Good Coffee

My contract was straightforward.  They had incentive bonuses as well as annual ones and with all the company growth, I got stock options.

Ricky was the first person I saw on Monday and I made sure he had his morning dose of sugar, via a Hostess cake I brought from home. Between HR and getting my badge saying I could enter the building, I had completely missed the morning meeting.

Jennifer came down to bring me to my work station. She took the stairs by two even in heels. It was obvious we were rushing up to the office, but it wasn't even 9 AM yet. I thought mid-west companies would be more relaxed.

"We just finished the team morning meeting. And we were surprised with a visit from Adam who bought Starbucks for everyone. Can you believe it?! I'm sorry you missed it stuck in the basement of the building with HR and Ricky. Here you are! I'm sure there are left overs if you want anything just help yourself!" She bustled away down the hall to her desk outside out Noah Talon's office. My new boss.

I felt guilty knowing Adam had been to the morning meeting, but it couldn't have been just to see me. He's got a company to run with his brother, which I have no doubt overlaps projects.

I am pissed I missed a good cup of coffee though. Sitting my purse down on my desk in my own office space, not a cubical or shared workspace (FINALLY!), I started tinkering away at the iPad, Google Smart phone, Lenovo laptop and all my other fun gadgets.

I saw a roller bag with my initials on it HO on it an immediately wished my parents would have thought about my name and how my initials HO would get me picked on. Kids on the playground are cruel. And unfortunately the office is usually no different. I pulled the tags off and the pretty bow along with the welcome card signed by people I don't know yet, I'm assuming my team and started getting everything docked, hooked up, and WiFi enabled.

After an hour or so I was hungry and thought I should go check the conference room out for some snacks.

I couldn't miss the cup of coffee with my name on it set to the side with fresh fruit and mini muffins. I took an orange and the coffee and went to reheat it. What surprised me the most was the fact that someone knew my Starbucks order: Venti Blonde Roast with almond milk.

The rest of my day went by quickly. I didn't see either of the Talon brothers in the office, although I had heard Adam's booming voice at one point during the day and got a little nervous to see him.

"Happy first day! See you tomorrow!" Jennifer stopped by my office and offered to list anything I needed from ergonomic to desk office supplies.

I thanked her and left around 5PM which is early for me. Leaving the office before everyone else gave me a sick feeling. I'm used to being the last one to leave, although I'm rarely the first person in the office. And if people come in here to work out together before 7AM I won't be the first one here. Ever.

***

The next two weeks were daunting. I had to get up to speed quick and hit the ground running. I met every person on my team, learning that only two of them worked in the office and they were on a different floor. That wasn't ideal for teamwork, but I'd have to put in the extra effort to get to know them and make sure everyone is doing their work efficiently.

Our project I had been brought on to manage wasn't widely known. A lot of times companies will get their beta versions out to actual people, not just employees, but this app was a tad taboo. Talon, being a family owned company, was known mainly for their dating apps. They had an entire platform of apps and technology solutions but their just like Google is known as a search engine but has email, photos, documents, and more, Talon Tech was known for it's dating app.

The app I was assigned had been in the works since the original dating app way back since Tinder. So why hadn't it been launched yet? Or been an add on to the original app?

Adam had an idea to help people with intimacy issues originally called In2MeSee. It was cute until I heard what it was currently referred to: dirty talk to me.

"If you don't have a clear idea of what problems this app solves or target audience, and for the love of all things holy, do not say 'everyone' again."

"But it is for everyone. It's for couples, single people..." Adam was in my office yet again to tell ask me what our teams roadblocks were. Him.

"Adam, you can't have strangers sexting other strangers."

"Why not?! That sounds like a good time to me!" He was wearing a cable knit ivory sweater today and when his hands flew up in the air while he paced my office I got to see a tiny sliver of that tight body. He had the muscles that made the V and I'm sure amazing abs to go with it.

"BECAUSE! Anyone can download an app and use it. A child can. A sex offender can. Are you seeing where this is going?" How has he not thought of this.

"Hmm, well that seems like a problem for you to figure out."

"I'm leading the UX team, not redesigning the entire backend of a whack app that basically teaches you how to talk dirty to strangers."

"...as well as couples. We are targeting the military and other long distance relationship customer demographics on this one." He interrupted.

I sighed and I could see his shoulders slump as he put his hand on the back of the chair in front of him. Shaking his head back and forth I assumed the worse was coming. I was going to get fired over a stupid app that appeals to men who want to lewd messages sent to them anytime day or night.

Instead he pinned me with those hazel eyes of his and smirked.

"The backend does need reworking. Congra-fucking-lations you've just been promoted to the top dog on this. Which means you'll have to work closely with me. Every day."

He turned around and walked out before I could say anything. I just sat there like an idiot seething. Adam made me want to throw myself, no wait him, off of a building. Like the Empire State building.

After my drinks via Zoom with my sister, I'm going right to bed because I will definitely need yoga to relax me if I have to work with Adam on a daily basis.