Author's Note:
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Happy reading!
"Dev, I'm telling you this is it. There's no better way for you to get into it, trust me. Just give her a call, would you?"
I sighed deeply. "Fuck it, whatever. I'll do it today. Now will you let me enjoy my fucking holiday, finally?"
"Yeah, sure. Enjoy your sad little resort retreat, you 9 to 5 slave."
"Fuck you, Sam."
"Love you too buddy. Bye."
"Bye."
I hung up and dropped my phone on the scratched up plastic table sitting next to my slightly uncomfortable deck lounger. Too uncomfortable for what I paid. And that was true for most of my trip. And my life, really. A sad resort retreat it was. But nice too. It was nice to have some sun instead of rain, for one. And to not worry about groceries or household chores for a week. I was five days in and already dreading my flight back to the Netherlands on Sunday. I was lucky enough to have another week to myself upon my return, even if I had no idea what to do with those days. And then I'd go back to my sad dead-end job, in my sad office, with my sad, sad co-workers and even sadder boss. All was sad. Especially the fact that I was complaining to myself how sad it all was, even when I knew that there were people who would kill for my security and comforts. The sad truth of Western capitalism. The rat race that everyone wants so desperately to participate in. Until they do and realise it's a race to the death. I really couldn't be more grateful to Sam for handing me a possible out. But fuck if I'd ever admit it to him.
At 26 years old, there were still a lot of things I had to learn about life. And how to take a compliment or a favour was one of them. Even from my best friend. I closed ny eyes and thought about what I'd say to Tania. She was the person Sam had told me about, and the one who could possibly get me out of living the rest of my life as a mildly depressed waste of oxygen. As the Aegean Sea's waves softly brushed against the white sands of the private beach that was attached to the resort, a voice in my head told me to '
Just do it
.' What the hell did I have to lose, really? Sam must have known me even better than I thought, calling me up while I was trying to relax in Turkey. He must have realised that I would never do something like this, calling Tania, in-between days. While I was stuck in my daily rut. But here, surrounded by all these resort-goers that also lived from holiday to holiday, and then seeing the locals living the exact opposite way, I felt that strange limbo-esque feeling creeping in. The one that you only get when you leave regular life behind for a while. When you feel like anything is possible, because you're watching proof of that all around you.
So, I dialled. And she picked up on the first ring, making my breath catch in my throat at her chirpy greeting.
"Devon! I was expecting your call today! Did Sam discuss the details with you already? Or do you need a rundown?"
"Uh... Hi. Tania, I presume?"
"Bingo, sir. Judging by your tone, Sam's just throwing you into the deep end, hm?"
"He is."
"Ah well, it's lot's more fun that way, anyway. Let me get you up to speed then. You sitting down?"
I chuckled at her blatant enthusiasm. "Yes, I am. Please, go on."
And she did. Tania proceeded to tell me all about the company, the current project she and her team were occupied, her thoughts on my previous work and how she believed it would fit in 'Magnificently' with her vision. Within less than half an hour I was offered more than double my current salary, relocation and housing in a two-bedroom apartment in the outskirts of The Hague and a Golf to get around.
"Can I think about it and call you back with an answer?"
"Sure, just don't take too long. I can give you a day."
"Thank you, Tania. I really appreciate this. Thanks."
"A friend of Sam is a friend of mine. Bye Devon, I hope you'll join the team."
"Bye."
A sip of my espresso martini prompted me to seriously entertain the possibility of accepting Tania's offer. What would my life look like if I just said yes? Leaving Hickory behind? Leaving my life, my family, friends and my colleagues in North Carolina? Giving up certainty?
Then again, I would earn a lot more money. I would have adventure. I'd be leading my own team instead of being constantly frustrated with the lack of passion and progress in my current workspace. And friends? Honestly? Barely. Family?... Meh. I would be too busy working my dream job anyway. I wouldn't have to drag myself through the daily duties of a stuffy mortgage consultant any longer. I'd be creating, fantasizing. Manifesting and building the most unimaginable things into existence. As a game writer and narrative designer, I'd finally be able to let my creativity flow free. Something I thought about every single day.
Dreamed of, really.
Why the hell not?
A voice in my head said.
Maybe it was the martini, but whatever.
Tania sounded surprised. Which I expected because it'd barely been half an hour since we hung up.
"Devon! Hi again."
