Our gatherings were good occasions for people of different departments to mingle and exchange opinions and professional experience. It helped us create social relationships outside of work. Many would walk into the meetings as strangers and leave as friends, or at least, people on the way to becoming so. Lina used the occasions to praise those who had excelled during the past two weeks and give them five minutes of fame. Not everyone was comfortable with standing ovations, so if some of the more introverted guys and girls were in the spotlight, she'd spare them the embarrassment and simply include their names with special thanks in the company newsletter. By the end of the hour and a half, our moods were improved, new ideas were proposed and the working week could continue on a more positive vibe.
These decisions had made me feel even more infatuated with Lina when I moved past her intimidating personality in the beginning. All those details made me want to earn this woman's submission. Taming a tigress was more fulfilling than catching easy prey, but would I get bored with her as soon as she was really mine?
We'd cross that bridge once we got to it but I doubted I could ever be bored with Lina Riley.
Thoughts of her had completely consumed me and I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking. Next thing I knew, I ran straight into a massive body. When I raised my eyes, I met the angry gaze of James Douglas. He was always cranky when he had to visit Lina’s office, especially these days. That was the only reason our arrogant vice president would ever set foot on our floor.
“Geez, are you blind? Aren’t we paying you enough to get the right kind of glasses so you can see where you’re going?”
His face was scarlet with rage and he was squeezing his fists with annoyance. I could hardly restrain myself from chuckling. The guy wasn’t very smart for a businessman. James was very bad at disguising his contempt for those he considered inferior. I wasn’t very savvy regarding the intrigues and games of the business world but I knew better than to lose control of my nerves like he often did. The other execs at the company at least tried not to appear so prissy.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Douglas.” I gave him my best goofy, naïve smile. “I’ll pay more attention.”
“Yes, yes, whatever...” He waved his hand with annoyance and both of us walked into the elevator. While we were going down, James looked at me again, trying to conceal his feelings, without much success.
“Another staff meeting? Really?” I was surprised to hear him talk to me but continued with the naïve act.
“Yes, Mr. Douglas. They have been really good for all of us. Lina is great at handling them.”
“Miss Riley.” James put an emphasis on her name with annoyance, “would be better off concerning herself with management than those useless gatherings she throws.”
“She is a great boss.”
“I have no doubt you’d think so.” James walked out of the elevator without turning back. “She’d just best be more careful. It’s easy to fall from the top.”
His cryptic remark left me slightly worried. The guy was an idiot and Lina had hinted a few times that he might not be around for too long, but what if he really was up to something? I planned to let her know about James. However, the events from the meeting made me completely forget about the awkward encounter.
I stepped into the break room with a leisurely stroll and approached Dianne who was pouring herself a cup of coffee. My morning erection had subsided and I could enjoy our conversation without fighting the sexual thoughts in my mind. The premises were slowly filling up with co-workers lining up to get some coffee before the meeting started. The conversation was pleasant enough and I nearly missed Lina's entrance. When I turned around, I saw her standing at the threshold. She was staring intently at Dianne and me. Could it be that Miss Business Arrangement was jealous? My ego was pleasantly stroked by the thought, so I gave Lina a sweet, reassuring smile and a knowing wink.
Lina was far from her usual cool and collected self. The natural grace of her long legs was disrupted when she walked into the room. The thought of her bare pussy under the skirt and the butt plug keeping her open for me was enough to make me hard again. Once again, I questioned whether I possessed the strength to handle her. Just one look at those gorgeous eyes was enough to make me throb with titillation.
She appeared rather sexed up. Her usually pale cheeks were tinted with the red blush of arousal. I was too far away from her to be sure, but she was holding her breath a little too often while she ran her long fingers along the smooth surface of her iPad. At times, she scratched its back with her finely manicured nails. That said something, given how obsessed my boss was with maintaining her technology. I couldn't help a much more lustful smile as I saw her keeping her legs together. The next stage would definitely be the vibrating egg, set at a low enough level to conceal the buzz.
Lina would usually take her blazer off during the meeting, but today she kept it on and often had her arms crossed in front of her chest. Pity. She'd look so fucking sexy with her nipples poking through her shirt... and nothing on but a collar and boots, and...
I had to interrupt my train of thought. The staff meeting was no time to get hard, especially with the delectable Dianne standing next to me. My boss would start talking in a few minutes, and there were far more pressing issues than my dirty hormones.
The staff meetings were also popular because Lina would announce the promotions then. Recently, the head of our department had resigned and the stakes of who her replacement would be were high. The bonuses and opportunities of the position made it appealing even to those who had no ambitions for management. I’d applied and I went through an interview with Marielle, but I had no illusions I'd be considered, let alone promoted. Much to my surprise, I found I really wanted the job. The stage at which my dreams and aspirations were all about landing a job as a programmer had passed. It wasn't because of the money. At this point, I was one of the best-paid developers at ChaosTech Solutions. Recently, I’d realized being a leader wasn't as repulsive as I'd thought several years ago. Along with smoothing out my communication skills, I found out I wanted more control on the projects I was involved with, as well as more freedom to apply my ideas. It thrilled me to bring the best out of people and help them get the best from their skills. Well, who knew? Maybe in a few years...
