“That sounds like an excellent way to get into trouble,” Luka said with a snort. “I don’t know what you know about me, but hopping from thing to thing and going with the flow hasn’t been the most beneficial thing for me.”
“I suppose that depends on your idea of beneficial,” Mr. Shepherd said with a shrug. “I imagine many would look askance at your erratic work history, but you have consistently stayed employed even if you hopped around. Perhaps you tanked your credit, perhaps you haven’t set up a retirement planor made sure you’d be financially secure if something were to happen.”
From the look on Luka’s face, he was probably not that secure. His refusal to look at Mr. Shepherd indicated as much. “Uh, well. If I do well here, it could help set me up for the future. And I know, Reggie told me this was a non-profit, so there’s no piles of cash.”
“True,” Mr. Shepherd chuckled. “I can afford to keep my income to a pittance, and I try to make sure my people are well taken care of for their efforts. That said...yes, there is a glass ceiling of sorts.”
“The benefits are great, though,” Luka said with a laugh. “Better than anywhere else I’ve worked. Oh, uh, not that that’s the reason I’m here.”
I frowned. “You’re allowed to cite the benefits of the job as a reason to take it. That doesn’t make you any less qualified or any less interested in helping people. There’s no need to be embarrassed about taking care of yourself.”
Luka sighed. “And here I am getting lectured by the man I’m supposed to be helping.”
Mr. Shepherd laughed softly, aware we were in a quiet room. “And why not? You’re a Guide, not a teacher or a parent. Even then, you can still learn from those you’re teaching, or in your case, those you’re helping. Help isn’t a one-way street; it can give and take, just like any relationship. You just have to keep an open mind.”
“Right, yeah, of course,” Luka said, but I didn’t think he was taking it in. The man had started the conversation on the back foot and hadn’t recovered, and now he was being hit with advice he wasn’t equipped to digest.
“Well,” Mr. Shepherd said, checking his watch. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I wanted to check in personally and see how you were faring. And of course, see how you and Lukawere doing together, but that clearly isn’t a concern; the two of you seem to have found a good working relationship. Reggie was right...again, but do us all a favor and don’t tell him I said that.”
I snorted. “Did you believe Luka wasn’t fit for the job?”
“Oh, I learned a long time ago when it came to hiring, I should keep my nose out,” Mr. Shepherd said with a chuckle. “I have a good sense for people, but there is a world of difference with people as employees. Reggie is an expert on the latter...though having a solid team has helped. Still, he can be difficult if he’s praised too much.”
I thought of Hannah and grimaced. “Smug and insufferable?”
“Now, I’d never say something like that about the longest running and most successful member of my staff,” Mr. Shepherd said with a quiet smirk.
“But, yes,” Luka added, growing more comfortable now the topic had shifted to something he could sink his teeth into. “He absolutely means it.”
“I will let the man who was trained and evaluated by him judge,” Mr. Shepherd said. “It’s good to see you’re both doing well. I hope that continues.”
We watched him go, and Luka frowned. “You know, if I thought you were the sneaky type, I might think you set that up to prove your point from the other day.”
“I am not without intelligence, but a setup is not my style,” I said, not sure whether to be insulted. “And the other day was an opportunity I seized rather than set up.”
“I figured,” Luka said with a snort. “It’s just...weird.”
“What is?”
“I mean, the conversation with Ramirez makes sense. It was an opportunity, you took it, and that’s fair, I guess. But today with Mr. Shepherd just...happened. And it’s weird...among other things.”
“What other things?”
Luka frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know. Just random thoughts in my head. I think I’m making a bigger deal than I need to, don’t worry about it.”
“I can’t say worrying is in my nature, but it’s certainly not foreign to me,” I said, raising a brow. “ShouldI be concerned?”
“No,” he said with a smile. “It’s nothing to worry about, just thoughts, and thoughts aren’t always a bad thing, right?”
“I suppose,” I said with a frown.
“Seriously, don’t worry,” he said with a little laugh, patting my knee and pushing to his feet. “By the way, what’s your normal routine for dealing with the pain?”
I squinted. “Through meditation, yoga, and vigorous lifting exercises.”
“Fine, don’t tell me. But if there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I told him, meaning it.
