Spencer and the Library
Part 1
Spencer walked off the train and tried not to appear nervous. He had been contacted because the secretary who had done so claimed that David Rossi had a use for his skills specifically. He had been offered a very high salary. He hadn't been sure if he was going to accept the offer or not. Yes, he realized he had several unique skills that would be of use, but he was still rather suspicious as to why David Rossi who was a guru of business would want him. It was said that his businesses spanned the world and that it had been around for hundreds of years. It was said that he was something of a philanthropist, gave to numerous charities and helped people in need. However, Spencer well know that that didn't necessarily make this David Rossi a good guy. No, he could be some kind of serial killer that was just very subtle about it.
Alright, so he had many skills, that made him qualify for many different jobs and careers, but had chosen, to be a librarian, which he was really overqualified for, but it allowed him to read every book as soon as it came in, as Spencer believed that no knowledge was ever wasted. This David Rossi contacting him through his secretary, for a position he hadn't applied for was rather suspicious to Spencer's mind. On the other hand, he could be aboveboard.
Spencer looked around and saw a cab and began to step towards it, when he saw a sign held up with his name on it by a big black man that was kind of intimidating.
"You're waiting for me?" Spencer asked the big guy.
"Yes, I'm Derek Morgan and Mr. Rossi, asked me to pick you up," The big black man replied seeming very cordial.
"Why?" Spencer asked just a little suspiciously.
"Not the trusting type I take it," Derek laughed goodnaturedly.
"No, that's a good way to get yourself in trouble. In fact, it would be quite easy to make me disappear, since no one would know I was missing for a week or more," Spencer said.
"That is not Mr. Rossi's intent," Derek promised him.
"Alright then," Spencer finally conceded after having studied Derek body language and tone of voice.
"Good," Derek said pleased. "This way."
Derek led the way to a nice car that was parked at the curb.
"Get in," Derek ordered and Spencer did so, buckling his seat belt as Derek started the engine.
"Are we going to see Mr. Rossi right away?"
"Mr. Rossi suggested that you simply relax for the next few hours and he'll see you for dinner," Derek said.
"I'm fine, I slept on the train," Spencer protested.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Rossi is very busy at the moment, but will be free for dinner," Derek said.
Spencer sighed silently now knowing that he was going to have to spend hours in his hotel before he finally had dinner and finally learn the whole reason he had come to New York. He supposed that he could go see some of New York, while Mr. Rossi was busy.
"Here we are," Derek said pulling up at a different Hotel than the one that Spencer had originally made a reservation at.
"This isn't my hotel," Spencer protested, as he looked at the tall monolith that was the nicest hotel in New York.
"Mr. Rossi insisted that your hotel be upgraded," Derek explained.
Spencer didn't bother to protest knowing it wouldn't do any good, so he simply exited the car grabbing his overnight bag from the back seat.
"You have the penthouse," Derek explained, as he walked beside Spencer into the lobby of the Lotte New York Palace.
"You don't need to escort me Mr. Morgan. I'm believe I can find my way on my own," Spencer said. "I'm sure you have other things that you need to be doing for Mr. Rossi."
Derek said nothing, but in that sentence he knew that Spencer Reid was used to being alone for the most part. Of course, Dave had insisted that they keep an eye on Spencer while he was living in Richmond. Derek had known that Spencer Reid was in no way reaching his potential by working at a library, but he had at least seemed content there. He also knew that Spencer was in for a shock when he met Dave for the first time as everybody on Dave's personal staff knew exactly what was going on. Everybody knew that Dave along with one of his mates Aaron Hotchner were immortal, they knew that Spencer was Dave and Aaron's other mate. They also knew that the best way to entice Spencer Reid to come to New York was to offer him a position in their personal library, as Dave and Aaron had collected thousands of books over the last few hundred years. There were books that hadn't been in print for hundreds of years and Derek knew that Spencer Reid was an expert on rare books, even though at the library he worked for he didn't encounter any rare books just new ones.
"I don't mind," Derek said.
Spencer said nothing, but he knew that this David Rossi must've told this Derek Morgan to stay with him, though for what reason he couldn't imagine. What was he going to do after all? Slit his wrists? Run into a busy street until he got himself killed when a car ran into him?
He suspected that Mr. Morgan was just being polite and that once his duties were done he would never see him again, except possibly from a distance. After all, who would want hang out with someone like him? He was a know-it-all who never should've been born after all at least according to the man he shared half his DNA with. He was too intelligent, too plain, to boring to be of interest to anyone other than as a friend and he really didn't have any close ones just people he knew and was friendly with.
