average human’s Reviews > Magical Intentions > Status Update

When it was almost time to go, I ran downstairs, threw on the dress, fixed my light brown hair to fall softly around the black dress and added on a light layer of eyeshadow to make my dark green eyes pop more.
I slipped on heels that pushed me to nearly six feet tall, but I knew the other men would still tower over me. Something about being a supernatural made the male population so much taller, as if it were a requirement of most species, as if tallness was part of the criteria to being an alpha, dominant male.
Alijah stood outside my door, looking handsome in his black suit, the darkness really making the orange in his eyes shine bright. He screamed ‘stalking predator,’ especially when he began moving with a smooth stride toward the elevators. We met the rest of the group outside. Six guards would escort us to the restaurant, where security was already set up.
I didn’t understand all the intricacies for how security was going to work. All I knew was that they were ready for us and would be able to keep Shanton from meeting his demise for a couple of hours. I thought it was silly to risk his life for a meal, but Shanton wanted a taste of our city’s life and no one dared to say no to the dragon.
My eyes flickered from Lombardi to Shanton, and then to Alijah and Rhett.
All four men looked breathtaking together. Just seeing them made an unfamiliar emotion blossom inside of me. I felt like I was looking at something meant to be, but didn’t know in what capacity, and it seemed like something was still missing from the picture.
I shook my head and smiled at them.
“You’re breathtaking,” Shanton said, stepping forward and grabbing my hand. He bowed slightly and lifted my hand to his lips, laying a gentle kiss against the back. Energy skimmed across my skin in a gentle caress, as if reassuring me everything was as it should be.
“Shall we,” Lombardi said in a growl, breaking the moment. His eyes narrowed at Shanton, who only chuckled.
“Yes, we wouldn’t want to be late for our reservation.”
His sarcasm brought a smile to my face.
We didn’t go far, not wanting to risk a long drive. The restaurant we went to was the type where they served you four course meals and there weren’t any prices on the menu. You had to assume the items on the list were well over a hundred dollars each.
Shanton pulled out my chair and pushed it in for me when I sat down, then claimed the seat next to me at the round table. Rhett took the spot on the other side of me, with the assistant next to Shanton. Lombardi and Alijah sat across from us.
“Please tell me someone knows French,” I said as I tried to understand the words on the menu.
A couple of the men chuckled. Alijah leaned into me and whispered something into my ear that heated my cheeks. I didn’t understand what he said exactly, but I could pick up on the undertones. And by the daggers he was getting from some of the men at the table, what he said probably wasn’t appropriate for the public ears.
“Good,” I said and moved the menu over. “What is this nonsense?” I asked.
He stared down at the menu with a smile.
“This is a basic duck meal with veggies. This one is fish. Veal. Lamb. Steak.”
“Steak,” I said. “Steak is safe.”
We continued like that, leaning into each other as he went over the menu with me. I had to pick out four different meals and already felt full just thinking about. I held in a smile, enjoying the closeness with Alijah. It felt private as our shoulders pressed together, heads inches away.
“This is a lot of food,” I commented.
“They’re going to be small serving sizes, spread out over the next couple hours. You’ll be fine,” Lombardi said. “Dinner meals are usually slow going to give time for the guests to talk with each other.”
I frowned. I didn’t eat a lot. I didn’t have to for some reason. It had always been a concern for doctors while I was growing up. I would be happy with just eating once a day. Even I knew that was weird, especially since magic could take a lot out of you and food was one of the best fuels. That’s why shifters had black holes for stomachs. Just shifting used up all their resources and food was how they recharged.
I should’ve been the same way, but I wasn’t.
We placed our orders and Shanton was kind enough to order for me so I didn’t butcher the pronunciation. Seemed like everyone else at the table knew how to order in French.
After our server walked away, Shanton leaned back and shifted to get a better look at me.
“How do you like your job at Biomystic, Dr. Porter?” he asked.
“Cyril,” Lombardi said in a warning tone.
Shanton sent him an innocent look. “What? I just want a clear vision of how the company is seen through the eyes of an employee. No bullshit.” He turned those piercing eyes to me. “I know when someone is trying to feed me bullshit.”
I smirked at him, willing to play his little game. “Fine, no bullshit then. I’m not the type anyway.”
Someone at the table groaned, and I wanted to laugh.
“I get to blow shit up,” I replied, starting easy. “I’m free to research what I’m interested in, as long as it also interests the company. Luckily for me, there isn’t much out there that doesn’t interest the company. I could probably come up with something as simple and small as a magic stain remover, and the company wouldn’t mind. Luckily for the both of us, I don’t keep it that simple. I’m encouraged to experiment, to spend days inside a lab doing what I love best.”
“And what’s that?” Shanton asked.
