In Your Corner | ✓

Twenty

"Honestly, Anita, I'm banking on you being ten times more fun that Little Choi here," Jonny drawls, the arm that's over the Hungarian girl's shoulder pulling her into his side.

I just look at her, raising my eyebrows, unimpressed. "It's almost as if he thinks he can pit the girls against each other here."

Anita grins at me, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Hoes before bros, Jonny," she tells him with a fake pout, patting his chest lightly and pulling away from him.

I roar with laughter at the flipping of the expression, as she makes her way back to me and look at Jonny with triumph on my face. "So there, you silly man."

"You know, I'm beginning to think that hiring you was a bad idea," he exclaims dramatically, his eyes narrowed at the new girl. "I don't like the way you're ganging up on me here."

She just shrugs mercilessly. "Don't dish it if you can't take it. Isn't that a ground rule?"

Andrei chooses that moment to join us, amusement painted on his features. "I think I'd give up now, Jonny. These two together can be absolutely ruthless."

I turn to my new partner in crime, laughing. I've always loved working here, but I'm such a fan of the new dynamic that Anita brings. There's one more person to joke around with, one who's much more likely to back me up.

Andrei worried about the dynamic between us, but I'm certain it was for nothing. I'm loving it so far and from what I can see, the others are, too.

They wouldn't whine like this if they didn't actually enjoy the jokes. It's all good-natured.

Anita sends the boys a sassy smirk. "We make a good team, that's for sure."

"Shame that she's skipping out on Wednesdays after this," Jonny grins smugly. "Now you're going to have no one to back you up, then."

"I'm not afraid."

My eyes drift to my father, who's walking towards us, a smile on his face too. Everyone labelled the choice of hiring Anita as a big risk, but I think we're all enjoying reaping the benefits of it. She's a quick learner and, importantly, loves to try new things.

She'll be as good as the rest of us in no time, I'm sure of it.

Not to mention, she's just fitting right in. She gets on well with Andrei and Jonny, but Dad and Pat absolutely dote on her, too. It's amusing to watch actually, the way they soften around her.

"You know, you'd all be much more useful to me if you were actually working, rather than standing around taunting each other," Dad sighs, crossing his arms over his chest and trying to look intimidating, but it doesn't really work.

It's not only the fact that he's a lot smaller than both Andrei and Jonny, but he's such a soft man that he couldn't carry a threat if he tried.

"I'm just trying to keep the girls in check, but they're being a bit troublesome," Jonny groans, shaking his head as though it's a big problem.

The upward flicker of Dad's lips gives him away. "You sure you aren't the problem?"

I try to hold in my laughter, as he takes our side. Jonny's such an easy wind up that even Dad can't resist taking a shot.

Jonny throws his hands up in the air, whining. "Honestly, I can't catch a break around here," he mumbles, shaking his head. "I'm going back to work."

"If I knew that having two women around here to gang up on you was what it took to get you to actually do some work, I'd have hired Anita years ago!" Dad calls after him.