I’m being a coward, and I know it. Avoiding my issues and pretending they don’t exist is wrong, and it isn’t something I usually do. But in this particular case, I have too much to lose.
Someone knocks on the door about half an hour before the day ends. It’s the first sound I hear in at least three hours. Lex and I are uncannily good at not talking to each other.
“Come in,” he commands, not looking away from his work. Since I’m not a cold machine like him, I turn around to see who it is. I smile at the sight of Oliver as he grins back.
“Hi, guys,” he says, coming toward the desk. “Lex, I passed Beatrix in the hallway, and she asked me to give you this.” He hands Lex a thin folder of papers. “She said it’s for the Hello World Con.”
The topic makes me drop everything to listen. The Hello World Convention is halfway between a congress and a convention, and it’s held in Silicon Valley, where companies, firms, and corporations from all over the country gather for three days of intense nerding. It’s centered around programming, demonstrations of tools and software, as well as lectures and conferences. It’s one of the nerdiest, most tech-oriented conventions in the US. So, understandably, going to the HWC is a dream of mine.
From what I’ve heard, Lex and Kev go there every year with two people from the dev team. I’m too much of a junior employee to get that honor, but there’s always next year and the ones after.
Alexander skims over the folder’s pages, his eyes focused behind his glasses. “When you get back downstairs, you can tell your colleagues everyone is going this year,” Lex tells Oli, putting the papers aside.
Wait… What? Everyone’s going?!
As confused as I am, Oliver gives me a surprised look before turning to our boss. “Seriously? Everyone?”
“Yes. I’m tired of the never-ending complaints and whining of those who can’t go.”
“Everyone, including me?” I ask, standing up so I can see the man.
“Yes. All seven of us and Kevin are going this year. We have also scheduled an hour-long slot in one of the lecture halls to present some of our work and advances.”
It sounds like a fun little vacation among colleagues, and I’m here for it. I can’t believe I will spend a few days in the heart of the high-tech world learning about groundbreaking advances. Oli is grinning as well, also very pleased with the news.
“Thanks, Lex,” he says. “Everyone will be ecstatic.”
“The company has been doing well enough to afford a spot for everyone, so I thought we’d change things up a little.”
“That’s very cool of you. Thanks,” Oliver insists. “Anyway, I’m here to see Andy. I’m having some issues with a script she worked on a couple of weeks ago. Mind if I borrow her?”
Lex’s eyes seek mine, giving me a cold glare before looking back at Oli. “Borrow away.”
Well, at least I’m not the only one acting salty and childish.
Oli and I work together for the remainder of the day, and I realize how much I miss working with people. Being here with Lex is nothing like what it used to be downstairs. When we fix the bug—much too early for my taste, even though we’re ten minutes past five-thirty—Olitakes his leave, so I accompany him to the door. As soon as the door closes behind him, I find Lex standing ten feet away from me.
His eyes are on me, inquisitive, as I walk to my chair. “What happened between you two?”
I stop dead in my tracks, whipping my head to glare at him. “Excuse me?”
“Why was he looking at you with those sad puppy eyes? Did you break up with him?”
Lex’s intrusive attitude is enough to enrage me, and I let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, no. You don’t get to ask this. Not when this is all your fau—” I stop mid-sentence, realizing what I’m about to say.
“I’m in your head, right?” he arrogantly asks. “That’s why you’ve been trying to ignore me for the past few days.”
“I honestly don’t know what you mean,” I say, wanting to hurt him. “I’ve been doing my best to ignore you since I started working here.”
“You’re failing.”
“It’s not my fault you’re keeping me hostage up here!” The volume of our voices is slowly increasing, but I don’t have the presence of mind to worry about whoever might be doing overtime out there. “Admit it. I’m the one in your head.”
A dark shadow passes over his face. Good, I’m not the only one getting pissed. “Why are you acting like I’m the only one at fault here? Weren’t you on my lap ten days ago, begging for my cock?”
My eyes open wide, shocked by his crudeness. Oh, this is getting vicious. Maybe Kate is wrong after all. Maybe what I need is to loathe the man until he disgusts me.
“Fuck you!” I hiss, holding back the slap I desperately want to inflict on his cheek. “You’re an arrogant asshole, and I can’t fucking stand you.”
