My Boss is a Dragon

by Rowan Porter

  The extra money might have been useful toward something else, but Liam had to admit it would be better served on the interview. Even if it turned out to be a flop, he had to try at least. It felt like ages since the last time he’d worked and brought in any decent money, and a successful interview, particularly with a growing company like Glass Inc., could set him up.

  “Just have to get there first,” Liam told himself as he waited at the curb.

  THE DARK-HAIRED WOMAN behind the marble and steel desk looked up at his approach. “Appointment?”

  “Interview,” Liam said, glancing around to see if there was a mirror.

  “Name?”

  “Liam Andrews.”

  There was a pause, followed by a faintly irritated, “You’re late.”

  Liam spotted a dark pane of decorative glass and moved over to it. “Yeah, sorry about that. That’s public transit for you, never as reliable as you’d like.”

  She sniffed. “Since you showed up twenty minutes later than we meant for you to be here, Mr. Carlton moved on with his day. He’s currently on a phone call and when he can get to you, he will.”

  Liam winced, not only at her annoyed tone, but at the state of his hair. His blond locks had never been very good at behaving themselves, and his whirlwind of a morning had made the whole mess wayward. Glancing over his shoulder to assure himself the woman wasn’t paying attention to him, Liam hastily adjusted his hair as best he could. At the very least, the bags under his dark hazel eyes weren’t terribly deep, and it was too early in the day for his stubble to have started growing in.

  A door opened suddenly, followed by a deep voice. “Sarah, call the IT team. They promised my email would be functional again and it’s anything but at the moment.”

  Liam turned toward the sound, straightening when he caught sight of the annoyed looking man talking. As a business consultant, names and faces of both established and rising business moguls were ingrained in his memory, and he was familiar with Sebastian Carlton. However, Liam realized that for all the pictures he’d seen, none of them did the man justice. He stood a few inches taller than Liam’s own six feet, and filled out his tailored suit impressively. Liam tensed when Sebastian turned his eyes on him, though whether that was because of his nerves or because Sebastian had the most brilliant shade of blue eyes Liam had ever seen, he wasn’t sure.

  Sebastian’s frown deepened. “Who’s this?”

  “Your first interview,” Sarah replied coolly.

  “I thought you said they weren’t showing,” Sebastian said.

  Liam cut the woman off before she could continue. “No, just running late.”

  Sebastian’s dark brow rose. “Quite late.”

  Liam smiled, weakly. “And I’m here.”

  Sebastian snorted, turning toward his office with a wave. “Then come on in.”

  Not terribly thrilled with the resigned tone of Sebastian’s voice, he followed after him. The office was what he would have expected from someone of Sebastian’s considerable business renown. All too often, the image of the head of a business was more important than the business itself. Liam noted that while it was certainly flashy in terms of how much wealth had been poured into the decoration, it still maintained a subdued feel to it. Deep colors and smooth lines drew attention to a few objets d’art, but overall, the main focus of the room was the huge desk against the wall of windows at the back.

  Sebastian rounded the desk, sitting in a large and heavy looking chair. Sebastian motioned to the pair of seats on the other side of the desk, indicating Liam should sit. Despite the irritation the man had shown before, his eyes were focused as he scanned over something on his computer screen.

  “Liam Andrews,” Sebastian began.

  Liam eased himself into his seat, nodding. “That’s me.”

  Sebastian nodded, eyes still on the screen. “Your credentials are certainly…interesting.”

  Liam snorted. “Which is a polite way of saying that it’s eyebrow-raising worthy.”

  Sebastian glanced at him. “A two-year gap in your education and only small businesses as references is sure to draw attention.”

  “The two-year gap was necessary for me to deal with some personal matters,” Liam said.

  “Personal matters,” Sebastian repeated, looking unimpressed.

  Far too many credit hours coupled with a nasty breakup had driven Liam almost to the edge. When his mother had been diagnosed with lung cancer, it had been the final death knell for Liam’s nerves. Life had come at him too fast, too hard, and he still hated that he’d been forced to drop out. At the time, it had been either that, or continue watching his grades plummet as he was unable to continue.

  Liam nodded. “Matters that are personal.”

  It didn’t look like Sebastian was terribly thrilled with his intentionally obtuse answer, but Liam didn’t care all that much. The only reason the gap was included in the first place was because most employers wanted to see a blow by blow of a potential employees professional life. Liam despised having to do more than simply lay out his credentials, hating how invasive so many practices felt. It was bad enough he even had to put that there’d been a gap of no school, and a smattering of part-time jobs, but he’d be damned if he explained to potential employers that it had been caused by a breakdown.

  Liam continued. “And while the businesses are small, you can easily look into any one of them and see the success they’ve found. True, they’re not up and coming tech companies, but they’re steady businesses, and as the letter of references puts it, they attribute their success to my influence.”

  Sebastian’s brow rose a little further at Liam’s unflinching tone, his mouth thinning. Liam waited, staring the man back in the face silently. Sebastian wouldn’t be the first person put off by Liam’s bluntness. His father, as a licensed therapist, had always bemoaned the lack of any real tact in his son, which he could only blame on himself for having married a woman who was just the same. It hadn’t earned Liam many friends at times, but he preferred to clear the air as soon as possible with people, rather than to dance around it with multiple carefully spoken sentences when one or two simple ones would do the job.

