Wow, she was so gorgeous. She was a stunning woman in college, but the one who stood in front of me today had only gotten more beautiful. Our locked gaze was broken when the woman standing next to her called her name. Three times. Leyla finally looked away to answer her.
A man I recognized as Lucas Austin, from our interview, rushed toward me, apologizing with a wide smile.
“Nikolas, I’m so sorry. Toddler tantrums required me to watch one more Bluey episode before I could leave the house this morning,” he said breathlessly, coming to a stop with his hand outstretched. “Sorry, that wasn’t exactly professional. Good morning, I’m Lucas Austin. Please call me Luke.”
Nodding, I discreetly wiped my palm on my pants, moved my briefcase to my left hand, and took his hand in a strong shake as my father had taught me. “No problem. I just got here. Nikolas Demir. Thank you for the opportunity.”
It took me going over my rehearsed words a few times to feel confident when the time came to say them, and I was proud that I’d delivered them effortlessly despite my embarrassing stare-down with Leyla.
When I glanced to my left, where she had disappeared, Luke followed my gaze. “Have you talked to her yet?” he asked sheepishly.
My head swung around to face him again. “E-excuse me?”
He jutted his chin toward where she had stood. “Leyla. Did you see her yet?”
A picture I’d seen on her social media profile a while ago came back to me. Luke and a few other people were in the picture. It was taken at the beach around a bonfire. Leyla had her head back, laughing. I didn’t realize until then how much I’d missed hearing it, and also that he was obviously more than a colleague.
“Yes, I saw her in the office.” I really didn’t know what else to say. This was not part of my planned answers, and I tended to answer questions literally. It’s just how my mind worked. Right now, I had no idea what he was talking about.
Nodding, he put his hand out, gesturing to follow him. I entered his office and took the seat across from his desk after closing his door. As CFO, I’d expected it to be larger, but it did have a beautiful view of the city. Everything about it was minimal but masculine. Dark wood, clean lines, soft gray paint.
“Well, we’re excited to have you with us, Nikolas. Is that what you’d like us to call you? We’re pretty laid-back when it comes to titles and names,” he said with another warm smile.
I tried not to fidget in my seat, but meeting new people was not high on the list of things I enjoyed. Trying to seem more “laid-back,” as he called it, I answered, “My friends and family call me Niko.”
“So, not Nick, then?”
I sat in silence, trying to figure out how to answer another weird and personal question, until I realized Leyla must have mentioned that’s what people called me in school.
“No. Not anymore,” I answered curtly, not wanting to get into why I’d chosen that name.
“Oh, I…see,” Luke answered, his brows pulled together in confusion. I wasn’t sure if he expected more of an explanation,but I had none in this professional setting, so I said nothing. “Okay, then.”
He opened his laptop, most likely looking over my CV. “Niko. Is that Greek?”
Why was he obsessed with my name?
I reined in my growing unease, trying to appear friendly to my new millionaire boss. I was in awe of his accomplishments at such a young age, and it was a privilege to be chosen for the job. But that’s what I came here for. To work, to learn, and to be part of a team that cared about the environment as much as I did. Everything they stood for aligned with my personal and professional beliefs. He hadn’t asked these types of questions at the interview, so I was at a loss as to how to respond.
“Uh, yes. My parents and I are from Istanbul originally, but I was named after my maternal grandfather, who was from Athens.”
I was ready to be shown the lab and how it all worked, what was expected of me, and meet my team so I could get everything set up to begin working.
I leaned back in the leather chair and winced as it creaked, then crossed my ankle over my knee to try to look relaxed, but I was certain I just looked like a stiff cricket.
“That’s amazing. My wife is from Positano. Beautiful place. We go back and forth several times a year. Never been to Istanbul, though. I’ve heard Leyla say it’s on her bucket list.”
“What’s on my bucket list?” Her voice took me off guard, my body lunging forward to straighten in my seat, nearly launching off the chair.
Yup. Just keep on making that great first impression, man.
“Istanbul. You’ve said it several times over the years,” Luke said with a smirk. She side-eyed me, but we both knew there was no way to keep ignoring one another. We were adults after all.
She must’ve resigned herself to the same fact and turned slowly to face me. I stood up in a show of respect, but only got a scowl.
“Good morning, Ms. Cooper. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you.” I was going for professionalism and not familiarity.
“It’s Leyla, and I didn’t hire you, believe me,” she scoffed, “wewon’tbe working together.”
