Page 27 of The Damaged Billionaire's Obsession
Unlike the stuffiness in the lobby and the bottom floors, the top five floors, referred to as the tech floors, are where all the magic happens. Software and network engineers, quality assurance testers, and cybersecurity specialists like me live on the tech floors.
We have an unspoken uniform of black tops, and most prefer to wear the company’s branded shirts and hoodies. Only the top executives tend to appear in suits, and they live on the topmost floor, which we casually refer to as Olympus.
The staff trainees and junior associate offices are decent-sized, beautiful spaces with four walls of glass, one of which overlooks the Manhattan skyline. The only downside is the plush carpet and absence of doors, which means anyone can sneak in on you unless you have supersonic hearing.
By the second week, Owen and I finished our orientation and were settling into what would likely become our daily routine going forward. Part of our job description includes months of one-on-one training with senior executives.
It’s now my third week here, and things have gone off without a hitch. I’m starting to lay my initial misgivings to bed, seeing so many upsides to working in a place like this.
The morale on our floor is unmatched, for one, and due to having specialists in different areas all in one place, the number of things I’ve learned in just three weeks has surprised me.
“Bonnie, have you seen these?”
I look up from the numbers on my screen to see Owen waving two mobile tablets from the doorway.
“What is that?” I ask.
“Our training schedule is out, and we start next week. Here, I picked up an extra.” He pushes one across the polished surface towards me.
“Thanks, Owen.”
“Sure. Are you coming to lunch?” I hadn’t realized that much time had passed until he mentioned getting food. It’s well past 1 p.m. already.
“Oh, I’ll grab something in the cafe once I finish this.” I ignore the crestfallen look on his face as he leaves.
During the first week of orientation, Owen and I were practically joined at the hip and took our lunches together.
I enjoy the lingering looks he gives me, and I might entertain him on a day when I’m feeling particularly low and need a pick-me-up, but I doubt he’s read the by-laws yet or come across the non-fraternizing clause. I don’t mind breaking a rule or two, but he doesn’t strike me as the type who’s comfortable breaking rules.
Besides, I need to finish this task. I’m determined to learn the other programming languages Ethan mentioned in the interview when he questioned how useful BUG-fix would be to Acercraft.
During our orientation, we saw more of Mike and Jordan. Mike is boisterous, his temper as quick as his laughter, and has a smile for everyone. Jordan ensures everyone’s security, creating firewalls and debugging systems.
I’ve quickly realized that it’s an endless battle. Being an online platform, we are a prime target for hackers and data thieves, and we’re under constant pressure to be one step ahead.
Ethan oversees software engineering and user interface design and is the soul of Acercraft.
He’s the most enigmatic, least-seen managing partner, and employees talk about him with awe and fear, the female employees with a certain breathlessness in their voice that never fails to disgust me.
Although we didn’t see him, we felt him. Everywhere. He just made things happen.
You’d be working on a difficult project and suddenly get an email from him thanking you for your hard work. A small raise on your birthday with a personal message, according to guys who have been here long enough. And the rumor is that he works the longest hours.
If the top floor is Olympus, Ethan is Zeus, who never leaves. Since starting, I’ve not actually seen him, although he’s encouraged me a few times.
Like today’s message. I click on the bubble for the hundredth time.
You’re doing amazing work on the BUG-fix, Bonnie. Give Saj a shout if you need anything. - EH
Which is why I suddenly got a burst of energy to keep going. Pathetic, I know. I can’t help being such a sucker for praise.
I haven’t quite forgiven him for trying to undermine my interview. Although to be fair, it was an interview. I should have expected to be pushed to my limit. But still.
Jordan made me understand that I was the clear winning candidate, something I knew on a bone-deep level. I was just hungry for Ethan’s admiration. Mainly because I’ve never had it from day one.
I wanted him to look at me with awe and admiration.
With desire.