by Robin Roseau
I laughed.
"A few things about Katherine. She is very severe. Do not let that scare you. She is excessively loyal to anyone she considers hers. If she hires you, she will work you hard, but she won't let you take shit from anyone else."
"I don't know a thing about computer security."
We began climbing a set of stairs to the next floor.
"Don't worry about that. She knows that already. No one who is going to come into this position knows a thing about computer security, so that's not a battle for you. What she is going to want to see is that you can stand up to her. She is exceedingly overbearing, and she needs to know you aren't a wilting flower."
"No problem," I said. "My old boss is a traditional southern man. I doubt she could be worse."
It was Bernie's chance to laugh.
We came to a stop outside an office. "All right," she said. "Firm handshake, but not one of those macho handshakes some men give you." I smiled knowingly. "Look her in the eye. She hates when people don't look her in the eye."
"Reminds me of someone else I know," I said. "Thanks, Bernie."
Then Bernie knocked on the door and entered.
"Bethany Simpson, Kat," Bernie said, then held the door open.
I stepped past her and saw a woman in a business suit staring out the windows of her office. Bernie closed the door, and I strode forth.
"Hello, Ms. Waters. Thank you for seeing me."
She paused before turning around. "Hello, Belle."
I stared at her, my mouth dropping. "How- Um. You." I closed my mouth and stared at her. "You said your name was Katrina."
"My grandfather called me Katrina. My first girlfriend overheard him, and she liked it so much, she began calling me that. But I was already working by then, known as Katherine. So socially, almost everyone calls me Katrina. Professionally I am Katherine or, as you heard, Kat."
I stared at her, and I slowly grew angry.
"You knew!" I spat. "All weekend! You knew!"
"No," she said. "Honey-"
"Do not 'honey' me!" I said. "You knew. All weekend. You knew the moment you picked me up!"
"No, I didn't. Sit. Right now."
I couldn't help it. I had become accustomed to obeying her, and I plopped down in the seat. She sat down in her desk chair and then leaned forward. "I didn't know until yesterday. I vaguely knew there was some company coming in, but I didn't know anything about it. Benson doesn't do computer security, so no one would have bothered flagging your staff for my attention. I didn't know the name of the company that was coming in until I asked about it yesterday morning. Then I checked what your schedule was, then called Ann and told her the best employee she could ever find was interviewing with her in the afternoon, and she'd be a fool if she didn't find a way to hire you."
I stared at Katrina.
"She called me later and told me she had tried, but there wasn't a fit. So then I spent time last night and more this morning making something else work."
I couldn't stop staring at her.
"Say something."
"Why would you do all that?"
"Because this isn't a fling for me any more than it is for you!"
"It's not?" I squeaked.
"No, it's not."
"Is the job real?"
"Quite. The CEO has been trying to steal Bernie from me for three years. His current assistant is going on maternity leave, and he wants give her to the vice-president of finance when she returns. He wants Bernie."
"She's that good?"
"She's that good. Now, the question is, are you half as good as she is?"
I smiled. "Ms. Waters, I'm better."
She laughed lightly. "To be quite blunt, Bethany, I find that unlikely. However, everyone is singing your praises, and I have to take that seriously. Working in a big company is not the same as working in a little company. The office politics here are a lot worse."
"Want to bet?"
"No. Are you willing to agree the environment is dramatically different?"
"Yes."
She talked to me about my skills then asked me how I would handle a variety of difficult situations. She didn't give me a moment to raise a single objection to my working for her until she was done.
Finally she leaned back in her chair and smiled, then opened her desk drawer and pulled out an envelope, sliding it across her desk to me. I didn't take it.
"What's that?"
"Your formal job offer. You will sign one copy and return it to me. Please do so now."
I stared at her. "Ms. Waters, do you believe you can roll right over me like that? I haven't had an opportunity to ask my own questions."
"We have an excellent benefits package," she said, "details I don't pay attention to. Technically HR should be presenting the offer, but I get what I want around here, so they wrote the letter and gave it to me."
"I have other questions."
"It is a significant raise from your current position. It is not enough to buy a house. You would need to make other arrangements. I believe I can help with that."
"Oh you do, do you?"
"There is also a letter in there to sign stating our relationship is of mutual consent and began before we began working together. We need to sign that in front of witnesses."
"So you can hire your girlfriend?"
"Like I said, I get what I want around here."
"Nepotism."
"Oh please. The only reason you're not interviewing for the CEO's assistant is because that job requires someone with more first hand experience in the company."
"Honestly, I'm good, but I'm not quite that good."
"It is good there is room for you to grow," she replied. "Sign the offer."
"Not so fast." I paused. "What about us?"
"You will wear your collar to work."
I stared at her.
"What? I told you this isn't a fling for me."
