The Storm

Chapter 32

Atlas

I mean the kids are gone...but I still can't fuck my wife all day and night long.

All because I have fucking work to do.

The representative of my HR is currently holding a presentation, talking about the new relationship concept between co-workers. With that I mean, what is allowed and what isn't.

I know I've said I worked on crossing the no-relationship-rule four years ago, but I've never gotten any further in four years. It had multiple reasons, but we're here now. Not because I finally found time for it, but because my wife is forcing me to get it done.

"So if two parties are consenting to start a relationship in any way, HR will have to get informed immediately, before anything starts. Workers will have to sign a contract to make it official," Ms. Lexington says. "However, there are lines we simply cannot cross yet. Relationship in the same department."

It may sound stupid, but I really don't like to entertain the thought of two of my employees no longer working their jobs as they should, simply because things between them didn't work out and now they're on bad terms. This is one of the many reasons why I never even wanted to allow relationships at all.

People tend to get sloppy with their ex around. Or too competitive. Either of these options show on their work. Being competitive is okay, but not in the sense of being better than an ex-partner. Not when it comes to business.

There'll be fights like who gets more papers done in less time, or who can solve a problem more quickly. These competitions turn into bad work. Bad outcomes. And I will not let this happen.

So as long as the relationships aren't in one department, they'll be fine on that note.

"Any more questions on that topic?" Ms. Lexington asks, presenting herself as more confident than I know she is. Ms. Lexington is one of the quiet ones. She's shy and jumps at sudden confrontations. But she's really good at her job, and that's all that really matters. "Jeremy."

It doesn't surprise me that Jeremy Crawford has a question. He's been silently drooling over someone for years, everyone with a working sight could see that. "Are there any ways to get around the non-same-department-relationship rules?"

Ms. Lexington looks through the computer right at me. We haven't discussed this topic properly yet, but broadly enough for her to give an answer. So when I nod, she turns back to Crawford. "We're working on a contract for that too. There will most definitely be one party that will have to...let's say face a punishment in case of a breakup."

I wouldn't have said punishment, but it sort of fits. It's more of a precaution to protect my company. Like I said, I don't want in-department fights.

"That would be?" Crawford asks carefully.

"One of the parties will have to sign an extra contract, stating they're alright with immediate dismissal the second the relationship ends."

"This is about possible fights at work, isn't it? So what if someone from PR dated one of the IT's and now the IT-person won't give the PR one all the necessary information when something happens?"

That's a good question, I admit. But I don't listen to what Ms. Lexington answers because just when she opens her mouth, I hear a loud thud, from downstairs. Correction, a lot of these noises sounding like stuff falling down.

Without thinking, I jump up and sprint out of my office to find out what the hell happened. Okay, let's be honest, I'm less concerned about what happened and more concerned about if Sierra got hurt.