If he says anything else before he wanders off, I don’t hear him. My insides are a kaleidoscope of mortification and rage. So this is Connor’s idea of a little joke, is it? How funny. Howhilarious.
He has no idea who he’s messing with.
Six
I’m like a cartoon kettle with steam coming out of its ears as I round the corner to where Connor sits. I intended to launch right into it but stop short when I notice the desks around him—previously empty—are now occupied by three other guys, who clock my presence immediately. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a smaller, more sensible Annie is screaming at me to remember that we need this person to give us a job.
Connor pulls his headphones off. “Well, this is unexpected.”
He says this in a tone that conveys it’s exactly the opposite, and he has in fact been anticipating my arrival since the second he sent over the skills test. For the second time today, I have underrated my opponent.
He stretches back in his chair. “To what do I owe the honor? Or are you lost?”
I glance over at the guy sitting directly across from Connor. His eyes dart back to his screen the second our stares connect.
“Can I talk to you for a moment please, Connor?Privately?”
“I’m getting the impression that this is a real now or never situation,” he says, swiping a lanyard off the desk. “So I guess now itis.”
He follows me to the nearest meeting room I can find, aspeakeasy-themed breakout space lined with deep oak bookcases and velvet couches instead of your usual tables and chairs. It’s an almost comically inappropriate setting for this discussion, but I’m far past caring. I whirl on him as soon as he closes the door.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Hello to you too, Annie. Such a pleasure to keep meeting like this.”
“Cut the crap,” I say, pointing a finger at him. “I know all about your little skills assessment prank.”
His eyes widen in a look of extremely exaggerated surprise. “I’m not sure what you’re referringto.”
“DinoCode? Brian the Dinosaur?It’s a game for five-year-olds!”
“It’s notjusta game,” he says, wounded. “It’s also a deeply beloved educational tool.”
“Is this some sort of—of—” I’m so indignant I can hardly speak. What is thewordI’m looking for? “Hazing?”
“Nah. It’s just earlier you were so on your high horse I couldn’t resist the chance to mess with you a little bit.”
“Stupid little Annie can’t possibly understand the data, is thatit?”
“Definitely not.” He has the grace to look sheepish. “But—if I might—maybe it was:Annie can’t possibly know all there is to know about something she’s never done before?”
The blush rips across my face like wildfire. Never in my life have I been called out so neatly.
“I was actually starting to feel a little bad,” he says, scratching his neck. “In fairness, I thought you’d click the link and figure it out immediately. When it took you all afternoon I started to worry.”
“Clearly.”
“I promise I was going to come and apologize,” he says, trying to placate me. “I got stuck on a call, that’s the only reason I haven’t come to find you.”
“Well, now that’s established, I would appreciate the real assessment.”
“I mean, ifDinoCodewas a challenge, I don’t think you’ll fare any better there.”
A noise I am in no control of leaves my body, a high-pitched squeak of frustration that sounds suspiciously likeugh!
He laughs, then reaches for an armchair to his left, dragging it over until it’s directly across from the sofa. He motions towardit.
“Can we at least sit down, please? It’s very off-putting trying to have a conversation with you glaring at me like that.”