In any case, there was enough anxiety at the thought of who would be my next superior. Marielle Johnson was one of the people who had trained me when I was starting out. She’d been a pretty good manager and it would be difficult to find a suitable replacement. I hoped Lina would be wise in her choice. I had a bad feeling and I was still trying to shake it off long after the meeting had begun.
Lina leaned against the table, holding the iPad, and went through our priority points. Every now and then, she winced in discomfort and shifted to find a better spot. One of my teammates caught the movement and asked with genuine concern,
“Are you okay, Ms. Riley?”
She raised her head from the iPad with a startled expression and gave him a fake smile.
“Erm, yes, sure, Connor. I pulled a muscle while I was working out.”
This justification was followed by a heated discussion on whether we needed a company gym when we moved to the new building. It was hard to hold my laughter back while I listened to Connor and Co. beg for video games rooms, as well as a snooker and ping pong table. They were great buddies and awesome at their jobs, but at times, they had the emotional maturity of toddlers.
“There will be new amenities, guys. The company can afford it but don’t expect miracles. We're not Google or Facebook yet.” Lina rolled her eyes and smiled. She had the same expression of a well-intentioned yet firm headmistress I remembered from our first meeting. While she was answering another question, her eyes found mine and I saw her shiver. Fuck control. The thought of Lina Riley under my spell with just a look was too intoxicating. It took me an effort to keep my expression as neutral as possible. My smile for her didn't promise anything good... or at least, I hoped
it looked that way. I had to practice my subtle body messages more to keep my pet on edge. Lina crossed her legs and swallowed before she continued.
“I’ve got an announcement to make. It will be officially published in our newsletter in a few days but today is as good as any day.” She looked at me nervously and shifted her gaze away to a spot on the wall. “As you all know, Marielle Johnson is quitting her position as head of the Android/iOS department effective from next week for a start up of her own. She'll stay long enough to show the ropes to her replacement.” There was a long, uncomfortable pause. I heard some people near me whispering. My gaze shifted from Lina to the person I was afraid of.
We agreed I'd never dominate her into altering her professional decisions, especially those that affected the company. Business was separate from pleasure, and yet for a moment, the temptation was so strong, with the usual excuse that it would be for the greater good.
It was a cliché that power was corrupting, but true nevertheless.
All philosophy faded from my brain as Lina said her next words.
“I've been reviewing your work over the last few months. After Marielle conducted some interviews and gave me her personal recommendations, my choice fell on Thomas Jett.”
Coffee practically flew out of my mouth and I coughed violently, too shocked to even acknowledge Dianne's gentle hand when she patted my back.
What kind of games was Lina playing?
It didn't dawn on me she had promoted me until a bunch of my best friends took turns to congratulate me, pull me in for bear hugs and bump their fists against mine. My stupor was slowly cracking. Two emotions one rarely experiences in such a favorable situation poured their poison in my veins – insecurity and anger.
Did she think she could tip the power scales by showing me who was in charge? It was up to her whether I was promoted, transferred or fired. It may have been silly and petty but I couldn’t overcome the suspicion.
The object of my fears spoke in a loud, booming voice.
“Excuse me, Lina.” It was Seth Anderson, a senior developer, one of those who had been employed by the company right from its opening. He was one of the best programmers I'd ever worked with. From what I’d learned from Lina, they used to be co-eds at MIT. Seth had dropped out due to his many personality issues and frequent clashes with different professors and other authority figures. To say he had a huge chip on his shoulder and unresolved anger problems was like saying Katrina had been a light, peaceful breeze.
The guy was a genius, but nevertheless, one of the most self-centered, power hungry individuals I'd ever met. Given some authority, Seth would release his bully tendencies and turn everyone's life into a nightmare. If he crossed the line, his position would be compromised but the damage would still be done.
It was a mystery to me why Lina had decided to hire him in the first place.
“Yes, Seth?” She closed her legs tighter and gave him a fake smile. She was her usual polite self but I knew her well enough to see she was on edge.
“Why did you consider Thomas of all people?” He crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest and glared at Lina with open hostility. His six foot, broad figure was a frequent sight in my nightmares. Seth could pass for handsome but for the constant wrath distorting his features. There hadn’t been a moment when I’d seen his eyes express an emotion that wasn’t irritation or contempt. I didn’t think he’d ever been caught smiling. Sometimes I looked at his thick, bushy eyebrows and broad jaw, and his large, hairy hands, and I had a hard time believing Seth was an intelligent, rational human being, a product of civilization. There was something savage and raw about him. And if his nasty personality wasn’t enough, he was also built like a professional fighter.
It had taken me ages to get over the initial intimidation he provoked in me.
“It's obvious you’ve got a soft spot for him,” Seth spat with venom and threw me a look of utter disgust. Once, the frown of his notorious eyebrows and sinister hazel eyes would have had me trembling like a leaf. “However, he’s only been working full time with us for the last two years. His coding skills are decent,” he added begrudgingly. “But he’s got no vision. He doesn't know the first thing about leading a project. There are programmers with so much more insight into a successful product. Why the hell would you choose a kid who isn't yet dry behind the ears?”
