Page 19 of On the Rocks

“We’ve also got a sensory evaluation area,” Chris said, pointing out two climate-controlled booths. “So tasters can assess the aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel of new spirits we’re working on.”

I peeked in. Booths like these were usually equipped with specialized glassware and lighting so tasters could detect subtle nuances and product characteristics. I turned around, coming face to face with a glass-enclosed room, offering a panoramic view of the lab.

“That’s for the tours,” Dot said. “Sometimes the big-wigs like to see us in action. But I think you’ll like this the best.” She waved me toward a stainless steel door. “We call this the pantry.”

She swung the door open, revealing a walk-in room stocked with ingredients. A soft sound of delight escaped before I could stop it. There were shelves upon shelves of mixology supplies—liquor, flavored syrups, bitters and extracts, garnishes, spices, and all the bases and mixers I could imagine.

“We’ve got two climate-controlled spaces here and here,” Dot said, “for the perishable ingredients. Your citrus fruits, berries, fresh herbs, purees. Dairy or specialty ingredients that require refrigeration go in this one. And a freezer here for ice. You know, all that good stuff.”

“Holy shit,” I said as Dot closed the door. “This place is…It’s incredible.”

“I know, right?” Dot squeezed my arm. “That’s what I said when I first saw it too. Pretty sure I almost cried.”

“She cries at all sorts of things,” Chris said. “Cute cat videos mostly. So that’s not really a reflection on anything.”

Dot ignored him. “This will be your space here. We tidied it up for you.”

“Thanks,” I said, settling in at the workstation, feeling unreasonably touched at the little gifts they’d left to brighten the space for me—a coffee mug they must’ve special ordered with my Masked Mixer logo and a pen holder in the shape of a liquor bottle. Part of the reason I’d been nervous was because I was certain the product developers would be territorial or offended that I was brought in at the last minute to work over them. But so far, they seemed thrilled.

“I’ve gotta run for a bit,” Allie said as her watch beeped. “But you’re in good hands here. The team can answer any questionsyou have, or at least direct you to someone who can answer them. Are you good?”

“Yeah, thanks for showing me around,” I said.

Allie backed toward the door. “I’ll catch you at lunch.”

When she was gone, Javeed clapped his hands together. “So, I’ve got a team meeting on the books for tomorrow afternoon. Aiden said to give you the day to familiarize yourself with the lab and then you could start chatting through your vision with us.”

I noted that he called Aiden by his first name. Not boss or CEO or even Mr. Callihan. “He doesn’t want us to jump into it today?”

Javeed shook his head. “Nah, he was super chill when he came down to talk to me. Wanted to make sure you were settled and comfortable.”

That sounded like the opposite of the man I’d encountered this past week. “Is he always so…reasonable?”

“I’ve always thought him to be incredibly approachable for a CEO,” Javeed said.

“Approachable?” I swallowed the laugh of disbelief that shot up my throat. Were we talking about the same guy?

“I mean, he might come across as a hardass sometimes,” Chris said. “But he’s always got the team’s back, you know?”

“And he works hard to make sure we’ve got a good work/life balance,” Dot piped up.

Allie would have given me an “I told you so” look if she was still here. I pursed my lips. I sort of figured chatting about how big of a jerk Aiden was would have been my bonding activity with my new coworkers, but he seemed to have them Stepfordedinto believing he was some kind of great guy. Maybe that meant they didn’t have much contact with him—which would be a good thing. It would mean I could enjoy this amazing workspace and these surprisingly nice coworkers without the Specter of Boyfriends Past hanging over my head. And Ididthink I was going to enjoy myself here. The team seemed receptive to my inclusion in the project, and I was eager to get started. And if I was being honest, I was secretly impressed with what Aiden had accomplished.

Whoa, wait! Had that thought just spiraled through my mind?

How was this the same guy who’d stomped on my heart all those years ago?

“Lunch!” Chris announced a few hours later. I’d been so busy exploring the lab and writing down ideas that I’d hardly noticed the time passing.

“We take lunch seriously here,” Dot said, looping her arm through mine, pulling me away from my workstation. “Have you seen the cafeteria yet?”

“We walked past it on the tour, but we didn’t actually stop in,” I said.

I followed the team down to the cafeteria, and my jaw dropped again. It resembled a food court in a mall more than it did any office cafeteria I’d ever seen. There were dozens of food stations and massive circular tables. “This is…a lot?”

Dot laughed. “If you’ve got any allergies or dietary restrictions, don’t hesitate to let the chefs know. They’re good about making alterations and letting you know what to steer clear of.”

“Right. And this is?—”

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