Kade

“Good morning, Kade,” she says, offering her hand for me to shake. “We’re so happy to have you joining the team.”

“Me too. I’m actually a big fan. I watched a few of your tutorials online to get me through college,” I explain, feeling accomplished when she releases an embarrassed giggle.

“Oh wow, you’ve actually seen those. I was so nervous recording them. I haven’t looked at those videos in ages.”

“That’s shocking. You appeared completely in your element.”

Ji-ho waves off my compliments, though she grins ear to ear, then she gestures towards the wall of windows. “Come along. We’ve got your desk ready right over here.”

But before we make it there, the department doors open.

“Mr. Ackley,” Ji-ho says around a beaming smile I doubt I could replicate even with my years of customer service experience. This isn’t a customer or a hot stranger at a bar; Mr. Ackley must be the CEO. However, when I face him, he isn’t the sixty to seventy-year-old man I was expecting.

“I’m so happy you’re visiting. This is Kade Sullivan. He won the Manny Munchies competition a few months ago.” Ji-ho gestures to me as one might when initially introducing someone, but I’ve already met Mr. Ackley. Last night, in fact.

“Mr. Sullivan,” Nolen says. He’s nothing like the new server, and everything like my powerful boss in a fitted suit that makes him far more attractive than he has any right to be. There’s an aura of strength and respect from those who stare in awe, myself currently included.

An equally ridiculously attractive blonde man stands behind Nolen. He wears a luxurious suit that probably costs more than my monthly salary. The man clicks sporadically through his phone with a single finger that’s inhuman in speed. Under his other arm, he clutches a stuffed briefcase. This is likely Nolen’s secretary, though he could work as a runway model with cheekbones as sharp as those and flawless peach skin.

My attention returns to Nolen’s wry grin. The guy who dropped a bunch of food on himself last night has a damn secretary. He runs this company, and I smacked him in the face with a wad of cash. Did not see that coming.

Nolen offers his hand to shake, just like last night. “Your design worked wonders for our sales. It’s why I came down, in fact. I wished to meet our new designer that I hope will give us future work as well as the previous one.”

I take his hand, forcing an amicable smile. If he’s going to act like nothing happened, so will I. “Thank you. It’s a privilege to meet you. I’ve always hoped to work somewhere as prestigious as Ackley Corporation. I’ll be sure to double those sales in the future.”

Nolen’s eyebrow twitches. Maybe that wasn’t the best phrase to use, although I can’t deny that I kind of enjoy the annoyed response.

“Mr. Ackley actually picked your design prior to anyone else,” Ji-ho adds, oblivious to the tension. “He notified me immediately of its potential. We had many discussions that led to your hiring.”

Meaning Nolen is likely the biggest reason that I am here, and we’re having a childish race this evening. Here Marge told me that my horoscope promised a good day, at least that’s all I gathered from her gibberish and thus further proves that her horoscope nonsense is shit because this is a disaster.

“Thank you again. I promise not to let you down,” I say, hoping that Nolen hasn’t already been let down and I’ll find myself let go by the end of the day.

“Mr. Ackley,” the man behind Nolen calls. “We should get going or we’ll be late for your meeting.”

“Right. Thanks, Louis.” Nolen nods towards me. “I look forward to seeing your future work, Mr. Sullivan. If you’ll excuse me.”

Nolen and his secretary leave the way they came. The entire room releases a breath in freakish unison. I didn’t realize how quiet the office had become until the constant clicking of keyboards echoed throughout the room. Laughing, Ji-ho guides me to my potential Desk-For-A-Day.

“Don’t worry. Mr. Ackley doesn’t visit us often. He looks intimidating, but do not hesitate to speak to him or ask questions. He loves helping, and it’s a good sign that he’s paying attention to you,” she says, still oblivious to my plight.

“This first week I would like you to shadow Imani.” She nods at the girl whose desk is connected to mine. Imani smiles nervously. She pushes a pair of squared glasses up her round brown nose. “I like for everyone to take things slow in the beginning and become comfortable, so don’t worry about showing off right out of the gate. I’ve got some work to attend to, so if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask Imani.”

“Thank you, Ms. Park.”

“Please, call me Ji-ho.” She pats my arm. “We only use formalities when Mr. Ackley is around.”

She heads to her office while I pull my chair next to Imani. She’s a sweet girl who easily explains how office life works. Much of the programs they use are the same or similar to what I have on my computer, albeit much faster since my personal computer isn’t exactly state-of-the art. I can’t imagine it will take me long to get accustomed to being here. If Nolen lets me stay.

When lunch comes around, I sit alone in the onsite cafeteria glaring at my phone, although I’m the one who googled Nolen Ackley. He really is the damn CEO, having taken over two years ago when his father retired. Here I was hoping he had some other position at the company, although that wouldn’t spare me. Seriously, the guy I taunted last night is my CEO. The guy I’m racing tonight is my CEO. Whoever is the showrunner of this series needs to get their act together. I’ve put up with enough shit. Isn’t it about time I earn a peaceful life?

The rest of the day, I’m waiting for the inevitable email announcing that I’ve been fired or demoted to a janitorial position. That likely pays better than being a waiter, but that’s beside the point. I won’t take getting fired lying down. I’ve finally got my foot in the door and I’m a good worker. I can’t lose this opportunity.

Hours pass in slow agony. Work ends. I head home, keeping an eye out for a certain blonde I’m avoiding, change clothes, then it’s seven o’clock. My stomach has morphed into a knot of anxiety.

I’m surprised to find Nolen stretching in the grass by the parking lot of Greensbury Park. Part of me thought he wouldn’t show. He doesn’t look like the CEO here, wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a dark tank top that holds his muscles in all the right ways. Maybe he plans to fire me after the race as a giant fuck you, but I won’t let that happen. I can’t let it happen. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have a chance for things to change for the better after stumbling through the dirt time and time again. We have to talk. Now.

“Hey,” I call, approaching him. “I worked my ass off to get myself through college. I practically killed myself waiting tables and doing freelance work to barely scrape by. This is the best opportunity I’ve ever gotten and, frankly, I deserve it. I’m a good worker, a hard worker, and I clearly know what I’m doing. It’d be wrong to fire me over something as petty as this.”

I’m breathing heavily by the end, having raised my voice more than I meant to, but this means a lot to me. Nolen likely doesn’t understand; the son of the obscenely rich man who created Ackley Corporation. Opportunities appeared without Nolen ever having to wish for them. Those like me grasped at whatever dangled our way, starving for a chance to be more than what we are.

A few people stare when they walk by. Nolen glances at them, then at me. “Who said anything about firing you?”

“Oh, uh,” I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “All things considered, I found that to be a perfectly viable option.”

“I suppose I can see where you’re coming from. However, that is not something you need to worry about. Our competition started outside of work and will continue outside of work, regardless of the outcome. However,” he walks around me like a hawk eying prey, a taunting grin set against his handsome features. “If this was merely an attempt to find an excuse to forfeit, I will accept your loss graciously.”

“I said nothing about forfeiting,” I growl.

“Good. I was hoping you wouldn’t bore me. This track leads around the park,” he explains, tapping his foot on the cement path. “We run the track once and meet back up here.”

“Alright.” I step beside him.

“Aren’t you going to stretch?” he asks.

“No, let’s do this.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“Are you the one trying to back out now?”

My taunt makes Nolen scowl. He puts a foot forward, so do I. He meets my gaze, eyes narrowed. Mine mirrors his, bubbling tension growing, waiting to explode.

“Go!” He shouts, and we burst into a run.