SOMEONE ONCE tweeted that adulthood is the worst hood they've ever lived in, and I honestly can't agree more with them. For the past two weeks, I've been so busy that I couldn't even find time to check the draft pieces the editorial team received from our writers or to watch some old episodes of Judge Judy.
It's all thanks to the Empower Her campaign the company had been sponsoring, but after its huge success a few days ago, Dad demanded that I rest. Fast forward to two days later, I'm using that time at Jerald's gastro pub to catch up with him and Phineas.
Between the three of us, Jerald is the jokester, Phineas is the playboy, and I'm the brains and workaholic. We rarely meet up to have fun, so whenever the chance opens up, Phineas bombards our chats with calls and literally forces us to drive to his selected place for a little get-together like this one.
Phineas tips his head back and gulps the rest of the tequila in his mouth before ruffling his afro hair and giving me his signature tell-me-you're-joking kind of smirk, "So you're saying she cursed at you and decided to resign even though it was her first day at work?"
His voice is filled with delight as he mocks me, and I groan internally. I knew it was a bad idea to tell them about what happened between me and Iris during my tour around the company with her, but since Jerald had heard the bits of incomplete gist from Mary (who works for the photography department at Adder) he decided to rip me a number with his questions. This led to me exposing myself to them, and now I'm reaping the consequences.
"Yes, don't make me repeat myself if you heard everything clearly," I reply taking a sip of my wine to avoid cursing at him. Phineas slaps my shoulder before laughing heartily at my misfortune. Betrayer.
"Did you apologize to her?" Jerald asks even though he looks like he's fighting for his life trying to avoid laughing.
"Yes I did, but I don't think she forgave me."
"She did. She just likes toying with jerks that's all," he adds after gaining his composure. I could tell the two were close the last time he brought her for an interview, but I didn't know that they were this close. He seems to know too much about her, enough to comment about her mannerisms confidently. Although, I could use this to my advantage. . .
"Did she ever tell you how she got her fear of the dark?" I ask cautiously. I know it's pointless to ask this since I don't think Iris and I will get any closer than we are already, but I can't stop asking when the question pops into my head.
"I can't tell you that, " Jerald says in a much more serious tone than expected, leaving me bemused. We all know that when a jokester gets serious something very important is happening, and it just has to happen that the maroon theme of this pub matches his mood, making him somewhat more serious and scary.
"Oh, a love triangle between bros. This is getting serious," Phineas jokes, killing the deadly vibe Jerald has as we both turn to face him.
"I'm not in love with her!" Both Jerald and I roar at Phineas making him raise both his hands in defeat.
"Okay, chill I'm joking," he says with a smirk, " Though one of you has to be lying. Since you're the only one here who hasn't shown any interest in ladies except for this new hot stuff, it'll have to be you, Luke."
Ugh, this jerk and getting on my nerves. " You know what, I don't even know why I asked. Let's talk about something else," I try to change the topic.
Who am I kidding? The boys start talking about anime as a change of topic, but I can't move on from thinking about Iris and Jerald's protective attitude towards her. I don't even know why it bothers me so much, but it does.
Maybe it's because I have to make up for ruining her first experience with the company, and-according to Iris-I have to make amends for making Lynn see us holding hands. That's probably the reason why I'm so invested in her-because I have issues to settle with her. It's a shame I had no time to help her settle down with the team because of the campaign, but I hope they made her feel at home without me at the office.
I left them with my most trusted right-hand man-Dion-to help them work with the authors on the drafts that are supposed to be ready in the coming week for printing before publication. Now that I'm thinking about work, it suddenly comes to my attention that my team has a habit of slacking off, Dion included, and without a little push, they won't be able to complete their tasks on time. Unless they have to do it last minute that is. The thought of something going wrong during the last minute infests my brain like a virus and I find myself standing out of habit.