  Sebastian tilted his head, his features seeming sharper, more dangerous as the shadows played along them. “Very well. Then what drove you to make the leap from small businesses into a growing technology company?”

  “While I enjoyed the time I spent helping those companies, they are ultimately temporary positions. No one in a mom and pop location is capable of keeping a consultant on full-time. They can usually afford to pay me long enough to swoop in, help them make the necessary changes for success, and then I’m on my way,” Liam said.

  “So, it’s a matter of money.”

  Liam nodded. “I still have an interest in continuing to help smaller businesses, but I can’t rely on that as a source of livable income. It’s too intermittent for me to rely on it, and so, I’ve come to seek full-time employment with a company that can afford to keep me around.”

  “So, your plan is to work for a big company, while still continuing to offer your services to smaller companies?” Sebastian asked.

  Liam shrugged. “If those smaller and in need of help businesses don’t fall under a non-compete clause in my contract, then yes. You built your company from the ground up, and you managed to find your own niche within a popular field. It can be hell to grow within technology, but it’s more easily done than those who open bistros, small bookstores, or any number of other businesses.”

  Sebastian laughed softly. “You think I skimmed my way up to my position.”

  Liam frowned. “No. I said it can be hell, not that it was easy. A company like this, once it finds its foothold, can grow and expand in ways that make setbacks easier to ride out. A small business in a far-flung neighborhood lives or dies by the smallest thing, especially their reputation. Becoming a tech mogul was no doubt a fight, but there are people out there who are trying to make their way into different territ
ory, who need the help. I want to be able to do that…while also making sure I can afford to keep a roof over my head and eat.”

  Sebastian blinked at him, and Liam once again found himself waiting patiently. He wasn’t sure if the man was trying to unnerve him with the silence, or if he was simply mulling over what Liam had said. Liam supposed it didn’t matter, between Sebastian’s reaction and Liam’s own tardiness to the interview, he suspected he wasn’t getting the job. In truth, despite the disappointment he felt, it was a little liberating, and he felt less self-conscious about his answers than if he’d made a good first impression.

  Finally, Sebastian cleared his throat. “I have a few more questions for you, then you’re free to leave.”

  Liam almost told him there was no point in wasting either of their time. It seemed obvious to Liam there was no way he was getting the position. Sebastian seemed barely interested in him, save to be a little surprised by his demeanor. Outside that, there wasn’t much to indicate in Liam’s mind that he was going to get the position.

  Yet, he held his tongue and nodded, letting Sebastian lead into more questions. They were the sort of questions Liam considered to be perfunctory, expected by the interviewer. Liam could answer the questions in his sleep, and played his part in answering them to the best of his ability.

  When Sebastian finished, he leaned back in his seat. “And before I let you go, do you have any questions for me?”

  Liam almost told him no, but instead, he asked his favorite question. “What, in your opinion, are the reasons someone would want to work for you?”

  Sebastian blinked. “You’re asking this as someone who put in an application and came to their interview?”

  “I am.”

  Sebastian’s lips pursed, but he nodded. “We’re a company who believes in moving forward, in thinking forward. At the end of the day, we’re a business, but we take care of our own, both in the benefits package we offer and in the track record we’ve kept for keeping our employees and customers happy. I imagine it can be difficult to imagine for some, but I was once the lowest point on the totem pole, and I know what it’s like to be at the bottom of the heap. I know full well a happy, well cared for employee is one that is both loyal and productive. I strive to ensure the quality I give to customers is the same I give to my employees. I won’t throw out the word ‘family,’ but I believe in taking care of your own.”

  Liam nodded, slightly impressed with the response. “Well, that’s definitely different than what I’ve received from others in the past.”

  Sebastian stood. “I imagine you’ve heard your fair share.”

  Liam followed suit, gathering his things. “Had someone take insult to the question a week ago, that was fun.”

  “It’s an honest question, and one I haven’t received before, so thank you for that. In any case, thank you for your time, Mr. Andrews, we’ll be in touch.”

  “And thank you,” Liam replied.

  He was stepping toward the door when he realized Sebastian was standing at his desk, his hand outstretched. Flushing, Liam backpedaled to take hold of Sebastian’s hand and give it a firm, but friendly shake. Before he could ruin his impression in the man’s eyes any further, Liam beat a hasty retreat for the door to the office, ignoring the look the secretary gave him.

  His phone call to his mother later was going to be hell.

  SEBASTIAN

  A sigh slipped through his lips as he looked over the multiple files open on his computer. Sebastian had gone through a gauntlet of just over a dozen interviews in a week. He supposed he could have pawned the task onto someone else, but he’d never been terribly fond of the idea of delegating where a personal touch was important.

  The door opened, and Sarah stepped in. “Your schedule is set up for the rest of the week.”

  Sebastian snorted softly. “Don’t believe in knocking?”

  “You always told me if the door wasn’t closed tight, I should just walk in.”

