by Cara Adams
A woman with an American accent answered her call, put her on hold after she said what she wanted, then transferred the call to a man who spoke faultless German. Halfway through explaining the job to her, he asked her if she understood him, in Alemannic. As soon as she replied he switched to that language, then to Austro-Bavarian. By now she understood they were screening the calls so that only people who could speak all the languages they wanted applied. Instantly she changed to English and answered his next comment in that language.
The American woman came back online and spoke in English. “Are you available for an interview in the next half hour?”
“I’ll need to go home and collect my CV and references. Where do I have to go for the interview?”
The address was only twenty minutes from where she was, but by the time she went home, printed off her documents, and got there it’d take her an hour. And that was without allowing herself some time to update her CV a little, which she probably ought to do. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea calling straight away.
“Don’t worry about bringing your documents at this stage. I’d much rather see how people tackle the tasks they’re set instead,” replied the woman.
“In that case I can be there in thirty minutes.”
“What’s your name?”
Leonie deliberately hadn’t said. Superstitiously crossing her fingers she replied, “Leonie Baum.”
There was a moment’s silence. Then the woman said, “Any relation to Leon Baum from the construction company?”
“Yes. He’s my father.”
“We can talk about that after we see how you go on the tasks we need done. Drive into the basement parking lot. The security guard there will be expecting you.”
“Thank you.” Leonie sat and stared at her phone for a few minutes before remembering she was on a tight schedule. She glanced down at the clothes she was wearing. Dark brown dress pants, with a matching jacket, a green shirt, and sober brown walking shoes. All her work shoes were ones she could walk and stand in all day if necessary, since she tended to be on her feet a lot. Well, too bad. The rest of her outfit was neat enough.
She grabbed her purse and left the food court, wondering what kind of “tasks” the woman would want her to do. Use a few different computer programs she supposed. Well, she’d had to learn a lot of different computer programs during her course. Hopefully whatever knowledge she needed would come back to her under pressure.
She pulled up to the guard’s barrier at the office building with eight minutes to spare.
“ID?”
She rummaged in her purse and held up her driver’s license.
“Go down one level and park against the back wall. There are several vacant spaces there. Someone will escort you in the elevator.”
“Thank you.” She drove slowly down to the lower level, parked as instructed, and walked to the elevator.
The blue-eyed blond man leaning against the wall beside the elevator smiled at her in a friendly way, and said, “Ms. Baum?”
“That’s right.” But she couldn’t help thinking that despite having the same coloring, he wasn’t nearly as delicious as Brody.
She also noticed he had to swipe an ID card to make the elevator work. That was interesting security for a company. There was also something naggingly familiar about him, although she was sure they hadn’t been formally introduced, and that she didn’t know his name. Oh well, likely it’d come to her.
They stepped into the elevator and once again he leaned on the wall. It seemed to be his favorite position, she thought, then wondered if it was deliberate as it put a space between them.
“Who’s your favorite Austrian poet?” he asked in Alemannic.
Oh right so the interview had begun already. “I don’t really have one. Perhaps Peter Rosegger because he was a teacher and visionary as well as a poet.”
“Have you ever been to Graz?” the man asked in English.
“Yes. I’ve walked around a couple of the parks there. Schlossberg Park and Stadtpark. I like looking at fountains and statues,” she replied in the same language. What she didn’t say was that she’d been there for business meetings and that her walks in the parks had been strictly on her meal breaks. It was only after she’d answered the man she remembered Peter Rosegger had been born in Styria and Graz was the capital of Styria. So his questions had been logical. It just took her a minute or two to keep up with him. Well, two could play at that game. Switching to Austro-Bavarian she asked, “And you? Who is your favorite poet?”
“Oh, good question. I studied T.S. Eliot and Allen Ginsberg in school, but I actually quite like Shakespeare.”
The elevator beeped and the man ushered her out into a foyer area. A woman with long, curly brown hair and green eyes almost the same as hers was waiting for them. And that’s when she recognized them. These people had been at the funeral the previous day. What’s more, they’d been right up the front with a big dark-haired man who exuded power. Apparently she’d just applied for a job with a company of shape-shifters. Well, that was fine.
“You were at the funeral yesterday. Representing your father, or in your own right?”
“Representing Baum Construction, the company.”
While they were talking the woman led them into a small office, and waved Leonie to a seat. “Perhaps we’d better begin with why you want to work for us for a few months instead of for Baum Construction.”
The woman was quick-witted. She’d repeated Leonie’s words instead of saying “your father” again. But would she believe Leonie? Oh well, she had to try. “Ever since I was a child I expected to work for Baum Construction. Until yesterday morning I assumed that since I had studied business and was working in the company, had been working for the company part-time ever since I was old enough, I would work beside my father and eventually take over the company. Yesterday my father told me the Board of Directors was adamant a female wasn’t appropriate for construction work. So today I thought I’d find a job that was suitable for a woman, until I decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.”
