Love In Design

Chapter 2 - Colleague

ZACK

What the hell is that noise? My head is killing me and my tongue feels like cardboard. I realize my phone buzzes on my night table and the display shows David's name.

"What?" I answer after activating the speaker.

"Do you know someone called Nathan Larsen?"

Fuck! The new guy! I forgot he starts today.

"On my way!"

Kaley will strangle me if she gets to the studio before me and finds out. I hope Elvam sides with me on my decision to hire Nathan. Everything happened quickly while she was away on vacation and Elvam has been so busy I didn't want to bother him.

I throw on the clothes I wore last night at the party after giving them a quick sniff. A light cigarette scent is all that is left from a time I can't remember well, which is weird, considering I only took two pills. After the party, I went to the apartment of a girl I met there as I've made it a rule to bring no one to mine. I don't know what I did with the girl at her place or how I got home. Kaley moved out two years ago, but my love and respect for her and the place we shared since we were twenty years old is still intact.

Shit! Not only I forgot about Nathan, I'm also late for work. Now that I live alone, I don't need to hide or control my habits, but I'm struggling in other areas. Elvam used to manage my agenda and make sure I was on time for my appointments while Kaley took care that I ate. They still help me, but when I'm home alone, it doesn't go well.

My only hope is that if Kaley finds out about Nathan before I have time to explain, she keeps her temper in check and doesn't make a nasty impression on him. I met him at a party and found out he was a web developer. He had moved back to the city recently and was looking for a job. We met the day after for coffee and talked extensively about his experience and skills. Owen McKay does web design and development for us, but it would be great to expand in that area, so without giving it much thought I asked Nathan if he was interested in working for The Idea Factory.

Kaley, Elvam and I started TIF after pooling our savings to start a design studio. The business grew faster than we expected and soon enough we hired David Lantz, our project manager, and Owen. David took the part of my job I hated; the admin stuff of our business and dealing with clients, so I could concentrate on the design of marketing material.

I make it into the parking lot, I see Kaley and Elvam are in already. I'm so screwed! Feeling defeated, I grab my bag and walk into the studio. David looks as if he wants to say something but changes his mind.

I walk to the desk that Kaley and I share, and see her and Elvam through the meeting room glass. The door of the studio opens and Owen walks in shuffling his feet, a backpack on his shoulder. He looks... Exhausted.

"Owen, you okay?"

"Me? Oh yeah, I'm all right," he smiles.

"You look tired, sorry to say."

"I went to bed way too late," he chuckles.

"Tell me about it. Met a girl at one of those late-New Year parties, and I think I went home around three in the morning. And I say think because I'm not sure how I got home," I laugh.

"Care to join us when you are done talking about your latest fuck?" Kaley says from the entrance of the meeting room.

I grimace at Owen and look at David, who shakes his head while typing. I walk into the room, and Nathan watches me with a confused look. Elvam sits in front of him and tries not to smile. Kaley looks as if she wants to rip my head off.

"Hello, Nathan. Good to see you again," I shake hands with him and take a seat.

Kaley joins Elvam across the table and looks directly at me.

"Do you have something to tell us?"

"Guys, I'm sorry I didn't inform you that I hired Nathan. We are getting so many requests on web and Owen is stretched as it is. Hiring Nathan was a more cost-efficient solution against the freelancers we've been using. He also has experience with design. I asked him to start today."

"And you never thought about checking with David to see if we could afford him? Or that maybe Elvam and I wanted to meet him first before deciding?" Kaley says in a flow of tense words.

Nathan shifts in his chair, and rubs his hands on his pants. I feel sorry for him. Kaley can come across harsh when something upsets her.

"What about trusting me to make a decision that is right for us? Come on, Kaley! I might be reckless when it comes to myself, but never to TIF. When Elvam hired Owen, you didn't seem to have a problem with it. What do you think?" I look at Elvam with a hopeful look.

"I'm fine with it," Elvam looks distracted while reading his phone screen. "I need to make a call," he leaves the room and I look back at Kaley.

"Think of the possibilities. Everything is going digital. Even you and I should consider picking up a course."

Kaley frowns while reflecting on the hard truth. We need to evolve with the times or our services will become obsolete in no time.

"I can't argue with that," she sighs. "Welcome to TIF, Nathan. Let me show you around," she stands up to lead the way.

I stay seated for a bit longer, close my eyes and rub my face. I love that woman with all my heart, but she can be horribly stubborn. Glad she saw the light this time.

Elvam comes back as I return to my desk. He looks worried.

"Everything fine?"

"Yeah," he places his headphones on his head. The usual sign that he doesn't want to talk further or get interrupted.

Nathan sits with David to fill his paperwork and I look at the project planner. It's insane to think we began with maybe one project per week, and now I have design time booked for six. At this rate, we will have to hire more graphic designers next year, but I'll let them do it. I have the nagging feeling Kaley doesn't trust my judgement.

After hanging up on a client call, Kaley lifts an eyebrow while staring at me then types on her phone. Within seconds, my own device pings with a message from her.

He said you met him at a party. Did you behave while I was away?

My eyes roll at her question but she keeps a serious face as she watches me through the only place not covered by sticky notes on the glass division between our desks.

What if I didn't?

I swear that you will catch something one day. Why not date a decent girl?

Because I want no one else.

I'm not ready for that and I doubt I will ever be.

Just be careful, okay?

David walks past me and brings Kaley a mug of tea. She gives him a grateful smile.

He never does that for me.

You are always a dick to him.

I look up and Kaley hides her smile with a sip of her drink. She was away for two weeks and I've missed her so much.

Welcome back. Happy to have something pretty to look at instead of the guys.

She laughs and shakes her head. Always a joke for her, but never for me.