“Magic. I love magic, and my job allows me to play with it, to come up with creations others can’t. And as a bonus, once in a while, I get to save lives because of what I create. That’s a big enough reward for me alone. But then Mr. Lombardi also hands out bonuses as if they were Halloween candy. His incentives program is the best. Make something good and useful and we’re rewarded for it. Yes, he gets rights over anything created within the company, but he doesn’t stop us from expanding either. I have my own lab at home where I can work on personal projects if I want, and he doesn’t care if I sell those. As long as I don’t use any of the company’s resources.”
I paused long enough to take a sip of water, noting how I had everyone’s focus as I talked. My face warmed at all the rapt attention, and I continued. I was speaking the truth and had nothing to be embarrassed about. There really wasn’t much to complain about working at Biomystic.
“Plus, he spoils us with employee benefits. Not many jobs give a month’s worth of vacation time the first year. And we have what amounts to free health care. If I get hurt, I just need to pop upstairs to get healed. If it requires more work than they can handle, then they’ll cover all the costs for us to get the help we need. But that rarely happens, because Mr. Lombardi expects the best of the best in his company, and from what I’d seen, he has that. He gives us everything, so it’s understandable that he expects everything in return. And don’t forget the fact that he builds us up. He pushes us to expand our knowledge with trainings and classes, to go beyond our skills, to grow as not just an employee but as people, too.”
I didn’t think Lombardi could be grinning any harder after I finished with what I had to say.
I sent Lombardi a wink before focusing on Shanton, refusing to let him intimidate me to lie. “And that isn’t bullshit. You know it isn’t.”
Shanton smiled at my boldness. “What don’t you like about this job?” he asked, glancing at Lombardi.
I didn’t bother glancing at Lombardi.
“Probably the fact that they drag me out of my lab when I’m not ready to leave. I get so engrossed in my projects that I forget about the existence of time. My colleague, Ami, dragged me out after I spent four days in the lab without leaving. He doesn’t overwork us but we do overwork ourselves. I hate it because like I said, magic is my passion. I’m obsessed with it. It’s my cocaine, my way to get high. I don’t like people interrupting that.”
Shanton laughed. “You don’t like that your employer cares about his employees?”
I shrugged. “I’m not used to working for others.” I shifted in my chair. “I’m not used to having others care. That makes this job hard sometimes because I’ll want to keep going, but then I have a meathead coming down and dragging me out to make sure I eat and take a shower, get some rest. I was once barred from the company for an entire weekend with no access to the project I was working on.”
“People work the typical forty hours a week, maybe even fifty. Dr. Porter likes to push those bounds. She likes to work closer to a hundred hours,” Lombardi said, the underlying amusement in his voice almost overshadowed by his disapproval.
“I didn’t think you’d noticed,” I said. At least, I’d hoped he hadn’t.
He grunted before catching my eyes and ensnaring me in them. “I notice everything in my company, Dr. Porter. Especially when it comes to my best employees. I don’t want you burning out. So, yes, maybe I’ve sent others down to get you out of your lab for at least a few hours.”
“I still don’t like it.” I huffed and crossed my arms, probably looking like a pouting child. I didn’t care. You did not interrupt a magic user on a roll while experimenting. You just didn’t.
Shanton laughed, the sound deep and loud. “You really know how to pick them, Dwight,” he said.
“She’s mine,” Lombardi warned.
Shanton raised his hands up. “I know better than to hunt in your territory. Don’t worry, she’s yours until she says otherwise.” He smirked, and I didn’t like the implications in his words.
I opened my mouth to say something, but the server came in with our first course and interrupted the conversation.
The rest of dinner was fine. We ate. We talked, keeping conversation light. I learned more about Shanton Enterprise and why he wanted to create a deal with Lombardi.
Shanton Enterprise, was first and foremost, a technology company with its fingers in everything from the medical field to aircrafts to phones and televisions. He wanted to create a child company branch that involved tapping into natural resources. That was where Biomystic Security came into play. He needed security to protect his interests. To be there with him since his traveling was going to increase and he’d need the extra protection. He refused to rely just on his own team since they didn’t have the talents our company did.
In return, we got some of their toys to play with, maybe even improve upon and make our own. That got my interest. I loved a challenge and I could see why that would definitely be a bonus for us. When Shanton talked about some of their toys, I was nearly drooling at the mouth, fingers twitching at the thought of playing with them.
And then I understood why I was here, because conversation shifted again, going in depth about his products and how someone like me could improve them. This definitely interested Shanton and we went back and forth.
Before I knew it, dinner was over, I was full, and we were heading back to the company for the night. When we drove through the gate, Shanton leaned forward in the limousine, eyes determined.
“We’re going to have to continue this conversation soon. You surprise me more and more, Dr. Porter.” With that, he climbed out of the vehicle and headed inside while I just stared after him.
I didn’t know if having his attention was a good thing or a bad thing, though I knew it was definitely interesting.