❛𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒... ❜ | 𝟏𝟖+

𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝓇ℯℯ | 𝓊𝓅 ℴ𝓃 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒽𝒾ℊ𝒽𝓁𝒾𝓃ℯ

Sam's POV:
I grasp the coffee cup my receptionist placed down on my desk with a firm grip, dismissing the radiating heat it gives off. "Is there anything i can do for you Ms Dalton, before i go?" "Yes, please could you send Ms Anna Schuyler up to my office as soon as she arrives?" "Of course." "Thank you, Hainsley." she closes my office door quietly, and i lean back in my chair, drumming my nails on my coffee cup. I stare at the CV Anna gave me last week in awe. "She's intelligent, she's stubborn, and has a mouth on her. Heh, reminds me of someone." i take a long sip of my beverage and sooner than later, Anna dips her head into my office. "You wanted to see me, Sam?" "Yes, i did. Take a seat." she takes her time in situating herself onto the leather chair that stands opposite mine. I tilt my head with a sparkle in my eye. "Did you call me up here to stare at my pretty face, or did you actually want something?" i can help but guffaw quietly with laughter at her wittiness. "As much as that may be true, i called you up here to ask if you wanted to see my Fortune 500 company up-close and personal before you get to work. We don't want you wandering around this place like a lost puppy, heaven forbid." "You want to take me on a tour?" "Is that such a bad idea?" i say, taking a sip, "Well-" "Unless you have better things to be doing than accommodating to your new workplace. As a consequence, maybe you'll get a taste of what i actually do around here rather than thinking i sit on my ass and drink coffee." "Mm, really? Well, i would love to work under you. In any position..." i take a second to answer, not trusting myself with what i might say in the heat of the moment. "I don't doubt it. You're very... capable." "Thank you, Sam. Or if you're going to be my mentor today, should I go back to 'Ms Dalton'?" with a smile, i say " 'Sam' is fine. Now come on, we have work to do."

As we walk through the main lobby of Dalton Enterprises, heads turn as they see me walking with Anna. "Morning, Ms Dalton. I made a submission to the patent folder whenever you have a moment to review." "Excellent. Taylor, have you met Anna Schuyler? She's our new Head of Environmental Chemistry." "I haven't had the pleasure. I hope you'll stay with us for good. The last head of the division decided to quit when things got tough." "Of course she will. Anna has something i like to call 'New York grit'." the receptionist interrupts, "Call for you on line one, Ms Dalton." "Be right there." I nod at Anna before leaving her and Taylor to talk, still hearing their conversation. "So, a chemist! Are you looking to invent or explore?" Taylor asks. "I see myself inventing in a lab. The world is constantly changing, and i want to be apart of that." "Same here! Are there any ideas in particular you want to put on the proverbial table?" "I've always seen a challenge in creating a material that doesn't break down over time, but is completely safe inside a human body." "Hey, that could be an industry game changer. You think big, huh?" "I don't see the point of dreaming small. Someone's going to invent that hyper-resilient 'skinsulation' so it might as well be me." "Spoken like a future boss." "Should i be worried about my job?" i smirk with a light hand on the small of Anna's back, making her jump as i rejoin the group. "No, i'd keep you around to smooth the transition of power." Taylor chuckles before looking down at her watch. "Oh, i'd better run if i don't want to be late for a meeting. It was nice to meet you, Anna." she waves as Taylor leaves, and follows me to my private elevator. I slide my cell phone out of my left pocket as it loudly rings. I answer with a grimace, "What do you want? I've told you to stop ringing me. I don't give a fuck if you're having 'problems', you're not my responsibility anymore. Goodbye." i frustratingly hang up the phone and turn to see Anna bewildered. "Sorry about that." "Another one of your employees not knowing their place?" after my righteous encounter, Anna manages to soothe me with a chuckle. "You could say that. What do you say we grab brunch together? Even though i don't believe in meal names being combined. We could eat away from the prying eyes of my employees. Honestly, after the morning i've had in the office, i could do with it. What do you say?" "Let's go." a grin breaks out on my face, "Excellent. I'll ring the company chef to pull something together for us."