“And you have experience managing an office and office workers?” asked the woman.
“It’s what I’ve been doing for the past twelve months.”
“My name is Josie Smith and this is Steve Latham. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”
As if they hadn’t been asking questions since before she got into the elevator. But that’s what she was here for after all. “Of course.”
Twenty minutes later Leonie was pretty sure Josie knew everything about her that there was to know, but now she was sitting at the desk paging through a maze of spreadsheets and she was confident she could do the job.
“Most of the data entry workers are students who will be on their vacations. Some are ready to begin now, others don’t finish until 30 June. But there are also a handful of older people, semiretired, who are willing to help. They could start work immediately. Most of the documents are in German, but others are in Austro-Bavarian and some in Alemannic, others again are in English. Anything not in either German or English has to be translated into one of those languages, depending on the skills of the data entry worker,” said Josie.
Leonie nodded. That made sense to her. German was the official language of Austria and more than half the people also spoke English. But both Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic were also widely spoken.
Josie handed Leonie a sheet of paper. “This is the confidentiality agreement. Take it home, read through it, and if you’re happy to sign it, be here at eight tomorrow ready to begin work.”
Leonie stood up and smiled. “I’ll be here. Thank you. How will I get up in the elevator? Will the security guard call it for me?”
She noticed the tiniest hint of a smile curve Josie’s lips. “I think you’ll suit this company very well. When you arrive the security guard will ensure someone meets you at the elevator and shows you to your office. I look forward to working with you, Leonie. I’m glad we’ve met.
”
Steve took her back to her car and Leonie drove straight to a small private hotel she knew not far from the office building. It was one where Baum Construction guests had stayed in the past. Even though it was tourist season the owner remembered her and offered her a small suite indefinitely at a very reasonable rate. Leonie accepted. She went home and packed what she thought she’d need for an extended stay, and also took all her favorite personal items from her room. These she locked in the trunk of her car before returning to the office. In the office she cleaned out her desk, removed all her personal email addresses and files from the computer, and once again left.
Only when she was safe in her new home did she sit and read the confidentiality agreement. It was very similar to the one Baum Construction used. She signed it, laid out her clothing for the next day, and filled the tub with hot water. So much had happened in twenty-four hours. What she really wanted to do was think about Brody and Roman. Roman and Brody. She’d really like to date them. Could she do that? Date two men who’d stolen—well, borrowed—her father’s equipment? She’d left the company, and now, she just had to email her father and let him know before closing her company email account down.
Was she free now to get to know them? She wanted to. She no longer worked for her father. She had another job, albeit a temporary one. But while she was working for the shape-shifters she’d be able to look for another job and this time she’d have a reference, too.
But what about the two men she’d met? She was attracted to them, but that didn’t mean it was mutual. They’d seemed to her to be sincere and genuine, but maybe they were just intent on getting away with their theft. Maybe they didn’t like her at all. It was just an act. Perhaps she was reading too much into people’s faces and actions instead of understanding their deep, underlying reasoning. After all, an entire Board of Directors had decided she was of no value to the company and she’d never predicted that would happen. The pain of that rejection had hurt her more deeply than she could have imagined. Perhaps she was just transferring her own wishes onto the personalities of Roman and Brody and they weren’t interested in her at all.
After all, her own father had basically tossed her aside. He’d always been a bit of a cold person, but she’d understood how busy he was building up the company. She’d always assumed he loved her as much as she loved him. Now she wondered if she meant no more to him than any other reasonably efficient worker.
* * * *
It’d been a real rush for Roman to get from his final examination to St. Stephen’s Cathedral at eleven forty-five. By the time he’d parked his motorcycle semi-legally on the sidewalk, and raced to the main entry, it was probably forty-six or even forty-seven past, but still properly before noon which was the actual contact time. In case anyone had been watching him hurrying, he looked at his watch and smiled, as if to find he was early, then walked across to a bench and sat down. He tried not to sit in exactly the same place too often, although as a student he could legitimately be waiting for someone here or simply spending an hour or two in the sunshine.
As always when he was here he challenged himself to recognize people he’d seen before. His idea was that if anyone was watching him, he wanted to know. He was supposed to be invisible, just a blind cutout for anyone needing to speak with their Alpha.
Roman’s studies were now over. He felt quite confident about his final exam and knew he had a good grade average on all the papers he’d submitted. He’d taken his studies seriously, determined to honor his Alpha and pass. It wasn’t just that he hated the thought of his Alpha sending him home for failing in his studies, but that he actively wanted to learn and be of use to the pack. Turning the castle into a business was an enormous proposition. There were more than one hundred wolves in the pack to be fed and provided for, and if learning about business management would help, he was ready to do his part.
Brody had an examination this afternoon, so Roman planned to stay here for a while now like a lazy student. When they were both back at their room tomorrow afternoon, finally they could plan a date with Ms. Leonie Baum. Assuming she’d agree of course.