"Hi Tania."
"Am I right thinking you've had an epiphany in my favour?"
I laughed. "I believe I have. I'll be very happy to accept your offer."
"Ha! I had a feeling. That's great news Devon! I'll send you all the details and the contract. We're very happy to have you joining our team. Can't wait to work with you."
she confessed.
---
Fuck.
Of course I couldn't catch a break. Even now
Fuck, Fuck, FUCK!
"Devon, this is Lucas Townsend, the head developer. You'll be working together on many different fronts, so I'll leave you two to get to know one another right now. I'll come pick you up in your office in half an hour? Then I'll walk you through the process." After dropping this bomb on me she left right away.
"Hey man, how've you been?" His crooked grin slides down my suit-clad frame, leaving a trail of shivers. I felt a blush of embarrassment racing up my neck and my cheeks. "Devon, hm? I hadn't pegged you for a
'Devon.'
Should have known, though. Smart guy, you are."
My dick
twitched
in my pants. It'd been swelling up from the moment I laid eyes on him and I could only hope he hadn't noticed.
I had two choices here, I knew. Either I would confront him immediately and tell him, very clearly, that I wasn't going to be taking his shit. Or I could keep blushing and stutter out some awkward remark.
A big part of my life would hang on that choice. So, I manned up. I went up to him, grabbed his hand and shook it, looking up into his smirking face.
"I don't know what you were thinking when you saw me walking in here just now, and frankly, I don't give a fuck. I'm here to do a job. I really want this to work out and I'm not looking for anything else here. Not now, not ever. So put it out of your mind and let's keep things strictly professional from here on out,
Lucas
."
To my honest surprise, his smirk was replaced by raised eyebrows and a sincere smile. "I understand. Don't worry, professional it is." He shook back. After that, he took me around the corner and introduced me to the people I'd be working with in his department. Without any inclination of us having met previously. He kept his word,
strictly professional.
And I appreciated it.
It was exciting to be taken into this new environment. There was no nine-to-five mentality in this place. Only creative minds working well together. That became clear to me almost instantly, shaking hands and introducing myself. Lucas showed me what they were currently working on, a historical adventure narrative, following a time travelling hero who tries to influence his own present by changing his family history. Then he took me to get some coffee and talked more about what I would be bringing to the table. I was happy that we'd stepped over the little bump of our past and discovered that he was at least as passionate about this work as I was. By the end of the small tour, I was really looking forward to starting my new job here next week. Couldn't wait, really.
Lucas walked me back to Tania's office when we were done.
"Oh, and Devon?" He called, turning around before rounding the corner. I raised my head in acknowledgement. "Just so you know, you really weren't good enough for things to become awkward between us anyway. I was just feeling sorry for you that night." He winked. But not in a joking manner.
The fucking asshole.
---
Three years ago, on 'That night'
"C'mon Dev, you're gonna enjoy this. I promise. Broaden your horizon. Live a little! It's a different
experience!
"
"It's a sex party, Sam." I whined. "And a free for all one, at that. How have I ever given you the impression that I'd be into that?" I was frustrated with him. And for good reason. "I'm not fucking bisexual, I told you a million times!"
"Nobody said you were, buddy. Although you could have fooled me. You haven't touched a girl in years, save for your mom." He raised his eyebrows at me as we made our way across the street towards an old club we used to go to. "And I'd be hurt if you
were
bi, knowing full well that I've been trying to tap your ass a thousand times." He smacked my butt for emphasis, earning a scowl.
He just laughed, "Relax, dude! This party is for
everyone
, you can just hook-up with any chick in there, as long as she's willing." Apparently, the club had been renovated and turned into an
'erotic theater.'
Though every time I passed it on my way to work it seemed more like an ordinary brothel to me. I didn't understand how the place was even legal in the first place.
I scoffed. "If this is all about me getting laid, you could've just hooked me up with Jenna at your office. Or you could have literally brought me to
any fucking bar
in town."
"Too boring! We go to bars all the time. And I'm pretty sure the last time you hooked up with anyone from one of them was what, a hundred years ago? C'mon Dev, you are twenty-fucing-three years old and you haven't flirted with anyone since you lost your virginity in high school. We need to
surround
you with sex, otherwise your dick will just fall right off, I swear." He explained. Poorly. "And Jenna's a lesbian."
"Not everyone's a damn nympho like you, Sam."