Amusement tinged his tone when Taron replied with, “I’m the co-founder, Hugo. I can do what I want. Like demand my wayward researcher join me for a drink! That’s an order!”
Wash couldn’t help but snort. There was no way he could enforce that.
“I’ve got a teleporting mage standing next to me, Hugo. Don’t make me use him,” Taron threatened.
Before Wash could respond, someone scoffed in the background. “I’m not going to kidnap someone for you, Taron. Not even for your birthday. Now hurry up! Sylix promised me a night of debauchery if I got you idiots home. The sooner you get drunk, the faster that can happen.”
Taron cackled, obviously not bothered by the threat. Wash almost felt like he could hang up, and Taron wouldn’t notice. He couldn’t say why he lingered, listening to their banter, and the banter of the group that was obviously out to celebrate Taron despite it being the middle of the work week. He got the feeling there would be many hungover people at work tomorrow.
“Hush, all of you. It’s my birthday, and you’re not allowed to argue with me!” Taron insisted, no doubt pouting at all his friends. Wash was glad he wasn’t around to see it. That pout could be used to devastating effect. Even he wasn’t immune, though he fared a lot better than most people. Still, with the ability to make his eyes huge whenever he wanted, Taron could wrap just about anyone around his finger if he put his mind to it.
“That includes you, Hugo! Come out and join us, or I’ll fire you!”
“No, you won’t,” Maverick said somewhere in the background. “Leave the man be and hurry up.”
Taron gasped, the smile in his voice as he said, “My dear Mav! Are you that excited to dance with me? I’m flattered, really, but you remember I’m mated, right?”
Wash rolled his eyes again. He swore the shapeshifter wanted to be maimed. Someone somewhere wasn’t going to have the patience to deal with him, and he’d get his butt kicked. Wash was sure of it.
“Alright, well you all have a nice night. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Wash said, deciding now was a good time to end the call while Taron was still distracted.
“Wait, Hugo, I’m not done–”
He hung up, cutting the shapeshifter off before he could start whining. He’d had enough of meddling CEOs for one day.
Sitting back in his seat, he took in his messy office, quiet aside from the squeak of his chair when he leaned back. He would never admit he was jealous of Taron. The shapeshifterwas popular, had a large group of close friends who adored him, two mates who loved him dearly, and he could hide what he was to the world. Something Wash could never do. Now that he was an adult, he wouldn’t even consider it, but when he was younger… He would have given anything to have what Taron had. To have even a fraction of it. To be accepted just as he was.
Too bad dreams like that were unattainable for people like him.
Two
“Hey, Peri!”
“Peri! You’re back!”
“What’d you bring us this time?”
The voices of his coworkers filled the air as he skipped into Charmed Away Temp Agency. Peri loved his job, getting to try new things and meet new people, but he especially loved coming back to all his favorite people to share stories and get hugs. He practically danced up to Doreen, wiggling the box of treats in his hand. She beamed at him, hopping out of her chair and coming around the reception desk to pull him into a hug.
“You’re back! It’s been too long!”
Peri blew out a breath, nodding rapidly. “I know. It was a month-long contract. It was fun, though. I got to help this sweet orc named David confess his feelings to the siren who worked down the hall. He’d been crushing so hard for so long. Seeing them together really made my day.”
His words were a little rushed, his excitement making him want to blurt out everything he’d seen and heard all at once. He was just so happy to see his friends, and even though they met up for drinks or coffee at least once a week, it wasn’t the same. He was always excited to see them.
Kuzmila, a dwarf in accounting, popped up behind them, her eyes locked on the box in Peri’s hand. “Please tell me those are more of those little treats you made last time. Those were to die for.”
He snickered, accepting her side hug while offering her the box. He didn’t take her fixation on his treats as rude. She was a little grumpy by nature. He won her over with treats, and the fact that she looked forward to more always made him smile.
“Same treat, different flavor,” he said as she popped open the box. The macarons were pastel this time, with light flavors of rose and strawberry. He was feeling all sappy after watching David finally get his happily ever after, so the macarons were all pink and flirty. Kuzmila popped one into her mouth without complaint, sighing happily as she savored the flavor.
“You’re my favorite,” she said dreamily, snagging another from the box. Thankfully, Peri always made plenty so people could have more than one. He knew his friends well, and there would be an uprising if someone missed out on a treat. He set the box on the reception desk, smiling brightly as a line quickly formed. He received payments of hugs and hair ruffles and even a lick on the cheek from a friendly young werewolf. Peri beamed through it all, to the point that his cheeks hurt when the crowd finally died down and he got a break.
He snagged a few treats in a napkin and wiggled his fingers at Doreen, pointing at Morana’s office. “I’m going to check in. Be back in a minute.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Good. I want to hear more about this orc romance. I’m still waiting for the next Avery Whitman office romance to come out, and I need my fluffy fix.”
Giggling, Peri waved her away and flitted off, using his wings to lift him above the desks. If he didn’t, he’d get distracted by one conversation or another, and he wanted to give Morana her treat first. He landed in front of her door and knocked gently,waiting for her to invite him inside. It took her a minute, but she eventually called out, and her tired smile brightened when she saw it was him.