“In the employee manual, it says that relationships on campus should remain professional,” I protested, and Jay grinned.
“Who said it won’t be professional? We’reworkfriends. I read your application essay, Milo. It was the most impressive one I’ve read in years. I’m very interested in your perspective on memory alteration. I’mhoping to work closely on the development of a new product I’ve been struggling with.”
This caught my attention. Excitement zipped through me, and Jay chuckled as my eyes widened.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, I’m tentatively calling it the NeuroManipulator 1.0. Your hypothesis that memory can be massaged instead of harvested is exactly the type of thinking I need on this project.”
“Ohmygod!” I nearly squealed with excitement, and Jay’s eyes crinkled at the corners.
“And that level of excitement is another reason I want you to work with me on this. You’re clearly here for the right reasons.”
I thought of Melanie’s comment the other day about how she had ambitions to take over managing our department, and I nodded.
“Yeah. I’m here for the work. I’m genuinely obsessed with the human mind and how it works. I always have been.”
Jay gave me one of his toe-curling, confident smiles and nodded.
“Me too. Hence, why I want to be friends. We clearly share… mutual interests.” The way he ran his tongue over his lip made me feel like he was talking about more than just science.
But painful memories of the last time I’d thought someone was interested in me surfaced, and I sobered.
Jay wasn’t into me like that.
Besides, it was forbidden for employees to engage in romantic relationships on campus, especially with their superiors.
“Okay… so… work friends?” I asked, hesitantly, and the intensity in Jay’s eyes made my stomach swirl with a strange feeling that felt like anxiety but wasn’t.
“Yeah. Sure. Work friends,” he agreed, his lips quirking.
I let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
“Okay. That sounds nice.”
I took another bite of my cinnamon bun and groaned again, causing Jay to chuckle softly.
“These really are delicious.”
“Told you. I’ll make sure to bring you another one tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I smiled, my cheeks heating slightly.
“Finish up, then we can head over to NeuroWell. I can’t wait to get started.”
Jay and I walked to NeuroWell together, and I learned that he was a naturally easy-going and somewhat chatty dude.
He told me that his father, Stephen Reynolds, was one of the original founders. He passed away in a car accident shortly after Jay had started as an intern. It had been all over the news, but I somehow hadn’t made the connection that Stephen was Jay’s dad.
“As I’m sure you know, he started this company with Luke Stevens twenty years ago. Sebastian—Luke’s son—heads up NeuroComms. You’ll likely meet him at some point, too.”
Sebastian was also a well-known name. Similar to Jay, no one outside of the company knew what he looked like, and I was equally surprised to learn he was around our age. He was a marketing genius, and his strategy had been a huge reason why Neurovance was as successful as it was.
I did my best not to freak out over the prospect of meeting yet another C-level employee so soon as we walked into the NeuroWell building.
It was much busier today, as it was officially Monday, the start of abrand new work week.
