Dark Temptation

Welcome To The Team

421 days, 7 Hours and 15 Minutes Later

"Thank you all for interrupting your daily tasks to join the meeting. I'm aware I sent the invite quite late, so I'd understand if some of your colleagues couldn't make it. "

Announced Howard Taylor, the owner of TRL in his immaculate royal blue costume, combined with a brave ornamented burgundy tie. He was very rarely actually attending meetings, considering his schedule, and not leaving it to Anne to present ,so that meant something had happened.

Besides, right now Anne was working on the Tokyo project, so he knew she may not even make it for that assembly.

"I also gather you follow the press, so I'd rather avoided elaborating or discussing matters further. Therefore, without further ado, I'd like to..."

The door suddenly opened and everyone turned.

"Sorry I'm late, Dad. I kinda got lost in that labyrinth.Excuse me, may I sit here?" asked Devon, pulling the closest to the door chair and sitting in it.

Howard Taylor was never furious, or showing any emotion altogether. But now was the first time someone ever saw his mask of perfect composure slipping.

"Good Morning, Devon. I am going to apologize on your behalf to your future colleagues for your bad timing and worse appearance."

Devon smiled devilishly and tipped his chair back. When suddenly his chair hit the door opening. " he thought

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I thought I got the distance to the door better." he said, jumping hastily and turning to see the damage.

Ann was standing stunned, coffee spilled all over her creamy-colored shirt, sheets of paper shattered around with coffee spots on most of them .

"s**t, I'm so sorry." He reached to help her, but she only backed and hissed "Don't you dare. "

She knelt without thinking, trying to gather them "This was the original copy of a contract. Are you retarded, how can you block the door?"

"Well, I guess I'd better cut the introduction at the circumstances" Taylor interrupted " Everyone - this is my son and he'll be working at TRL Tech starting today. Thank you Anne for making it, by the way. "

What?

Anne tried to compose herself and after a quick visit to the bathroom in an attempt to wipe whatever she could from her Chanel shirt, she was sitting right across the man.

He was wearing a dark shirt, no tie to go with the black jeans, and his hair looked like a total mess, compared to all the other men's immaculate hairstyles.

His forearms were covered in tattoos and she was sure she saw ink from the places where his shirt's top buttons weren't closed.

Devon, Tylor's younger son who was three years younger than her 30-ies. She'd seen his face on the covers of different tabloids at the newspaper stands, but she never read those papers, anyway.

Who trusted those? Besides, she was following entirely different kind of press.

All she knew was he was trying to make music, which she found- naturally- ridiculous considering what family he came from.

"I trust you'll find a mutual language and help Devon find his way around," continued Howard. " He's in the bottom of the ladder, so feel free to entrust doing all kinds errands to him. "

The others in the room exchanged glances, but no one argued.

Devon was sitting quietly and didn't argue.

"What's this all about, anyway? Is putting his son here some kind of a sick way for Howard to spy on all of us?" thought Anne. No, that wasn't possible, the manager didn't have time for playing around like that.

As an answer to her thoughts, Howard turned directly to her this time

"Also- Anne- who is managing the Tokyo Account as you all know is currently working by herself, so I understand she's in a dire need of an assistant. "

Oh, no.

This is was joke. She was 200% sure someone had put a hidden camera somewhere, and this was a big reality TV joke, or some kind of simulation.

"So Anne- please come to my office once the meeting is over and we can discuss the options."

She exhaled. Good. Maybe the plan wasn't whet she'd initially thought.

"Thank you all for your time and I wish you a prolific day".

Everyone got up and although no one said anything on heir way out, Anne was sure they couldn't wait for the cigarette break to discuss all that happened just now. She was just getting out of the door when Devon blocked her away.

"Is this a joke?" she said, borderline angry.

"I just wanted to apologize."

"Look. I don't have time for this. I said it's fine. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to ask people with fully -booked calendars to agree to a meeting where they'll sign the exact same thing they did an hour ago."

She gritted her teeth " And pray to God they don't laugh at that. "

Devon lifted both his hands in surrender " Wow, sorry. Okay. "

She exhaled and headed out, hoping she had a spare shirt somewhere in her office.

*****

"Thank you once again, I realize how absurd my son's little performance was this morning. he likes to be the center of attention, and the inconvenience it must've caused to you, I know how hard you work with that Customer. "

Howard said as invited Anne to have a seat in his office.

She looked around - it was huge. She was always impressed by the great design and the beautiful view.

French windows, leather sofas and a big, mahogany desk . The walls were covered with modern -art pieces, from Henri Matisse to Jackson Pollock.

The air was filled with the scent of wood, musk and whisky.

It was already past eight and her Manager often worked late at night. He rarely drank in his office, but recently he let himself enjoy a nice, rich drink while still in there.

"Anything to drink? Wine?"

"No, thank you- I still need to finish something."

"Always working, you."

"I had a mentor who does exactly that." she laughed.

"Flattery, my Dear, will get you far with me

Not that you need it. Anyway, there's something I wanted ot ask from you."