"Where are you going?" Phin asks when he sees me unplugging my phone from his power bank. The oakwood maroon cushioned chair creaks on the ceramic tiles when I push my chair further from the glass-top table with matching shiny legs. There are about twenty-five identical sets of them in this pub, each with about four chairs surrounding it.
"To check on my team. I'll meet up with you guys after seeing for myself if everything is fine."
"How dare you! I was planning on getting us to some strip club for fun tonight, but the workaholic spirit just had to possess you before the surprise. "
I furrow my brows. " Will you stop being a horny bastard for once? I swear one of these days you're going to get yourself killed because you can't keep your dick tucked in your pants."
Jerald snorts, " Or they'll cut it off him and burn it on a little stake."
" You know what, go. We don't need you and your fatherly advice on a boy's night out. You're even influencing Jerald to talk like you now."
I smirk at him. " Be ready for my return you little shit because once I'm done with work I'll come to give you fatherly love in front of the ladies."
Phin groans at my little comment and I laugh, patting his shoulder and leaving the two of them waving like children watching their mother leave, knowing fully well they're about to have the best time of their lives whilst she's away.
★★★★★
I arrive at the company during lunchtime, so it's no surprise that my team is nowhere to be found in the department. I manage to find them chilling in the canteen, sitting around a collective set of desks that have been clustered together to form one large table.
Dion says something that makes the entire team laugh, but when I push the French doors open, the laughing dies and all eyes turn to look at me. Then they begin whispering to each other.
Having worked with them for almost three years now, I know when my team hasn't completed any of their tasks just by looking at their behavior when I'm around them, and right now, they're avoiding eye contact like it'll kill them to look me in the eye. Soon chairs begin rasping in unison and one by one they leave the room, each passing by me with a small greeting.
I'm not heartless, but when it comes to work, all the fucks I give go on vacation, and they all know it.
Today is going to be another day where they all label me the heartless boss, but if it helps bring out the efficiency in them, I don't mind the title. Soon, the table is almost empty, almost, because Iris and Keith are sitting there discussing something wholeheartedly.
Keith is doing his internship with us and this is his second month now. Like the others, he too avoids making eye contact with me, so I walk over to them instead.
"Afternoon," I greet both of them when I reach the table, making them turn to face me.
Keith's hazel brown eyes gleam back at me," Mor-, ah, afternoon sir," he stutters.
" Afternoon sir," Iris resounds his words after barely glancing at me then returns to reading whatever is on her iPad. I notice the dark circles under Keith's eyes as if he hasn't been sleeping well lately, and the same goes for Iris's red eyes, except she has makeup so I can't make out if I'm right or wrong about her not sleeping.
"Let me guess, you guys are working on the drafts you were given a week ago?" I quip as softly as I can be. Both of them are new at this company, and even though Iris might be more experienced, a new environment can be overwhelming enough to get one confused.
Keith stills for a moment, confirming my accusation before he even speaks. " Yes sir, I'll be done with it by tonight-"
"And risk getting a headache? No sir. You can just hand your piece to me and I'll work on it."
"I can do it-"
"Keith." I pause, looking at him directly in the face. The coolness in my voice fades a little, " We don't have enough time. The printing company needs the sample by next week."
"How about I help him edit it?" All eyes land on Iris when she offers to help, and I swear I see Keith wipe a tear from the corner of my eye.
I'll have to apologize later.
"And what about your work Miss Iris?"
"I handed it over to Dion two days ago."
Dion? Did they get close enough to be calling each other by name? Scratch that, how much of a workaholic is this woman for her to be able to finish her tasks this quickly?
"And you're sure they're perfect?"
"As perfect as I can get them to be," Iris quips whilst tearing her gaze from me and turning to the pad, "besides if he doesn't learn to handle this, how do you expect him to learn anything from this internship?"
Damn her and her smart mouth. She just made me the cold boss without directly saying so. " Okay then, help him. But you'll have to give me the pieces in three days."
Iris rubs her temple like she did when she was mad at me a few days ago. It's like a warning for me to shut up, but she answers anyway. " Yes sir."
