I sashay back into the room. I had intended to bring up a client account and show them some of the requests and improvements Alan and I manufactured in response. I decide to save that for tomorrow and spend some one-on-one time with them. It's my best chance at setting Elliot straight.
"You two, out." I look at Suki and Lex and nod to the door. Elliot looks a bit nervous, but then his smug smile returns. That smile is getting on my nerves.
Suki seems concerned. "What should we do?"
"Start reading our client profiles. You can sit out in my cubicle." I instruct. Lex looks between me and Elliot, trying to read if there is anything actually going on between us. I snap at him. "Don't worry, Lex. Everyone will get their alone time with me."
He seems embarassed that I called him out. He and Suki leave and I shut the door and lock it. I remove my jacket and toss it on the table and stride in front of Elliot. His eyes trail my body and he rubs his scraggly chin hairs. I sit on the table in front of him and quickly kick my boot up into his chest.
It scares him more than anything. "Oof."
I let him have it. "Get this through your thick head. I don't want anything with you, you sure as hell don't cheer me up or make me feel better, and that is not going to change no matter how long I know you. You are going to stop talking about me in ways that insinuate anything is going on between us and you're going to stop ogling me like a creeper. I'm giving you this warning once, the second time won't be so nice. Now do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, ma'am." He nods, barely able to look me in the eye. I drop my foot, realizing I left a mark on his shirt. At this point, I don't really care.
"Good. Now let's talk business." I spend the next hour grilling him about his credentialing and skill set. I'm moderately impressed. At least he has some redeeming qualities. "Send in Suki next, please."
Elliot leaves, tail tucked. I feel accomplished. Suki comes in and literally drains me. She is high-energy, and as I come to understand, highly skilled. She far outranks Elliot, and now I know how Mitch overcame his misogynistic tendencies and actually hired a woman. She is amazingly over-qualified and underpaid in this position.
"Suki, can I be honest for a moment?" I ask. She nods enthusiastically. "Why in the hell are you in this position? You could be leading your own tech firm with your credentials and skillsets."
She smiles shyly and peers up at me from under her large hat, which gives her a unique style. "My English is barrier. Communication is sometimes struggle. Creates delays."
"Well we're going to get you lots of practice and maybe try to get you out of here. You deserve better." I admit.
Suki blushes. "I like you, Kinsey. You good, open, even-tempered boss."
I laugh and shake my head. "I'm not your boss. I'm just training you. Let's step out here real quick."
We walk over to where Zander and Opal are click-clacking away. They stop when I approach. "You two have a new job."
Opal sasses. "I didn't ask for more work and you're not my boss."
"You'll like this. All I want you to do is talk to Suki." I say.
"I volunteer." Zander smiles shyly at Suki. His boyish baby face, a hallmark of his Hawaiian heritage, is framed by his dark fringed hair, and I can tell Suki is buying his charm.
"Oh, I got this." Opal also agrees.
I smile and walk away. Now it's time for Lex. I walk up to my cubicle. He is hunched over, reading profiles. Elliot is nowhere to be seen.
YOU ARE READING
Technically Speaking
Roman d'amour*** COMPLETED STORY *** With a rough past that sent her life down an undesired path, Kinsey has made it work. She's in a job she mostly likes and excels in. She's a bit aimless in love, but who doesn't go through a time like that in their lifetime? ...
