"Hey Janette, I don't mean to bother you. I was looking over the contract and I there is an error with my salary." I said handing her the papers.
She flipped to the correct page and looked it over. She picked up another pen from her desk and set it onto the contract in front of me. "There is no mistake, was that your only question? I suggest you sign before someone stops you." She said with a wink.
I was shocked. Thankfully, my body continued to go through the motions. I picked up the pen signing the new contract before Janette notarized it for me. She said the raise would actual be retroactive 30 days. She made a copy of the contract for me before sending me back into my office to finish settling in. I cleaned my morning away scared of what else the day might bring.
By the time lunch came I was starving from all the cleaning I had done. I went downstairs to meet Jeremy excited to share my good news. I was thinking about taking a trip an upcoming weekend with my new retro pay that would be coming in. It had been to long since I just had a night to myself alone. I thought about camping under the stars until I say Jeremy ready at the door. I gave him a quick hug and we were on our way.
We took our entire lunch to go over the morning's events. Jeremy thought it was funny I was busted gossiping like that. He was a little shocked that I decided to speak at all. He felt the need to call his wife while we were eating and tell her about my new contract. She said she was going to send something the following day with Jeremy for my new office.
When I returned from lunch, I peeked into Nikola's office, it was still empty. I was relieved he wasn't in there after I turned away. I had no idea what I would have said. I shook my head before unlocking the office door and heading in. I would see him in 2 hours, I wanted to try to stay busy. After taking an hour to make a good graphic filled email welcoming the 3 fellows to my team, I sent it out. I dove into planning out the team meeting I scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I wasn't sure if there was a specific project that Dr. Chapman, or Peter, wanted us working on. Around 2:30 PM there was a knock on my door. I looked up to see Nikola.
"You're early." I said trying to suppress my smile.
"He is early? How much longer do you want me to keep him busy?" I heard Jenny's voice come from behind him in the doorway. I looked at his eyes and they screamed 'help'. I grinned an evil grin.
"Oh shoot, you know what Jenny, I just lost track of time. Thank you for offering, but I am good to go." I assured her. I could sense she was disappointed; I heard her footsteps leaving before Nikola entered my office.
"Yes! Please come in, sorry I am still getting used to people actually entering." I giggled to myself a little.
He closed the door behind him. He was looking at the pictures that were spread out around the office now. I didn't have a lot on my desk before but I had 3 or 4 pictures of my kids and 2 with my dog, Jack, just all shoved together in the corner.
"You have a beautiful family, how old is your dog?" He asked seeming genuinely interested. "He's 4," I said smiling, "do you have any pets?"
"I have a dog-wolf hybrid." He smiled.
"I have always been interested in learning more about them. Maybe I can ask a few questions if you don't mind?" I was getting ahead of myself but when it came to dogs, I didn't know how to stop. "I am so sorry, let's do the tour and if its okay, I will ask in-between?" I compromised.
He laughed at me. I blushed instantly feeling insecure, this couldn't be happening right now. I was shocked that he stopped laughing so abruptly as I felt the tears start to fill my eyes. I had stopped them just in time, but I was positive my face was red.
"Shit, I didn't mean to upset you. I just assumed you would hand me a map and send me on my way." He was speaking so casually I was taken back. I didn't know what to expect with him. I was trying hard to get a read on him, I seemed to just be wrong, every time.
"I am fine." I tried to assure him.
"You are more than fine." He said low, I was shocked I heard him. I turned as I blushed; I didn't want him to know I heard him.
"I was asked to give you a tour and that is exactly what we are going to do. I am ready now if you are." I said standing.
"Can we start with any other place on this campus to get coffee? Jenny is like a hawk over there, I may get a machine for my office." I was not expecting him to be so open about her desperate attempts, maybe he got the wrong idea of me earlier when I was talking about him.
I decided to clear the air. I would just come clean and say I was having a rough morning and I wouldn't normally try to take the attention off myself in that way. Surely, he would understand right? He has to know there are rumors about him out there.
"I know you heard me this morning. I just want you to know, I don't typically involve myself in gossip, I just wanted the attention off myself." I said honestly.
"I am glad you were honest with me. Don't worry about it. If you want to know, I didn't sleep with any of them. I fired them all because they wouldn't stop trying to sleep with me." He laughed and I just stared blankly at him. I could tell he wasn't lying. I wondered how desperate you would need to be to get fired because you can't back off.
"Now I feel worse…" I said aloud with a shrug. "Let's start with the coffee cart outside in the quad. It's my favorite spot and always Jenny free. She was a bitch to the nice owner to many times. Last time she threw a coffee at his grandson that goes to school here working 2 days a week. I was shocked but security told her she was no longer allowed within 15 feet of the cart. Best day of my time here." I said with a huge grin before ordering my coffee and looking to Nikola.
I was noticing it was nice just walking and talking with him. I would like to say I forgot how beautiful he was, but I didn't. Every time he spoke, I smiled because I had a reason to look at him. I spent the rest of my day showing him everything I could think of on campus. At the end of the day I walked to my car with the biggest smile on my face.