Since two men needed to share a woman, it was good that he and Brody got along so well together. They’d shared a single room all semester at university now for three years, and seldom became cross with each other. There’d been a bit of adjustment at the very beginning, but for a long time now they’d understood each other’s needs and desires. Roman thought it was really very clever of the Alpha sending them out like this. The two men became good friends, used to each other and used to working together. Then, when they found their woman, they were already used to sharing and cooperating, and that gave them a good start for their mated lives together.
Roman kept his gaze on the entry to the cathedral while his mind sorted through a range of possibilities for a date with their woman. A movie or a meal were the most obvious suggestions, but he’d rather do something a little less predictable. Except he couldn’t think of anything just yet.
He stretched his neck looking up at the sky very briefly, before returning his gaze to the entryway. Something caught his eye and he looked back. A hot air balloon. It was unusual to see one in the middle of the day. Mostly they flew across the city very early in the morning. But that would be a great idea for a date. Something fun and different and something they would all experience together. Something to talk about afterward as they had brunch together perhaps.
At twelve-twenty he stopped watching the entrance and began searching through his phone for companies that had hot air balloon rides. One was very expensive, although it came with a champagne breakfast, but two others seemed reasonable to him. He and Brody were better off than many students, as the pack paid for all their accommodation and fees in return for them keeping watch for messages. Also, they’d both lived quite economically, able to save part of their allowance each week.
For months Roman had been looking forward to returning home to the castle once they’d completed their exams. Now, with the death of the Supreme Alpha he was aware their own Alpha might want them to stay here over summer. If they were able to form a relationship with Ms. Baum, he wouldn’t even mind having to remain in Vienna. So perhaps it was all for the best.
* * * *
One of the mates of the new Alpha of the Vienna Pack arrived at the cathedral at one minute before noon. He went inside and wandered around with a notepad and pencil sketching a couple of the statues, then left at twelve ten. Behind him, but well back as if trying to stay out of sight, was Gustav Weber, the dead Alpha’s second in command. To Brody, it looked very much as if Gustav was following the man, waiting to see if he met anyone. Brody was sitting in his favorite place at a table where he could see inside the open door of the building. Simply by sitting up straighter, or slouching down, he had an excellent range of vision without moving. And he was as sure as he could be no one spoke to either man.
Still, as soon as they’d both left he did as he was supposed to, sending the photographs of the two people to their Alpha with no comment.
Only the Alpha knew what his arrangement with each person was. Brody and Roman’s job was to observe and report back.
Brody climbed to his feet and walked slowly to the bus stop. He had the public transportation app on his phone, but traveled this way often enough to know there was only five minutes until the next bus would arrive. It was long enough to see if anyone tried to follow him, but no one did. He got off one stop before his room, and walked through the university grounds to where he’d arranged to meet Roman for lunch. Roman was bringing the food, and then they were going to invite Leonie on a date with them. The hot air balloon company had space for them tomorrow or the next day, and Brody hoped like hell she’d agree to come with them.
He’d never been in a hot air balloon, and he thought Roman was brilliant to think of the idea. Of course, Leonie had to say yes. To be honest, she hadn’t exactly seen them at their best. He could only hope she was as nice as she seemed to be,
and would forgive them and agree to the date, even if she saw it as a sort of peace offering, which he supposed it was.
Brody had just settled himself on the grass, his back against the broad trunk of a tree, when Roman joined him, two boxes of Thai food in his hands.
“Oh, yum. Good choice.”
“We’re absolutely spoiled here for meal choices. But I’m looking forward to going home and eating a big bowl of werewolf stew.”
Brody laughed. “Me, too.”
The meal was a running joke at the castle. The meat was beef and there were thick chunks of potatoes, carrots, onions, turnips, and other seasonal vegetables added to the pot. Whether or not the tourists at the castle actually believed the stew was made of wolf meat, it was a very popular seller and was never off the menu. It was hot, tasty, and filling, with lots of spices. However, right now, his pad Thai was delicious.
They were both silent as they ate, then Roman took out his cell phone with deliberation. Brody nodded. It was Roman, the Dom, who’d taken the initiative and given Leonie his cell phone number, therefore it was only fair that he make the call. However, Brody knew his friend would have the conversation on speaker so he could participate.
Deliberately Roman wiped his palms on the knees of his jeans then picked up the cell phone and punched in her number. Brody’s heart was pounding with anticipation and his own hands were sweaty. Deliberately he took long, deep breaths in through his nose, forcing himself to be calm. But all the time his mind was chanting, “Answer. Please answer. Then say yes. Answer. Please answer. Then say yes.”
“Leonie.”
“Ah. Ms. Baum, it’s Roman, Roman Meyer. We met, ah—”
“I remember.”
“Oh, good. Brody and I were wondering if you would be so kind as to accept our invitation to take a hot air balloon flight over Vienna tomorrow morning.”
“A hot air balloon? Tomorrow? That’s something different.”