Lina narrowed her eyes into slits and crossed her arms over her chest. She took a step forward and all awkwardness disappeared from her posture. Her calm, moderate tone of voice sounded much more convincing than his hateful rant. I turned my eyes to Seth for a moment. The vein in his forehead was throbbing with fury.
“You make a good point, Seth. Thomas may not have the longest work experience, but he’s one of our most talented programmers. His skills have progressed greatly since the time I hired him. I'm confident he can make up for the lack of years. His input into the last few projects he’s been involved with has been invaluable. The software improvement was largely due to Thomas's contribution.” Her words reassured me and made me swell with pride but I still felt uneasy.
“Besides...” Lina took a small pause to consider her words. “He has excellent communication skills. The rest of the team like and trust him. Also, Marielle–”
“He’s just some stupid boy you had me train, of all things!” The room fell silent at Seth's angry roar of protest. During my first days as a developer at ChaosTech Solutions, such an incident would have dampened my whole day. Now, I simply wanted to punch him and put him in his place. “I taught him everything. I turned him into what he is today and you're telling me I have to put up with him as my boss? Forget it, Lina.”
I looked around the room and saw many angry eyes staring at Seth.
Indeed, he was one of the experts who trained me. Seth was like an overly aggressive coach or a brutal military superior who degrades you for every error. I had nightmares about him for nearly a year. Each time the sound of his heavy steps echoed across the room, my body would swim in cool sweat. However, I survived his intimidating methods and swore the asshole would never break me. My reward came when I caught an error he had made on one of our projects. You wouldn't believe the look of pure hatred that crossed his features then. Seth hated everyone equally but since that moment, I’d taken a special place in his heart.
Lina gritted her teeth and left her iPad on the table behind her. The occasions on which she had showed her anger were rare but memorable.
“Seth, keep your tone down. We're all adults in here and I won't tolerate you yelling and making us all uncomfortable.” She raised her voice an octave as she approached him and fixed her eyes on his sullen face. “You've been warned to watch your temper. One more outburst like this and I’ll have to take measures.”
Seth clenched his large hands into fists and glared at Lina. His hazel eyes were filled with a dangerous flame. He was on the verge of a more violent outburst than simple yelling. I felt the old insipid taste of fear that had assaulted me when I first met Seth. I hurried to suppress it, though. There was no time to revert to my previous self.
I didn’t want to fight battles for Lina. She was more than capable of handling Seth on her own, but I'd be damned if I’d stand there like some voiceless pawn while this unstable asshole bullied me. It was my battle as well.
“If you’ll allow me to cut in...” I kept my voice quiet in contrast with His Neanderthal Majesty. “This situation can be resolved in a more efficient way.”
“Shut the fuck up, Thomas.” He growled and raised his fists. I nearly wished Seth would make the first move. “I'm sick of the sight of you crawling after her, kissing her ass like a bitch boy. Pathetic!”
Ah, Seth, if you only knew.
“I trust Lina's judgment and I'll do what it takes to meet her expectations, as well as those of all of you.” I turned to everyone in the room. Seth must have been desperate if he thought I'd fall for his cheap provocation. “I've been interested in this job for some time. I’ve got many id
eas about our future work. However, if all of you feel the same way as Seth does...”
He hissed under his breath at my complete dismissal and clenched his fists harder. Lina was looking at me with curiosity.
“… then I won't take the job. I think it's only fair.”
“Excellent thought, Thomas.” She uncrossed her arms and moved away from both Seth and me. “Does anyone object to my decision? Is there anyone else who believes Thomas is too young and inexperienced to handle the position? It's your one and only chance to say if it bothers you. However, I'll not tolerate further speculations on my decisions after today. So? Anyone?”
I was positive Seth wouldn't get any support but the silence of my co-workers still filled me with relief. It went on for a little more than a minute that passed agonizingly slowly, or at least, it passed that way for Seth. His expression of defeat and fury was too cute and I couldn't help but gloat on the inside.
Finally, Lina cleared her throat.
“It's settled. Your new contract will be drawn up by tomorrow, Thomas. I'm releasing you from your current tasks for the week until you’ve had your full induction from Marielle.”
Seth slammed his cup down on the table and leaned in to Lina with raised fists. I was about to jump to her rescue when the bastard retreated. He looked at her with contempt and uttered through gritted teeth,
“Congratulations, Lina. You're officially turning in to everything you used to hate.”
He stormed out of the room. Lina turned her eyes back to the iPad and gripped it for support. She'd been confident and steady until Seth’s last words but now her expression was crestfallen.
I was torn between the conflicting desires to hold and comfort her and give her a rough spanking in front of everyone for allowing that low life's words to get to her. Either option would have been inappropriate so I satisfied myself with merely expressing my gratitude for the career opportunity.
[Unorthodox 01.0] Unorthodox Therapy Page 16