Cio’s grip tightened on the plastic bag handles. Assistant Rhodes was watching him with an unimpressed frown and one delicate brow raised. He shifted his weight. “Can I just bring it in to him?”

Her frown deepened. He wanted to tell her to be careful or she’d get wrinkles, but he wasn’t 100% that she wouldn’t kill him on the spot. “Dr. Price is a busy man. If you want to brownnose. Do it on your own time.”

He huffed. “I’m not brownnosing. I broke something of his and I brought a replacement.”

Her other eyebrow joined the other half way up her forehead. “Oh. Sleeping your way to the top?” She hummed and clicked on her computer. “No wonder you got yourself such a nice raise after only six months. Can’t say I blame you. Have you seen him with his shirt off? What am I saying, of course you have.”

Cio’s jaw dropped. He wasn’t often struck speechless, but…

“Stop starting rumors and do the job I pay you for.” Dr. Price’s voice cut through the tension in the room. “And for fuck’s sake, stop scaring the new kid.”

The scowl on her face disappeared into a good-natured grin. Cio blinked at the 180. “Got it, boss. Just putting the fear of God into him. Have to make sure his intentions are pure.”

Cio turned to Dr. Price. He was watching Assistant Rhodes with a fond, but exasperated expression. “Get in here, Cio.”

Cio hurried to follow him and leave the little assistant of horrors behind. “Every time I’ve dropped off papers before, she’s been on the phone or busy or… She’s terrifying.”

“I know. I’d fire her, but I’m pretty sure she’d kill me.”

Cio snorted. Dr. Price leaned back against his desk and crossed his legs at his ankles. “What do you need?”

Feeling awkward again, his grip tightened and loosened on the plastic bag. “I ah, felt guilty. I was pretty sure that picture frame broke so I got…” he held out the bag and shrugged. “That table is really wobbly, for the record, and you have an entire building full of people who build stuff for a living. Ever think of having someone fix that for you?”

Dr. Price pulled out the frame and was looking it over, but he glanced up at the last remark. “My wife picked out that table.”

Something that felt suspiciously like regret curled low in Cio’s gut. Followed quickly by a flush of embarrassed shame as his eyes landed on the gold band Richard wore on his left hand. He didn’t remember seeing that when they were together before. Was he too drunk or did he see and just not care? No wonder Richard had been so quick to shut down Cio’s hesitant questions. “Sorry. I mean it’s a nice table. Very perfect in it’s wobbles.”

Dr. Price chuckled and set the frame down on his desk. “No, it’s a shit table. I don’t feel right chucking it though.” Richard's eyes slid down Cio’s body. Cio froze. He’d been looked at like that before by people who weren’t his boss. People who were interested in what they were seeing. If Richard was married though, then Cio wasn’t interested. “Thank you for the new frame. It was unnecessary but appreciated. I’m happy you’re here. Did Russell talk with you yet?”

Cio shook his head. He came straight up to drop off the picture frame. “Why? Am I about to be fired? Because in that case, I want the picture frame back.”

Dr. Price’s lips twitched up in the beginnings of a smile. “No, you’re being promoted. You should never have been hired on as an assistant with your education and skills. I looked over your thesis last night.”

“When did you have time to sleep?”

The slight smile fell away and his customary frown took its place. “As I was saying, you designed and built a wheelchair that could climb and descend stairs. It was an amazing piece. I can’t imagine why you’d apply for a job as an assistant, rather than a researcher.”

“You weren’t hiring for a researcher.” Dr. Price stared at him. Cio shrugged. “I had offers from a couple other R&D firms, but I wanted to work here. I figured foot in the door as an assistant was better than working for a company I didn’t believe in.”

Dr. Price snorted. His eyes rolled heavenward. “You’ve already got the promotion. No need to keep pushing.”

“Not pushing. I’ve wanted to work here since I was in high school. Plus I like Russell. He’s an asshole. It’s great.” Cio probably shouldn’t call his little boss an asshole to his big boss, but considering Dr. Price had called him that before, he figured it was ok.

“He is an asshole.”

Were they bonding? It felt like they were bonding. The way Dr. Price’s eyes held Cio’s own, if Dr. Price wasn’t married and his boss… Cio would probably still not ask him out because he’d been down that road before and it was fun. It was amazing, but quick and clear dismissal after was too painful. “So, I’m not fired. I’ve been promoted. What’s my promotion?”

“Junior researcher under Russell Topher. Basically, you’re still his assistant but you get to make him let you use the lab as you want and you get more money. Though working under him you’re still not getting paid enough.” Cio snorted. Russell really wasn’t that bad. “No more late nights as well. Go home when your shift is over. I don’t want to be the reason your boyfriend dumps you. Heartbroken employees aren’t efficient for shit.”

His boyfriend…? Was Dr. Price checking his relationship status? Did Cio read that look from before right? “No boyfriend, I’ve been a little too busy first with school and now with this job.” Dr. Price’s brows raised in surprise. Ah, maybe he overshared then. “Yeah. Ok. Promoted, raise, picture frame… Anything we’re missing?”

“No that about covers it.”

“Great.” Cio gestured to the door with an awkward hand motion. “In that case, I’m going to get back to work.” Cio stepped out the door then stuck his head back in. “I’m not going to like, get in trouble if I stay late again, am I?”

Dr. Price shook his head. “No, Cio, but there’s more to life than work.”

Cio just shrugged at him and headed back down to Russell. Russell was pretty onboard with the whole thing, and was minorly impressed when he showed him, again, how the 3D printer models were a lot more accurate than a barbie taped to a model. He still did the paperwork for Russell, but all in all, not a bad thing.

Six months as an assistant. He thought it’d be years before he got a chance to do an actual job in research. His family thought it’d be years. Hell, his best friend told him he was being stupid and should take the job halfway across the country. Speaking of his best friend… He shot off a quick text to let her know the big news. All he got back was the bitmoji of her gasping.

An hour later, his sister Amelia was calling him. He let it go to voicemail and rolled his eyes when her text came in.

Ames: Promoted!? Why am I the last to know?

Cio: Why do you know at all?

Ames: Beth told Clara who told Daniel who told me.

Cio: Fucking hell..

He pulled up his messages to Beth.

Cio: It hasn’t even been an hour. Amelia called me. Tell Daniel if he tells our parents then I’m not going to be the best man anymore.

Beth's response was her bitmoji flipping him off. He rolled his eyes and put up his phone.

He stayed late, not as late the other night, but late enough it was dark out when he made his way to his car.