“That’s basically the opposite of what I was expecting.”
“We break the rules, and the CDC doesn’t like when people break the rules. We’re warm, and this couch is pretty cozy. She’s feeling pretty safe and comfortable, so she’s taking a nap.”
“You had just enough pixie dust to take the edge off without impairing you. That might also allow you to enjoy some pixie dust without requiring a prescription for it in the future. You just have to watch how much you use. Good. There’s really nothing in this contract that should be a dealbreaker for you. The whole idea is I’m trying to convince you to accept the offer, and once you have decided you’ll do so, I need to convince you to like the offer enough you sign again in five years. I can’t accomplish that if you’re upset over the contract terms.”
“That sounds disturbingly logical.”
“I try to be logical and reasonable. It’s a dangerous combination, I know. Very hard to resist.”
My virus certainly viewed him as very hard to resist, and I did a marvelous job of ignoring his advances. “The job offer could be a deal breaker.”
“This is true. It’s difficult leaving a job you’re comfortable with for something new, especially when you’re taking quite a few steps up in the world. I had not anticipated your secondary work to be as a bounty hunter. I’d assumed you were doing some form of contract work, but more like a carpenter or something like that.”
“Me? A carpenter?”
“You’re the only tenant who doesn’t bother your landlord for basic repairs, so it’s logical you were doing them yourself. A lot of people can’t be bothered to do the work, so they hire cheap contractors to do it for them.”
“I never even thought of that as an option.”
“If you enjoy doing that sort of work, I have no problem with having you do it at the properties, although I will draw the line at anything dealing with the plumbing or electricity. Wet, slightly fried lycanthropes smell awful.”
As wet lycanthropes did not smell pleasant under any situation, I couldn’t argue with him. “I can’t say I’ve ever electrocuted myself before.”
“Please don’t start now.”
“I can agree to that.”
“Good. It would have been strange if we had to fight over your basic rights to electrocute yourself.”
“I think it’s safe to say we won’t be having that argument anytime soon. Tell me about this job.”
“I think you’ll find it within your abilities, although there will be some training required, which will be provided. Your boss, which is me, can be quite the asshole, but that is primarily due to my status as a single hybrid lycanthrope male.”
“You’re not nearly as much of an asshole as those two assholes who trashed my poor car.”
“It’s not much, but I’ll take it. So, your job responsibilities are pretty varied, but you’ll essentially be the equivalent of my secretary with a few other perks and responsibilities.”
“A secretary? Me? You think I could be your secretary?”
“You’re obviously decent at project management. You acquired various legalized substances from the CDC in a timely fashion, and you used them to lure me into your custody. If you can do that, I have zero reason to believe you can’t handle the work. You’re capable of telling egotistical men, myself included, no. Not only do you use the word no, you fully expect your wishes to be respected, and you’re willing to take measures should you be pressured. I don’t want or need someone who will tell me yes all the time.”
When I considered the situation from his shoes, I could easily understand how I might be a good candidate for that job. “Okay. That’s reasonable. I am capable of telling you no whenever necessary.”
“I’m well aware,” he muttered in a wry tone.
“What are my hours?”
“That is where the problem is.”
“I’ll be on call all the time?”
“Correct.”
“Am I compensated for being on call all the time?”
“Absolutely. I added thirty thousand to your yearly salary, before bonuses, purely because I would be able to call you in the middle of the night. The contract has rules on what happens if I bother you too much, which is usually bonuses and vacation time. I’m on my own if you’re on vacation, so I’ll have to hope you won’t ever take a vacation on me. I’m well aware you will likely use every vacation day you can get your hands on.”
“I’m glad I don’t have to explain that to you.”
