Page 9 of Not In The Contract

I chuckled as she led me into the main office space. Inside, there were four work stations set up in each corner of the room. Each station had two monitors along with a host of personal knick-knacks belonging to each of Tamera’s employees respectively. I knew them all and wasn’t surprised that none of them raised their heads as we entered.

They were all wearing headphones anyway.

There was a door toward the back of the office, presumably Tamera’s office, but I took a moment to look around at what my best friend had accomplished.

I met Tamera years ago on campus; we studied vastly different subjects but shared a dorm and the rest, as they say, is history. She graduated and went on to work for a few IT companies but hated her experiences. It wasn’t until a year ago that she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Literally.

“Well,” she amended, chuckling to herself, “henchmanand henchwomen.”

Indeed, Nick was the only guy in the office. The other specialists were Kelly, Raina, and Mags, each one having worked with Tamera at some point or another. Tamera had a way of rallying people to her, and it was something I’d always secretly envied her for. Not that I’d be able to do anything once I’d rallied people; I was as socially versed as a drunk lemur.

“And now,” Tamera said, pulling me toward the door at the back. “The pièce de résistance!”

She flung the door open with flair and bowed me inside.

“Oh damn,” I muttered.

“What do you think?” she asked, excitement coloring her voice.

I wasn’t sure where to start.

Potted plants littered every available surface, and enough neon lights to certifiably shame every nineties movie. Her PC was on full display; her rig accounted for at least sixty percent of the neon LED lights in the office, bright and beautiful. I didn’t understand half the components that went into a rig as large as hers, but I knew it likely cost thousands of dollars.

Her walls held a few LED signs as well, along with photos of her family, her beloved dogs, and us.

It was so undeniablyTamerathat I couldn’t help but grin.

“It’s perfect.” I giggled.

Tamera clapped her hands together in glee and ushered me toward the cushy-looking emerald sofa I hadn’t even noticed.

“I’m so glad you could visit today,” she said, her eyes shining bright. “I’ve been dying to show you ever since I signed the lease.”

“I’m sorry it took so long,” I said, squeezing her hand. “But it was definitely worth the wait. I mean, this is so cool.”

Tamera fidgeted with her long box braids, a shy smile on her face. “I didn’t think I’d ever accomplish something like this,” she admitted. “I know it’s not exactly huge, and there are thousands of other companies who are way more successful but… It’s ours, you know? And I have those amazing humans out there working just as hard as me. I’m so happy.”

“You should be,” I told her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and squeezing. “You deserve this, and no one can take it away from you. And you don’t have to worry about those other companies, okay? You’ve only just started. This time next year, you’ll be challenging the big guns like Google.”

“Hell yeah, we will.” She grinned. “So, how are things moving along for you? Did Paula call you back about the shadowing business?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.” I sighed. “I’m a little antsy about it, to be honest.”

“Is there no one else you could work with?” She frowned. “Why does it have to be this person?”

I pursed my lips. I’d given it enough thought that the answer leapt to my lips, but I was hesitant to voice it out loud.

“It’s not easy to explain,” I hedged. “Before Paula told me about Alex, it could have been anyone. But after I saw everything Alex has accomplished I feel like ithasto be her. She’s a living embodiment of my research. She’s built an empire where most people can barely make ends meet. If I was a kid in foster care, and I heard about her… It’d be life changing.”

Tamera looked at me for a long moment, her gaze pensive. “I guess I understand what you’re saying,” she said finally. “She’d kind of end up being your magnum opus.”

“Exactly.” I nodded. “And the fact that Paula still hasn’t called to let me know if Alex is in makes me nervous. I don’t have time to find someone else, and I don’t want to extend my studies by another year.”

“Have you thought about what you’ll do next year?”

No.