  Sebastian frowned. “It wasn’t closed?”

  She smiled. “Nope, open a crack.”

  “I must be more distracted than I originally thought. I could have sworn I’d closed it behind me.”

  Her eyes drifted to the computer screen before him. “Something pressing on your mind?”

  “Other than losing a deal that would have set this company up for years to Tyler fucking Diesel? Or maybe the battery of interviews I put myself through to try and get over this slump we’re in?”

  Sarah smiled. “I’ve seen the figures and the stocks, can’t say I agree with the idea Glass Inc. is in desperate need of help.”

  “We’re stagnating. Sure, we’ve managed to reach out to several reliable clients and gain solid ground. We’ve got a name, we’ve got a reputation and sales, but that’s it. We don’t have any upward mobility. Zhao Air would have expanded our horizons, got our foot in the door for other avenues. Losing that sets us back and I need someone with their ear to the ground who knows how to avoid failing like that again.”

  Sarah thought about that for a moment, nodding. “Alright. You’ve officially made your point to me. You’ve managed to get through the interviews, though. Anyone who fits the position?”

  Sebastian glanced toward his screen once more. “This one woman, Lisa Day, she has a rather impressive set of credentials.”

  Sarah nodded. “I remember her, seemed a capable sort of woman.”

  “She’s been doing this for over fifteen years. Good enough to work freelance between various companies and still remain in business.”

  “I’m sensing a qualifier coming,” Sarah said.

  Sebastian grinned. “You’ve been working for me for too long. The ‘but’ you were sensing is she’s capable, intelligent, and talented, but I don’t want someone who’s good enough at what they do to seamlessly bounce between companies. I want someone with the desire to stay.”

  Sarah frowned. “If she came for the interview, you really think she wouldn’t know the position was intended to be permanent?”

  “Oh, she was aware, which is the reason I’m not bringing her on.”

  “Because she knows it’s a permanent position?”

  “While having spent most of her professional career as someone who bounces between companies, yes.”

  Sarah shook her head. “Who else?”

  “David Barnes, nice enough, good background, absolutely boring, wouldn’t be innovative enough. Michael Lewis, absolutely confident, new and fresh ideas, handshake was too eager, fake, can’t trust him. Naomi Strong, has a lot of experience, grew up in a family of businessmen, I don’t want someone who grew up around the game around here.”

  Sarah’s expression grew more tired as he continued. “Was there anyone in that entire entourage who you didn’t like for some vague, intuitive feeling?”

  Sebastian tapped his screen, bringing one of the digital resumes to the forefront. It summoned memories of a lean, handsome face, golden hair which seemed unwilling to be tamed. Sebastian could easily imagine long fingers playing through the thick blond hair thoughtfully, unknowingly making the mess even greater.

  “Liam Andrews.”

  Sarah frowned before her eyes widened in understanding and surprise. “The late one?”

  “Twenty minutes late as I recall,” Sebastian said in amusement.

  “Why would you choose the one who couldn’t be bothered to not only show up on time, but dressed appropriately?”

  Sebastian frowned. “You’re judging the quality of the man based off whether or not he was wearing a suit jacket? We’re not going to judge someone because they may not be able to afford an entire wardrobe. He showed up, albeit late, kept his head held high, and he was most certainly presentable.”

  “Fine, he didn’t look like he crawled in off the street. But what could you have possibly seen in him to dismiss plenty of other capable and worthy candidates?”

  Sebastian couldn’t help his soft laugh. “I take it you weren’t a fan.”

  Sarah s
at up straight, clearing her face of any expression. “I can’t say I’m fond of someone who so willingly wastes your time.”

  “Didn’t you tell me afterward that he’d missed his bus?”

  Sarah grunted. “Why him?”

  Sebastian absentmindedly moved the window containing the resume around the screen as he thought about how to answer her question. For all his attempts to rely on logic and reason, eager to separate himself from the emotional qualities of being a dragon, he still trusted his gut. Perhaps his instincts were born from an inherently emotional place, but they rarely failed him, and even less so when it came to people.

  “Call it a feeling,” Sebastian finally said.

  “A feeling,” Sarah repeated.

  Sebastian had been taken off-guard by how uninterested Liam seemed to be in Sebastian. More than half of the interviewers had fawned over Sebastian, and the rest had made sure to mention how impressed they were with him and his business. Liam however, had done nothing of the sort, addressing the interview rather than the interviewer.

  His first impression of Liam had been of a bumbling, irresponsible, and a bit ill-mannered individual. Sebastian had initially been tempted to cancel the interview based off Liam’s tardiness, but had found himself caught up in the man’s odd charm. It wasn’t just his looks, though Sebastian thought of himself as honest enough to know that he wasn’t totally immune to a pretty face. Despite how much Liam’s disinterest in Sebastian personally, followed by his bluntness, had tasted sour to Sebastian, he’d found himself warming to it.

  Sebastian nodded. “I won’t hold his lateness against him. If there’s anything I’ve been reminded of from the deal with Zhao falling through, it’s that there are just some things that happen which are outside of our control. His credentials are solid enough for consideration, and I liked his attitude during the interview.”