"Katrina, I need you to back down a little. I need you to talk to me, not try to force me. This is a bad idea."
"Which part?"
"My working for you."
"So if I get you another job in the company, you'll take that position instead?"
"Slow down," I said. "Just slow down, Katrina. Let me catch up. You've had twenty-four hours, I've had three minutes."
She smiled.
"I love you, too," she said.
"You heard that," I said in a small voice.
"Every word."
I opened the envelope and read the offer. It was a good offer. "Is this more than Bernie makes?"
"No."
"So you're not offering too much?"
"No."
"Who knows about us?"
"HR and Jase. The CEO."
"And he said you could hire your girlfriend?"
She smiled.
"What?"
"You called yourself my girlfriend. That's a good start."
I didn't smile. "Did he?"
"I told him he could have Bernie if I could have you. He paused about a half second before agreeing. HR was harder. But as I said, I get what I want around here."
"This is too fast," I told her.
"Probably, but I am an exceedingly decisive person."
"I'm going to bug you, but I need to pace." She nodded once, and I climbed from the chair and looked out the windows. I didn't pace, but I needed to think.
"People will find out about us," I said.
"I imagine so, as I intend to tell them. I have nothing to hide. Are you ashamed of me?"
"Don't be daft."
She chuckled.
"Do you take work home with you?"
"Sometimes. It's a bad habit, and it's rare."
"This is a bad idea."
"Why?"
"What if we have a fight? Or break up? What if you get tired of me? What if I'm not as good as I think I am. The standards of Winston-Salem, North Carolina may not match the standards of San Jose, California."
"What if, what if, what if," s
he said. "Are you going to let fear choose our future?"
I turned around. "It could easily be too much time together. And Bernie said you need someone who can stand up to you. I'm not sure I can."
"Bullshit. What are you doing right now?"
"All you have to do is finger my collar and I'll be on my knees kissing your feet."
"Not at work, you will not!" she said. "Your job is to see to my bests interests, and that is particularly true when I am being pig-headed. I expect you to do your job. I have been given the distinct impression that won't be a problem for you."
I smiled. "No, Ms. Waters, perhaps it wouldn't be."
I turned back to look out the window. "Are you inviting me to live with you?"
"Yes." She paused. "The job offer and the offer to live with me are not the same offer. You may pick one or the other. You can live with Jasmine if you want. This is very sudden for both of us. But I hope you will live with me."
"What if I don't want a relationship with you? Do I still get the job?"
"Oh please. Do we need to discuss hypothetical situations that don't exist?"
"No," I said. "I suppose we don't. You're cocky."
"Yeah, and you didn't tell me you were falling in love with me."
"I guess I've given you plenty of reason to be cocky."
She climbed from her chair and stood behind me, resting her hands on my shoulders. "Do you like the area?"
"Yes."
"Do you think working for Geiger would be a good fit?"
"Maybe. For the right job."
"All right. That's fair. Do you want to remain mine?"
"Forever?"
"Yes. Forever."
I turned into her arms. "Yes," I whispered. "More than anything I've ever wanted. But do you want me, or is this a fling?"
"Is that your objection?"
"My fear. Answer my question."
"Let's come back to it. Do you have serious objections working for me?"
That one was hard. "Concerns."
"Things we can work on?"
I nodded.
"All right. There are six executive assistants working for the company. You could replace four of them, starting with Bernie, if you are at all as good as everyone says you are. If working for me becomes problematic, then I will trade you with someone else. None of them are as good as Bernie, but they're good."
"That leaves us," I said.
"I am not playing you. I know my feelings. I feel as deeply for you as I believe you feel for me."
I turned away from her, looking out the window. "I have questions, and you will answer them. And then I will give you my answer."
"All right. What?"
"How much property do you have?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking?"
"Is there room for an addition?"
"It's already a big house. Why do we need an addition for the two of us."
I turned around. "Because I want a cage, and I want somewhere for you to practice your Japanese knot tying. Often."
And then I smiled, I smiled until she pulled me into her arms and crushed our mouths together.
When she finally released me, she whispered in to my ear, "Already covered. I really need to give you that tour. I can't believe you haven't snooped."
We hugged, and then she said, "So you'll sign?"
I pushed away. "I'll sign. When do I start?"
"How long do you need to go home and ship your things?"
"Are you kidding? I'm not going anywhere. I'll call my parents and they can ship it all for me."
"Then you start right now."
Epilogue
Katrina tightened the knot around my knee, and then suddenly my leg lifted into the air. I tumbled over backwards, brought up by the ropes secured to my waist. I had been expecting it, but still it surprised me, it surprised me every time she did it. I found myself hanging that way, nearly entirely upside down, one leg bent in and suspended in the air.
I moaned in pleasure.
Slowly she worked, tying one leg off straight, then tugging on my hair, pulling my head backwards, tying it to somewhere, putting me into an extreme backwards bend.
