“The point is that you are a contractor for Fantasies, Inc.We are paying you.Again, your employment contract is very specific.”
“Is it really that big of a deal?”
“Yes.”A knock on the door brought me out of my chair.I took the contract from Sarah with a thank you, closed the door, and placed the papers in front of Emma.
“Oh my, look at this.”I pointed to her initials in the bottom right corner of each page.“This means you read it.Every word.But you just admitted that you”—I raised both hands and gestured air quotes—“ skimmed it.Significant difference.Now…Read.It.Allof it.Word for word.”For about two seconds, I actually considered insisting that she read it aloud.Quit while you’re ahead, buddy.
She sighed and picked up the document.
I watched her as she read.Her hair framed her face, making her look too young for me.Again, what was I thinking?I was drawn to her in a way I’d never been drawn to a woman before, not even my ex.And this jousting—there was no other word for it—between us only made the attraction more intense.
Just thinking about my ex should have put an end to all thoughts of anything with Emma, but it didn’t.I wanted to find out more about her.I wanted to find out what she thought, what she felt, and discover whether we were compatible in the bedroom.
Whoa!Cue massive record scratch.Way too early for thoughts like that.She’d only been here a week, and so far, all I’d done was piss her off.More than once.
“This isn’t right,” she muttered.
Her voice pulled me out of my head.“What isn’t?”
“This says if I work more than forty hours in a week, then I get paid overtime, and I’m not allowed to work more than ninety hours in a two-week period without the director’s permission.Your permission.”
“That’s right.”
When John Boyd started the company, one of his concerns was avoiding burnout, an extremely widespread problem in the profession.I supported his position wholeheartedly.As a result of his provisions regarding work-life balance, FI had low employee turnover, some of the lowest in the state, and high employee satisfaction stats.
“That doesn’t make sense.How does the company function like that?”
“It functions like a well-oiled machine.When employees have a balanced work and home life, they’re happier, more productive, and take care of themselves.”
She shook her head.“Shouldn’t that be up to the employee?”
“It is the employee’s decision.No one forces them to leave or stay.Why do you view promoting a good work-life balance as a problem?”I was curious what she was thinking.
“A lot of people are single, without family.Sometimes work is better than sitting at home alone.”
I straightened.“What you’re describing is using you job as an emotional crutch.You don’t have a family?”
“I do, but we’re not close.”She hesitated, and I wondered about the remark, which now prompted a question I wanted an answer to, but not now.
“They live in California.”
“Depending on where they live that’s only a little over a two to a three hour plane ride.”
Emma shrugged.“Are you close to your family?”
“Yes.I have dinner with my parents at least once a month.While my two siblings have moved out of state, we keep in contact.”
“Nice.Were you born in Washington?”
“Yes.What about you?”
“California.”
“Any brothers or sisters?”At least she was talking to me.
“Two older sisters.”
“I’m a middle kid.”I pondered her being the youngest.Was she anything like my younger sister, always vocal to get attention.I didn’t think so.Emma seemed quiet and reserved.Or was she?
