Reputation

Introductions

I pressed my palm to the table and shook my head. My eyes loosely scanned the document in front of me. "Is this honestly necessary?" 

I meant it as a joke, but apparently it wasn't funny. When I glanced up, I only received stern looks in response. 

Claudia, my soon to be boss ran her hand over her mouth. "Actually Ms. Thompson it is. We have a strict claws when it comes to relations with coworkers. I hope you understand. It's just safety precautions. As soon as you sign it you're free to start. " 

I knew what she meant, don't sleep with one of the boys. "Trust me," The pen in my hand began to write my name in a curved way I had come used to. "That's not going to be a problem."

Claudia stepped forward as soon as my pen lifted from the page. She smiled at me, reaching forward to take the packet of paper from beneath me. She lifted it, examined it once, then smiled. 

"Outstanding," She lifted her gaze to the man behind her. "She's all your Jack." 

Claudia turned and walked out the door. I pressed my back against the chair, relaxing for the first time today. The man who was standing behind her stepped up to the table I was sitting at. "With all due respect Ms. Thompson, I'd suggest you move to sit near the back with me." 

I sat up out of reflex, my entire body tensing in the process. I knew that the meeting at 10 was in here, but I hadn't thought to think I could be stealing someone seat.

"Oh," My body pulled up from the chair as a smirk crossed his face. "Right, new girl sits in the back." 

He let a laugh escape his mouth as he walked to the back of the room. "Actually, the creative department sits in the back. The boys are pretty good at coming up with their own ideas. We're more here to write them down and throw small ones in every once and a while."

I pulled out the seat next to him and nodded. This was going to take some time to get used to. "Right."

For the first time since I had entered the room, I fully took in everything. There was a large table, the one that I was now sitting in the back of. In front of it was a white board, split into 6 sections; Murr, Q, Joe, Sal, challenges, and punishments. Over it were sticky notes and multiple different hand writings scratched in messy ideas. 

"Got any tips?" The man lifted his head from the pad of paper he was currently writing on. 

His brows furrowed. "I mean, they're great guys. With that said, they don't really need us. We're more of background noise to keep the network happy. We do have distinct jokers we work with though. I'm Joe's, but Q and Murr are currently open" He placed the pad of paper down on the table and smiled at me. "I'm Jack by the way." He reached his hand towards me.

I smiled, placing my hand in his. "Thayer."

He nodded and placed his hand back on his lap. "Yeah I know"

Just then the door opened and two loud voices echoed through the door. My gaze shifted from Jack to the two familiar men making their way into the door. 

"Jack!" Joe shouted. Throwing his hands in the air as Sal began to laugh. "We got's lots to talk about today!"

Jack smirked and looked down at his notepad as the two mens gaze shifted to me. "Oh, new girl. I forgot about that. You want to help us plan a punishment?"

Joe and Sal made their way into the room, sitting at the two seats that Jack and I had previously been in. I smiled and couldn't help my cheeks burn. 

"Hey Hey Hey!" Jack pressed his palms on the table. "Last time I checked, I was your go to Joe. She was hired for Murr or Q." 

Joe rolled his eyes as Sal reached his hand across the table. "Sal, welcome to the team."

I reached forward and took his hand. "Thayer. Thank you for having me." 

Joe reached forward too, a smile split across his mouth. "Pleasure Thayer. It's a shame you're going to be working for one of them. We have a good idea for Q." 

I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe I can come of use. I can double cross him."

In that instant, Joe's eyes lit up. His gaze slowly turned to Sal as Sal did the same. "Holy shit. We hit the jackpot."

As Sal began to burst into a fit of laughter, voices entered the room followed by three men. Q was in the front, avidly talking with his hands. Two men that I didn't recognize followed close behind. 

Joe snapped his head around and pointed directly at me. "Q call dibs!" 

Q didn't seem to pay much attention to Joe's comment, instead his attention was still on the conversation as he sat down. 

I felt Jack's body vibrate with a laugh as he watched the situation unfold in front of him. Q continued to talk as Joe shook the finger that was point at me. "Q call dibs!" 

Sal began to laugh, pointing at me as well. "Q! Dibs!"

Brian Quinn finally drew his attention off of his conversation and towards his friends who were currently making a bit of a show. 

A smile crossed against his lips before he finally followed the pointed finger. The smile drifted off of his lips to a softer one. His eyes glanced up and down me for a moment, a moment a bit longer than I had expected. I could feel my cheeks burn.

I quickly recovered myself, extending my hand towards him the way that Joe had done for me. "Hi I'm Thayer, the new creative department guinea pig." 

He tentatively reached for my hand, shaking it loosely as his eyes followed back to his friends. "I thought we were giving Murr the next-" He hesitated, looking back at me for a moment. "guinea pig" 

Joe shook his head, trying hard to surpress the smirk on his face. Sal covered his mouth as his body shook with chuckles. "No no, we want her with you. She can be both of yours until we hire another one."

Q took in this information. He reached upwards, cupping his chin gently as his fingers ran through his beard. "You want her with me?" Joe and Sal shook their head furiously. "Fine, welcome to the team guinea pig."

His gaze jumped back to me as a smile crossed his lips. This smile was a bit stronger and definitely hiding something within his eyes. He shook his head and looked back down at the notes in front of him. "Okay well lets get this started. And by the way, I call dibs." He glanced back up at me for a moment, but then to the man next to him as he began to talk. 

In that instant, I regretting opening my mouth to begin with. I had a feeling I was going to be in for an interesting experience, and possibly one I was not cut out for.