His cousin had taken her seat at the desk. She leaned on her elbows and watched Noah. He couldn’t help shifting uncomfortably under her scrutiny, heat creeping up his neck. It reminded him of when he’d been a mischievous boy and had to face his mother’s wrath.
Joe coughed, and Sona leaned back in her chair.
“Sorry. I’m just not sure how much to tell you,” she admitted, tilting her head, eyes going unfocused for a moment. Then she sighed. “I’ll just start with the basics. We’re putting together a special assignment for some of our interns this summer.”
Noah’s pulse quickened in anticipation, causing a light flutter under his ribs. Why would she be telling him this if shedidn’t mean to include him? But if that were the case, why was she so hesitant about it?
“And?” he finally asked, unable to keep the defensiveness from his tone.
“I keep debating how best to say this, and I’m not happy with any of them. I know there have been some grumblings about us being related, and some people say you get unfair advantages because we’re cousins.”
“And ‘tis no one’s business,” Noah muttered, his jaw tightening.
“Well, it would be if you were given promotions or pay raises you haven’t earned. Granny’s favorite saying was how our perception controls our reality.” Sona rubbed her temples. “You should know the exec staff debated this for a week before making a decision.”
Noah’s hands went cold, a hollow opening in his chest, his excitement about a possible new assignment draining away. Had they decided his family connection was a liability to the company?
“You’re scaring him to death, Sona.” Joe shook his head.
“Sorry, but I think you should know this, Noah.” She came around the desk and took the chair beside him. “I want you to understand you’ve impressed every department head you’ve worked under.”
A rush of emotion surged through Noah, relief washing over him first, then excitement, until a tight, uneasy resignation settled on him.
“I’m that glad to know it, though I’m hearing abutin there,” he said, “something I’m betting has to do with you quoting Granny.”
“Yes. We want you to help lead the team of interns for this special project.”
The lightness in Noah’s chest at her words turned heavy at the memory of the troll who’d gone out of his way to shove Noah, the impact still ghosting in his shoulder.
“And t’other interns will be saying I didn’t earn it.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice.
“It’s unfortunate, I know,” Sona said. “They debated with Orianna in HR about the pros and cons of giving you this assignment. Rafe finally said if you weren’t related to me, and Kayn by marriage, there would be no question about choosing you.”
The weight of letting them down settled on Noah’s shoulders like a physical thing. What if he disappointed them?
“What project?” he asked. “And when is it?”
“I’ll get to the assignment in a bit. We scheduled it for next week since Grandfather is coming for a visit the week after.” Sona stood and went back to her desk. “I don’t need to tell you what a good reputation REKD Gaming has as an employer.”
“You would be preaching to the choir, and you know it,” he said.
“Exactly, but we won’t keep that reputation, unless we’re constantly growing and changing, just like the game. Our various departments usually work well together, but in the last six months we’ve had some personnel conflicts which are creating ongoing problems.” Sona opened a folder on her desk. “We’ve evaluated it with HR and believe it comes down to a need to rebuild employee trust in each other.”
“Since we’d already been talking about developing team-building activities, we thought this would be a perfect time to put something into place. Rafe has been accepting proposals from companies that run business retreats.”
It made sense that Rafe, as the CEO, would be directing theproject, but what did it have to do with Noah and the other interns? And why would Sona, one of REKD Gaming’s cybersecurity people, be talking to him about a team-building assignment?
“I can tell by your expression you want more information, but I’m waiting until your co-lead can join us. She had to meet with HR first so is running a few minutes late.” Sona nodded toward the door. “Ah, it looks like she’s here now.”
Noah craned his neck to see better, but Joe had risen and gone to the door, blocking the view with his broad back.
“Who is it?” Noah asked.
“Caitlyn Hahn,” Joe said over his shoulder.
A flash of pain stabbed through Noah’s chest, sharp and breath-stealing. With an internal groan, he slumped in his chair, the weight of the name settling over him like a blow.
Earlier that day,Caitlyn had extended her hand for the car keys. “Ihaveto leave now, Dad, or I’m going to be late.”
