“We’d have to tune the ward to literally everyone on the security team, plus management, plus Supernatural Resources. It’d get taxing on whatever mage was creating it and annoying if anyone new was hired,” Emmett explained.
Miles’s chair dropped to all four legs and he stood, leaning against the reception desk with his arms crossed. “Okay, so why not put a regular wall there. Hell, if you want to keep the illusion of it all being one room, you could put a plexiglass wall so everyone could still see us like good little fish in a bowl, and no one would have to sit here staring at the wall.”
Emmett gave him a flat look at the fish bowl comment, it was his idea to put up a glass wall, but he had a point. They really didn’t need a reception desk in the upstairs security offices. The first floor one, sure. Contractors, delivery people who couldn’t leave things with Clarita, hopeful interviewees, all needed to go through the security office first now, thanks to Ronan’s new rules. Reception was necessary there. But once they were past the turnstiles, they weren’t required to check into another security office unless they needed an escort. The offices in each division were more for a place for the security team to gather so they didn’t have to all head back to the security office in the main building several times a day and to be close if they were needed. It was rare that people came in their office specifically.
“I’ll mention it to Alistair,” Emmett conceded. “You’re right, reception may be unnecessary for the most part. There will still need to be people in the office just in case but–”
“Yeah, yeah, I get that part. But I’m not even allowed to do any side projects sitting up here. It’s a ‘distraction’,” he complained, making air quotes with his fingers.
Emmett snorted. Jonah did the same thing when he was annoyed. “You’ve made your point. For now, though, you’ll have to put up with it. Why don’t you use the time to write down a report with your suggestion and why you think it's a good idea?”
Miles screwed up his face, confused. “What? Why?”
“Because it’s your idea,” Emmett pointed out. “I’m not taking credit for your ideas. If it works out, you deserve to be recognized.”
The response seemed to surprise the mage, who looked bewildered at Emmett’s insistence that he put his name on his own ideas. Emmett just chuckled, pushing out of his chair where he’d been going through employee files to see if he needed to move anyone else. He needed to meet with Zed, see how he felt the new way of doing things was going. He was smart, had a lot to say, and Emmett liked him. Even if he did greet him with the stink eye every morning.
Before knocking on the office door, he felt his phone buzz and pulled it out automatically to check it. He smiled when he saw Jonah’s name on the screen, using his thumb to flick open the conversation.
Jonah:Why did the IT tech go broke?
Emmett:Why?
Jonah:Because he was working for cache.
Emmett muffled a snicker. He wasn’t sure why lame jokes had become their thing, but he wasn’t about to complain about it. It was hilarious to see just how awful the jokes they came up with could be.
Emmett:Why was the computer cold?
Jonah:…
Jonah:Why?
Emmett:It left its Windows open.
Jonah:Oh gods, I just laughed out loud, and one of the construction guys looked at me like I had two heads.
Emmett:Some species have multiple heads. It’d make more sense if he’d be looking at you weird because you had no heads at all.
Jonah sent back an eye roll emoji.
Jonah:Humans have one head. I assume because he’s a supe, he knows I’m human.
Emmett:True. Humans smell funny.
Jonah:Well, apparently I smell like you so what does that say about how you smell?
A low rumble rattled Emmett’s throat, and the reminder that Jonah smelled like him made his cock swell. Good thing he wore cargo pants with a lot of room or the meeting with Zed would get really embarrassing.
“Hey! If I’m not allowed on my phone, why are you?” Miles complained.
It was Emmett’s turn to roll his eyes. He sent one last text to Jonah, letting him know he was headed into a meeting, added aquick flirty sign off about how Jonah hadn’t complained about his smell the night prior, and tucked the phone away, scowling at Miles.
“I’m starting to not like you.”
Miles just grinned, completely unrepentant. Little jerk. He was lucky Emmett liked him.
He looked forward to meeting up with Jonah again at the end of the day, even if he’d only seen him a few hours prior at lunch. He lifted his chin in greeting at the construction guys who were taking a break as he passed them on the way to find the adorable human. They had long hours ahead of them to finish the construction quickly, and Emmett didn’t envy their work.