Suddenly, I feel a big hand touch my shoulder from the back and I flinch.
"Bullying our new employees are we Mr. Andrews?"
Dad. I slightly turn to face him at the same time Keith greets him.
" Good afternoon sir."
" Hello young man, Keith right?
"Y-yes," Keith stutters as my dad turns to face Iris, who gives him her full attention, which she hadn't been giving me a while ago. So she is still mad at me. That's the only excuse I can come up with after seeing her action just now.
"Afternoon sir," Iris beats Dad to the greetings.
"Afternoon young miss. I don't remember meeting you before," he says furrowing his brows and I close my eyes from embarrassment.
That will be my fault.
When I gave Iris a tour around the company, Dad hadn't been in his office so I couldn't introduce the two to each other. Then I forgot to introduce them later on because I had to cover up for messing with Iris again. The guilt weighs on me like a dumbbell at that moment, so I take it upon myself to do the honors of introducing them now.
"Meet Iris Morris, the new addition to the editorial family," I say pointing at her. "And Iris, meet Mr Andrews, the CEO of the Adder group of companies. "
Before anyone replies, Dad pulls a chair and sits next to Keith before leaning in towards Iris with a warm smile on his face. "Your grandmother is a good friend of mine. She used to be the writer of our magazine during the early days and my wife was her editor."
Iris blinks in surprise. "Your wife is Liam?"
"Yes. Then it's safe to assume that Bertha talks about her since you know her name right?" Bertha? That'll be the writer my mother used to work with. Their conversation draws my attention, so I sit down too.
"All the time," Iris mumbles with a smile. " The way grandma talks about her made me want to become a better editor to my writers because I want them to remember me like grandma does Liam."
Again, Iris manages to leave me awestruck by her viewpoint on editing. It's like she has a spiritual connection to her work with some divine meaning to it that only the talented can grasp. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those talented few-not in the editorial field at least, so I seem inferior to her at the moment.
"You will make a fine editor in the future if you keep up that spirit," Dad praises her. I watch Iris beam in delight at my father's comment, before he decides that embarrassing me is his next course of action. " I heard you helped make two best-selling novels which automatically makes you more experienced than my son here," he adds slapping my back, " make sure to teach this idiot a thing or two about editing."
"Dad!" I quip, making him laugh as he stands and pats Keith on the shoulder before leaving in lengthy strides. Keith lets out a laugh but immediately stops when he sees the glare I give him. However, Iris continues laughing even though I give her the same glare.
Daring much.
"I'll be going to revise the section you gave me Iris," Keith says standing hurriedly whilst holding his mouth. We can all tell he just wants to run away before laughing somewhere much safer.
Iris nods at him smiling, " That's okay. I'll be following you as soon as I'm done eating this sandwich." It doesn't surprise me that she and Keith are so informal, but it still bugs me to think that she still calls me sir after I asked her to call me Lucas the first time we met.
We're left alone after Keith leaves, and I immediately try asking her about work. "So how's-"
" Lynn is looking at us right now," Iris cuts me whilst chewing her food, " she looks fierce and I think I've just confirmed that I'm on her enemies list. Turn to your left and see for yourself."
I turn my head to look in the direction and true to Iris's word, Lynn is glaring at us.
"I finally understand why you grabbed my hand that day. She seems dangerously clingy."
So does that mean I have been forgiven?
" You haven't been forgiven," Iris answers like she heard my internal monologue, " but your actions have been proven innocent. I suggest you deal with her soon before she starts stalking me on my socials."
" Then how do you propose I do that? Telling her no doesn't seem to be working."
" Clearly," Iris answers sarcastically.
" And I can't fire her. She's good at her job."
" Then find a girlfriend, or ask for someone to help you act out at least. With looks like yours, you can pull off any girl if you just do it right."
My heart pounds a little bit at her confession, and the waves probably reach my brains because I blubber the corniest shit I've ever heard myself say in a while.
"Did you just say I'm handsome?"
★★★★★