PART TWO

The first job was a shipping schedule.

"It's easy," Daniel said. "A vendor in Ohio sends us boxes. We send them to three warehouses. You match the dates and make sure nothing gets double booked."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

It took Alexander forty minutes to do what Tasha did in ten. He didn't mind. He had never filled in a spreadsheet by himself before. There had always been someone to do it.

At eleven he stopped and frowned at his screen.

"Daniel."

"Yeah?"

"The Ohio boxes go to three warehouses. Two of them are in New Jersey, about ten miles apart."

"Yeah."

"Why not send everything to one and move it later?"

Daniel came over and leaned on the divider. "Say that again?"

"It's two trucks instead of three. You'd save on fuel and on the driver's time. It's not a big number, but over a year it's a lot."

Daniel was quiet for a moment.

"Okay," he said. "That's good."

"I can set it up."

"No."

Alexander looked up.

"Write it up," Daniel said. "A page. Send it to me. I'll take it to the right person."

"In my company, I'd just…"

He stopped. Daniel waited.

"Just what?"

Alexander looked at the screen. "I'd just do it."

"This isn't your company."

"No," Alexander said, quietly. "It's not."

Daniel's face changed a little. It wasn't mean. It was almost kind.

"You've got good ideas," he said. "I'm not saying you don't. But you have to do this the way everyone else does."

"Understood."

"I know you do." Daniel tapped the divider twice with his knuckle. "Write it up."

He walked away. Alexander wrote it up.

At one o'clock he ate a sandwich at his desk. It cost nine dollars. He bit into it slowly and made it last.

Tasha pulled her chair back and looked over.

"Kevin bet five bucks you'd quit by lunch."

"Who's Kevin?"

"Guy with the loud shirt."

Alexander looked across the room. A man in a bright orange shirt waved at him with a big smile.

"Did he win?"

"Not yet."

"Tell him to keep his money."

Tasha laughed. It was a quick surprised laugh, like she hadn't planned on it. "I will."

She went back to work. The printer jammed at two and again at three. By four Alexander had learned to open the side door and pull the paper out without tearing it.

"Nice," Tasha said, without looking up.

"I've had practice."

"It's been four hours."

"It's been a long four hours."

She smiled to herself.

At six the floor started to empty. People said goodnight, grabbed bags, left in twos and threes. Alexander stayed to finish his page. When he looked up, only Daniel's desk light was still on, and Daniel was gone.

He sent the file and sat there for a second. His back ached. His feet hurt. It had been twelve hours since he'd left the hotel and he couldn't remember the last time he had been this tired.

He was oddly satisfied.

He stood and reached for his jacket.

"Alexander."

Ethan was standing at the end of the row with his hands in his pockets. He didn't look angry. He looked calm. That was somehow worse.

"Ethan."

"Walk with me."

"I was about to leave."

"It'll take a minute."

Alexander followed him to the quiet corner by the kitchen, where the light was low and nobody was around. Ethan stopped and turned.

"How was your first day?"

"Fine."

"Good." Ethan nodded slowly. "Daniel says you're quick."

"He's been generous."

"He doesn't give out compliments. So that's something."

Alexander waited. He had sat across from enough men like Ethan to know that the nice part was almost over.

"I'll be honest with you," Ethan said. "I didn't want you here."

"I know."

"I told Mia that."

"I assumed."

"She hired you anyway. I respect that. It's her company." Ethan stepped a little closer. His voice stayed even. "But I've known her a long time. I saw what happened after she left your office."

Alexander didn't say anything.

"So I'm only going to say this once," Ethan said. "Stay away from Mia."