Page 25 of The Relationship Clause

I’m not sure what this says about me, but for now, I’m choosing to see it as a positive and not a negative.

My plan is detailed and thorough:

Step one: Make everyone in the office love me.

Step two: Make myself indispensable.

Step three: Find the corporate mole and become Mr. Ferguson’s hero.

Step four: Repeat steps one and two as much as necessary until I’m hired full-time.

Okay, so it isn’t that specific, but I’m already working on step one.

The way to everyone’s heart is through their stomach. That’s why I called in an extra-big order at Pete’s for the office. I know they usually only get a big order when they have their monthly meetings, but I don’t care.

“Gotta make an impression on my first day,” I say.

“I thought yesterday was your first day.”

“Oh, yeah, but I’m not counting it because it was all the usual first-day stuff like talking to HR, signing paperwork, setting up payroll, you know.”

Goodies in hand, including Mr. Ferguson’s coffee with Mr. TDC written on the side, I head to the office. I noticed yesterday, Owen didn’t have his normal coffee. I’m choosing to partly attribute his grumpy attitude to this. I mean, I know he’s normally a little uptight, but yesterday, he seemed more uptight than usual. There’s no way that was my fault, (cough, cough), so I’m blaming the lack of caffeine.

When I make it to Em3rge, I put on my sunniest smile and charge inside, reminding myself I belong here. As I walk through the open room, I make it a point to say hello to everyone I can and point out the pastries I’m holding.

I started working on memorizing names yesterday, and so far, I have Stefan and Tobias from marketing, Silvia from customer service, Reece from sales, and Summer from HR. There’s about forty-ish employees here so I still have a ways to go, and that’s not even counting the floor beneath us. Apparently, that’s a whole different section of the company run by Owen’s business partner, comprising tech and warehouse. I’ll have to figure out a way to get down there eventually because the mole could be there too.

The pastries work their magic.

Soon, I have almost everyone in the office following me like the Pied Piper. I lead them to the conference room where I lay out my goods, opening the boxes with a flourish. The scent of freshly baked bread and sugar intensifies.

“Oh my gosh, Junie, you are a lifesaver!” Kiera materializes in the room and nudges my shoulder. “I forgot to have breakfast this morning.”

“What’s the occasion?” asks Summer. She’s sidled up to me and Kiera. Her name was easy to memorize since I’ve heard Kiera reference her more than a few times. They’ve been pretty good office buddies since Kiera started working here, and I feel like I almost know her.

“No occasion,” I say. “Just wanted to do something nice for everyone.”

“Well, way to make a good impression. You’re a keeper,” Reece says.

Several other people make similar remarks.

Soon, we’re basically having a party, and I am the queen of the room. Oh, a tiara? For me? You shouldn’t have.

Muahahaha, my evil plan is working! Today the office, tomorrow, the world! Mr. Ferguson is going to be so impress—

“What is going on here?” asks a deep voice. “I didn’t call a meeting.”

Mr. Ferguson’s tall, broad frame takes up the doorway, and his grouchy demeanor is in full grouch mode. Several people in the room jump, but no one offers an explanation. His eyes take in the scene, the pastries, and he zeros in on me

“Miss Cousins.” His eyes flash, and I kid you not, it’s like catching a glimpse of a jaguar’s eyes in dense jungle undergrowth. “Please see me in my office. The rest of you, take your pastries and get back to work. Now.”

Most everyone listens, hopping to action immediately, with the exception of Kiera who grabs another pastry, takes a seat at the conference table, and leans back, chowing down like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

I grab her brother’s coffee and the last pastry in the box (yay!) and run for Mr. Ferguson’s already-retreating back, but Kiera stops me before I can get far.

“What’s that?” Kiera asks.

“Your brother’s coffee.”

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