“Pedro.” Sharon’s door opened, and she emerged from her inner sanctum. “I’m so glad to meet you. Thank you… Knox.”
Pedro noted the slight pause before she added Knox, as if that wasn’t the usual name she used for the burly man. Immediately, Pedro connected the picture on Knox’s desk with the lovely woman he’d spoken with several times on the phone. This just kept getting more interesting. Pedro watched their gazes meet and knew that glance exchanged a wealth of information. Without the picture, he wondered how long it would have taken him to put two and two together to figure out they were a couple.
“My pleasure, Roni.” Light on his feet, Knox left almost silently.
“Please, come into my office,” Sharon invited and led him to a comfortable seating area away from her desk, where two chairs sat next to a small table.
“Take a seat. We have an appointment in HR in fifteen minutes. Debbie will bring us some coffee,” she said, glancing up at her admin standing in the doorway.
“I’d love some water if that’s not too much work,” Pedro requested.
“Of course. I’ll take water, too, Debbie,” she said before turning to Pedro. “Are you taking notes of all the cyber risks you’ve discovered already?”
“Nothing that’s made me run out the door so far. The security protocols in place for dealing with the employees’ data impressed me. Your head of security knows his stuff,” Pedro complimented. There would be a million things he discovered that needed attention. Pointing out the positives as well usually kept people from being overwhelmed and discouraged. Balancing the psychological effects of change was one of the most challenging parts of his job.
“He does.” Sharon’s smile softened slightly.
Debbie interrupted with two bottles of chilled water and closed the door as she left them alone.
“Have you found somewhere to live?” Sharon asked. They had discussed housing on the Edgewater Industries’ property in one of their phone conversations.
“I ran into a few snags in the move and just arrived last night. Everything is in storage at the moment, except for the things I’ll need immediately. I’m currently at a hotel in town.”
“It has been a whirlwind getting you here. Easton is expanding the single-family housing. I’ll give you a tour of the campus when we finish here. I’m not sure if there is a house available now, but I know there is an apartment for you to use until they finish a home for you.”
“I’d appreciate that. It’s better to be close if something happens.”
“That’s exactly how our chief technology officer feels. She lives in the apartments as well.”
“Sounds like our philosophies will mesh,” Pedro observed.
“I have no doubt that you’ll work well with Belinda Jenkins. She’s the absolute best. You’ll see her in a meeting this afternoon.”
“Sounds like you have a busy day planned for me.”
“Here’s the schedule. If you’re ready, we’ll check off the second box and get all the miscellaneous paperwork finalized,” Sharon suggested as she handed him a printed sheet of their schedule for the day.
Pedro appreciated her organization.
“I can’t wait to meet Mr. Edgewater. His global design for this company is revolutionary in today’s world,” Pedro enthused. He’d done his research on Easton and his business before applying for the job.
“He’s incredible. You have a meeting with him this afternoon.”
* * *
After a whirlwind morning of paperwork,touring the campus, and meeting numerous Edgewater employees, Sharon ushered Pedro into the elevator for his most important meeting of the day. She had dedicated her day to getting him introduced to the company, and Pedro appreciated her time.
Sharon pressed the top button on the elevator display and leaned against the wall as the car rose. “I did check and there is not a house available at present. I’ve tagged you for the first choice when the next batch opens. In the meantime, I’ve reserved an apartment for you and had it stocked for you to move in this evening or tomorrow, whichever is easier for you.”
“Thank you, Sharon. I’d love to settle in. I do have a cat, Tinkerbell. Will that be a problem?”
“Not at all. What brand of food do you feed her?”
“Him.” Pedro laughed at her arched eyebrows. “It turns out I’m not an expert in determining the sex of a two-week-old kitten. I found him abandoned in the median of a highway.”
“He’d been dumped?” Sharon asked, aghast.
“Yes. A car had already hit his sibling. I snarled traffic getting to him.”