She tensed; because she had a really bad feeling about this.

"My son is..." he started, taking a long sip from the crystal tumbler. "he is not like his brother. But you must've already noticed that "

She'd met Eton a few times during company events. He spent most time in Qatar, however, as he was entrusted with the branch there and was very rarely in England at all.

"There's a , let's say an ambiguous difference." she offered.

He laughed and came to sit closer to her.

"He never wanted to be part of the corporate world, and I never planned it for him. Eton prepared for that his whole life, while Devon is..." he gestured vaguely "he wanted nothing else but to make music."

Anne wasn't sure if that was a real question or Howard was thinking out loud.

"I gather that didn't play out well."

He looked at her, still smiling.

"It was a massive disaster. He got arrested after he got into some kind of a drunken fight. Imagine how that affected us. Still does."

She could, he looked exactly the type. He looked hungover even this morning.

"After one of their "gigs" he continued and took another sip. " This is utter nonsense, Anne. What gig? They played dress up, believing they were artists, or however they saw themselves as."

He was quiet for a moment and she decided not to interrupt the silence. After he gathered himself, he went on "He's now here. The other option was finding him in the slums one day, or getting himself arrested for real. And none of my connections would be able to get him out then."

"I know how this may sound, and I realize it's more of a personal favor, but I really need your help."

"How?"

"He's never been close to Eton, and even of they were, I'd never be able to make Devon go to Qatar. That's why, please- let him work with you on the project"

She exhaled.

"We both know he isn't prepared for that. Plus, I'm doing fine on my own, I have difficulty delegating tasks."

"You'll need to, eventually. The higher you go, the more work you'll have. And keep in mind- when I say help, I mean- use him as an assistant. For manual tasks, not appointing him for a leader of presentations. Okay?"

She considered the idea and hated it. She'd been hoping for an assistant before, but now she was managing everything perfectly fine.

"I'm pretty sure there are other options."

"Look, I'll be honest. You're like my daughter and I believe you'll get far. You've always been the person here I trust most, especially with Eton gone."

She was both flattered and aware this was part of his manipulation; his way to trick her into agreeing to this madness.

"Can I refuse?" she asked, although it was pointless.

"It was more of a final decision, disguised in the form of proposal, so that I could give you the idea you had a choice."

They both smiled at that.

"I hate this business."

"We all do, Anne. We all do."

****

She was just getting on her black Audi Q7 when her phone buzzed. Lizzie.

"Hey, Lizzie. What's up?"

"Wait, are you still at the office?"

"I'm just leaving. Why?"

"I couldn't see you today. At all. Why don't you drop by for a quick drink. I promise, just one, I have to get up early tomorrow too."

"Just one drink, okay?"

"I swear, just one." her friend promised.

"I'm coming, then."

Anne hung up and drove to the bar. She didn't have to ask Lizzie where she was at, because they always met at the same place. Lizzie's husband had a small vintage bar close to Piccadilly and even though the two of them were a very unexpected couple, they'd been together forever.

"Here she is" Lizzie waved at her from where she was sitting at the bar, talking to the bartender.

"Hey,Liz. Hi Mike."

The bartender was already pouring her a glass of port wine, since he knew what was her preferred beverage.

"I love the lipstick." Lizzie said

"Thanks, I wasn't sure about the Yves Saint Laurent's new colors, but this one kind of stood out."

"It's perfect. Speaking of standing out- I saw what happened this morning. What's the deal with his son working with us anyway?"

Her husband came out and hugged her from behind.

"Good evening, beauties."

"Hi, Jas." Anne said and Lizzie and Jas gave each other a quick kiss.

Anne thought again how different they were not because of what they did. Lizzie was a small, tiny blonde, but a fierce sales rep, while he was big, broad-shouldered and probably the meekest man Anne knew.

"I know you were talking about clothes, so don't mind me."

"No, we were actually talking about Devon, our Boss' son."

"The musician? Really?"

"Do you know him?" they both asked.

"Well, not personally, but I've watched his band play a few times. He's a damn good guitarist. "

Anne frowned.

"Is he famous?"

"Well, they're quite underground, but yeah- he's famous in those circles.Why , what about him?"

"He's in the company now." Liz said.

"What? That's bullshit? Why?"

"He got into trouble or something. Anyway, he's on probation with us now and guess who'l be the baby sitter."

"You're kidding me."

"Nope, Liz. In stead of an actual assistant, who could be of some help, I got him."

"I'm sorry. At least he's cute."

"He is" added Jas and Anne made a face " Well, it's obvious even to me. He had a lot of fans."

Ann suppressed the need to roll her eyes when Jas said

" Too bad, really. It's a big loss he won't play anymore. "

"See, he's hot? I mean, according to indie standards." His wife added.

"Don't go there, Liz. Plus, I don't have time for this."

"Ohh, come on Anne. You never have time for anything."

"Because I literally don't. And guys, don't ask me if I'm fine. I am."

"Okay. Okay. How about some more wine, then?"