evening together.
Steven and Dave continued talking, about how the centre had come about and what they both wanted from the future. I decided to take a breather and made my way to the quiz machine in the corner. Steph followed me and stood watching, waiting for me to make conversation. I concentrated on the game. It was childish of me but I’d moved over here to have a much-needed moment and Steph was well aware that I required regular alone time. I glanced round at her and followed her gaze back to our table, more specifically Steven.
‘He seems nice?’ she said, looking up at me. ‘You must love having him around the office.’ I sensed this was a question rather than a statement so I shrugged again.
‘It’s nice to share the work load and have someone around who understands what I’m saying.’
‘Is he single?’
‘I have no idea. I don’t actually know anything about his personal life,’ I shrugged.
‘What have you been talking about all week?’ She asked unable to conceal her surprise.
‘Work mostly. I’m not paying him to be my friend, I’m paying him to do the work I don’t have time to do.’ I grinned at her then, and shrugged, ‘I was hoping to get to know him a little better tonight but I haven’t had a chance to speak to him since we arrived.’
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
‘I think he’s cute,’ she admitted.
‘No, really? Oh wow, I had no idea,’ I said, my voice heavy with sarcasm. She blushed again.
‘Am I that obvious?’
‘Only to me, love.’ I put my arm round her shoulder. ‘I promise I will see what I can find out for you, OK?’ She nodded, smiling as we made our way back to the table. Dave was at the bar and Steven was chatting to Tracey, a singer who ran a chain of community choirs. I felt Steph bristle next to me and I sighed as I noticed Tracey looking up at Steven through her eyelashes, smiling and playing with her hair. I groaned inwardly, realising my office was going to be like Clapham Junction, with all his admirers finding excuses to stop by. Steph sat down next to Tracey to join their conversation and Dave returned, distributing drinks around the table. He smiled as he pushed a pint my way and sat between Steph and me to listen to what Tracey was saying, still directing her words at Steven, pretending no one else was there. Steven looked up at me and grinned. He touched Tracey on the arm and said he’d catch up with her later and then he came to sit beside me on the double seat at the end of the table. He leant back and turned his head to face me.