"How are you doing?" she whispered to me.
"Don't stop," I said. "Never stop."
"Never," she agreed.
Then she began spinning me.
I couldn't have been happier.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as [email protected] or found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/robin.roseau. Robin will have a web site soon at http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Other Works by Robin Roseau
All titles available on Amazon
Novels: The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Michaela Redfur is a werefox living a quiet life in Bayfield, Wisconsin. She has a quiet job that gets her out of doors and avoids the werewolves as if her life depended on it. Which it does.
That all changes early one morning when Lara Burns, the Madison Wolves alpha, introduces herself, much to Michaela's chagrin. Lara explains to Michaela that "we only want to talk", but when a werewolf comes knocking on a tiny, delicate foxes' front door, Michaela knows talking is the last thing in the wolfy mind.
This novel is 93,000 words and is the first in in The Madison Wolves Series.
Fox Play
Having now agreed to a commitment relationship, Michaela and Lara turn their attention to a new threat. Durian, alpha of the Chicago wolves, wants Lara's pack for himself in order to replenish his dwindling power.
In the meantime, Michaela faces her fears built from the past while struggling to find her place in the pack.
Fox Play continues the story first begun in Fox Run. This is a novel of 95,000 words.
Fox Mate
Michaela Redfur has been accepted into the wolf pack as their fox, and a wedding with Lara, the alpha, is in the planning. But being accepted into a close-knit clan is not simply a formality. There are rites of initiation and you know you are truly accepted when the dark and ugly is accepted along with the good.
In Fox Mate Michaela, the lone and orphaned fox, finds out how acceptance works - wolf-style: some rough play, lots of love especially when a pack- member is in need of help.
Michaela struggles to hold things together and find peace in time to save the wedding.
This is a novel of 110,000 words. The novel deals with traumatic issues from Michaela's past and contains some graphic violence and scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers.
Fox Afield
Lara and Michaela depart on their honeymoon, combining a vacation into an opportunity to practice diplomacy with another werewolf pack. Their honeymoon is interrupted by a frantic phone call to Michaela from an old friend.
The wolves along with Greg Freund's team rush back to Wisconsin to right a wrong, but the clock is ticking.
Michaela and the wolves must go undercover to solve the mystery. In the meantime, Lara's overly-protective nature fires, leading to stress between Lara and Michaela.
This novel of 90,000 words is the fourth Fox novel.
Fox Revenge
Lara is pregnant with twins, and Michaela is fiercely protective. This turns out to be a very poor time to take in a refugee from a neighboring wolf pack, and things grow more difficult when the neighboring alpha demands the wolf's return.
The resulting troubles put Michaela on the opposite side of the issue from Lara, Elisabeth and the rest of the pack, adding stress to all relationships.
This is a novel of 84,000 words.
Fox Dish
While pack shows its delight with the arrival of La
ra and Michaela's babies, Michaela vows to keep Celeste and Rebecca safe from all directions. This includes dealing with old enemies.
Michaela's actions have unexpected results, landing Michaela in a fight for her very existence, squared off against everyone she once thought was a friend.
This 80,000 word novel is the sixth in the Madison Wolves series. It completes the story arc begun in Fox Revenge.
Other Novels in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Moira is able to see something few others see: the aura that surrounds people. What she doesn't understand is what it all means. And then she meets Arianna, who definitely knows what it means.
Arianna recognizes Moira's unique gifts, and she isn't going to let them go to waste, regardless of Moira's consent.
This is a novel of 75,000 words.
The Five Kingdoms
Privateer
Rani Karden finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes a victim of the "civilized" wars of the Five Kingdoms. Along with her brother's wife and children, she finds herself held hostage for ransom aboard the privateer Fleetwind. Sorri Westmere, captain of the Fleetwind, sets out to tame the fiery redhead, but she is soon captivated herself.
Striving to teach Rani that being a hostage isn't as bad as it might sound, Sorri learns that perhaps her choice of careers is an impediment to personal happiness.
Privateer is a fantasy novel of 140,000 words and is the first in the Five Kingdoms series.
Other Novels
Fitting In
Nicole is a 33-year-old, introverted computer programmer dealing with her own difficulties. At a party hosted by her best friends, she meets Alexandra, slightly older, beautiful, and athletic in a way Nicole could never be.
Sparks fly, but their differences, coupled with the stress of meeting the family, drives the two apart. But the stubborn Alex isn't ready to give up, in spite of Nikki's fears.
This is a novel of 93,000 words.
Novellas
Stark's Dell
Relocated to the isolated farmhouse of her stern grandmother at age 5, Emily struggles to find friends...until she meets Dee Dee. Older and wiser, Dee Dee guides Emily through childhood and adolescence, sharing Emily's deepest secrets.
