HUM by Dan Hawley (book club reads .TXT) 📗

Her expression softened as her green eyes remained trained on his. She smiled and pushed her hair back over her shoulder. He noticed a Bluetooth headset beneath her long, blonde hair.

“Hiding your headset under all that hair,” he teased. She looked down at her computer screen and began typing again.

“So how can I help you, Mr…” the receptionist asked, her tone remaining professional.

“Steele,” he offered. “I’m starting today?”

His statement was more of a question, as if to ask if she was expecting him.

“Of course,” she replied. “HR will be right out. Please have a seat.”

“Thanks…”

“Veronica,” she replied.

“Thanks, Veronica,” Jason finished. “Good to meet you.”

Since Jason was often early, he was used to waiting. He was aware of the fine line between being respectfully early and being intrusive. If you’re there too early, it is off-putting to people. Not only that, but it’s also a waste of time. Ten minutes is about the max Jason would stretch it. He had it down to a science.

Instead of sitting, Jason slowly meandered around the crystal clean lobby, checking out each piece of art that hung on the wall. The room and art were very modern. The white marble floors shone with fresh wax. The seating, comprised of luxurious, dark-brown leather, was cut at sharp angles and adorned with chrome rivets and feet. The dark mahogany coffee table sat on a fancy white rug with nothing on it but a short stack of tech magazines.

“Jason.”

He turned at the sound of his name to see the outstretched hand of the attractive Human Resources manager.

“Good morning Celeste, a pleasure to see you again.” Jason reached out and clasped her hand.

“I hope I’m not too early,” he added.

“Not at all,” Celeste replied, “You’re right on time.” She wore her curly, auburn hair in the same way as she had in their video call a few weeks back. As Human Resources manager, she had needed to connect with Jason on a few key points before he moved out.

Although Jason knew Celeste was attractive from the video, she was even more striking in person. She was slightly taller than him in her black heels. Her slender legs ascended up and under her grey pencil skirt. Neatly tucked into the skirt was a crisp white shirt that hugged her torso, exposing every line. A red silk scarf dangled from her fragile neck to complete the ensemble. The scarf matched her lips that spoke, “How are you and Samantha settling in?”

“Getting there!” he responded and followed Celeste’s lead as she turned to enter the office.

“It’s different, but we’re excited to explore the city.”

The office was large and open, with groups of neat and tidy sitting and standing desks filling the space past the lobby’s frosted glass doors. Some people were there already, working away on their computers. The engineers worked in power groups, each assigned to a specific task. Once a job was completed and optimized, the work went to the senior engineer. The senior engineer was accountable for the quality of the work and meeting deadlines. Individual offices lined the perimeter of the room, assigned to executives and the sales team.

Celeste and Jason walked past the first two groups of desks and came to rest at his space. A welcome basket sat atop the desk, filled with snacks and company-branded swag.

“Wow, look at all this stuff,” Jason said as he removed his jacket and folded it around the back of his chair.

“A mug, a polo shirt… sweet hat!” He smiled and looked at Celeste. She smiled back.

“We are glad you have joined us and are looking forward to having you stay.” She handed him a manilla envelope.

“Here is some paperwork I’ll need you to read over and sign when you have a moment: standard employment contract, banking info, and a non-disclosure agreement. There is also a welcome package with your computer login information. Once you log in, you will move through orientation and training. Right now, though, I’ll have you follow me. We need to get your clearance set up at security. It’s picture time.” She smiled and gestured for Jason to follow. “After that, I will take you over to William’s office. He is eager to see you.”

* * *

Celeste knocked lightly on the door frame of William’s office.

“Good morning William. Jason is here to see you.” “Jason, my man!” William exclaimed with visceral excitement. “Welcome, welcome. How is everything? Settling in well, I hope?”

As William stood up, his black leather chair creaked slightly and rolled backward. He clasped Jason’s outstretched hand and gestured towards a chair in front of his desk.

“Please, sit. Do you need anything? Coffee, tea, some water?”

“Oh, no, I’m good, thanks,” Jason replied as he sank into the soft armchair. William adjusted his glasses and nodded.

“Fair enough. I’m sure you know where the refreshments are by now if you change your mind later.”

William turned to Celeste. “Does Jason have everything he needs so far?”

“For now, yes.”

“Thank you, Celeste.”

She smiled and nodded, then looked at Jason and smiled again as she turned to leave.

“Thank you, Celeste,” Jason echoed as she shut the door.

William’s office wasn’t any larger than the others, as far as Jason could tell. It held a modern desk with two leather armchairs facing it. Behind the desk was a fancy leather office chair with chrome rivets and feet in the same design as the furniture in the waiting area.

The art was similar too; modern and fierce. As William turned to head back to his chair, Jason noticed long, vertical wrinkles on the back of William’s otherwise neatly pressed light-blue dress shirt. Those wrinkles were from sitting and working. Jason wondered how long William had been here already. A hardworking CEO was admirable. Jason didn’t want to work for a lazy, entitled millennial.

As a hardworking self-starter, William’s reputation had undoubtedly been part of the attraction that led Jason to accept the job offer. William had earned a bit of a name for himself in the tech