"Reservation for Spencer Reid," Spencer told the man at the desk, as soon as he had reached it.
"Yes, Mr. Reid you have the penthouse suite," The man said after checking the name on the computer. "Please take the elevator on the left and it will take you directly there."
"Thank you," Spencer said politely taking his key from the man.
Spencer strolled briskly to the elevator on the left with Derek following him.
~~~Dave, Aaron and Spencer~~~
"It's nice to meet you Mr. Rossi," Spencer said shaking the handsome man's hand. In fact, David Rossi was quite possibly the most handsome man he had ever laid eyes on and looked to be only a little older than himself.
He knew it was in no way possible that this David Rossi had started the company that now spanned the world, but it probably was his many times great-grandfather, because the company had been around for hundreds of years from what his research had told him. The weird thing was that from his research each head of the company had been named David Rossi, though he supposed that there was nothing wrong with carrying on family tradition by naming the oldest son of each generation David.
"It's a pleasure to meet you to," Dave said warmly. He was thrilled with meeting his last mate in person for the first time, though he been keeping an eye on him for the last several years through an intermediary. It had been on a trip to Richmond that Aaron had run across him accidentally and known immediately that Spencer was their last mate. "Now, how about we order dinner before we get down to discussing business."
Spencer sat down and tried not to show how nervous he was and read the menu at warp speed.
Dave watched this silently. He had known of course, all about his mates talent, as he'd gotten regular reports from his contact at the library, but had never actually seen it in action before this. He tried his best to conceal his astonishment as he didn't want to insult the man before him who was nervous enough.
He knew very well that his mate had no close friends, though he was friendly with many people, but no one knew him very well at all, but to be fair no one had really tried to, so Spencer had simply withdrawn into himself, did his job and went home. His mate was used to being alone Dave knew though he was hoping to change that.
The two of them ordered and Spencer of course ordered the cheapest thing on the menu and Dave shook his head.
"So about this job offer?" Spencer asked after their orders had come.
"Oh, yes, I have a large personal library of books that have been gathered by my ancestors for hundreds of years and there's actually no organization to them. It's going to be quite a job to catalog them and get them into some kind order," Dave said.
"Your ancestors didn't catalog them and put them into proper order?" Spencer asked not sure if he believed it.
"No, they were just so busy getting the company off the ground I guess that they just stored extra books in one of the storerooms and there are boxes and boxes of them," Dave said.
This statement was true Dave did have boxes and boxes of books that he had never managed to organize into some kind order. He just bought what interested him and then put it on a shelf after reading it of course, not caring if it was in the correct spot or not. "The job is going to take you sometime."
"One question," Spencer said. "Why me? I certainly never put in an application for this job that's apparently going to take months at least."
Dave couldn't tell Spencer the real reason of course, not yet.
"Because somebody I trust recommended you," Dave said not telling Spencer that was simply himself. He'd had to find some way to get Spencer to come into his domain. Somewhere where a true explanation could be given, but only when he'd had gained Spencer's trust.
"And what about my job at the library? I'll lose it if I'm gone for six months or more," Spencer added seriously considering offer, though it was going to be hard to not fall for this David Rossi.
"You can always take a year sabbatical and I'll talk to your boss," Dave offered, though he hoped by the end of the task that Spencer would agree to be his and Aaron's, exclusively. Still, he knew perfectly well that immortality was going to be hard to believe for someone like Spencer who was very logical and had a scientific mind and absorbed knowledge like a sponge, so he didn't think it would be easy.
"You have as much time to consider my offer as you like," Dave offered. "The penthouse at the Lotte is at your disposal until that decision is made no matter how long that takes you, as it's open ended."
"Well, you must really want my services," Spencer said, as the studied David Rossi.
"You're the most qualified applicant whether you applied or not," Dave replied simply.
The only applicant I would consider, Dave added in his thoughts. "I've had a background check run on you and you're definitely overqualified for your job at the library as you have about six different degrees. This could be your opportunity to read some of the rarest books in the world."
Spencer hadn't considered that this David Rossi would actually let him read the books he'd be organizing, but the opportunity was almost too good to pass up.
"I'll consider it for the next couple of days anyway," Spencer said.
He didn't say he was already pretty certain what his answer would be, but still he needed to consider all the pros and cons.
"As I said the suite at the Lotte is at your disposal for as long as necessary," Dave said smiling and suspecting that Spencer would be accepting his offer, but just needed a couple of days to think about it.
"Thank you," Spencer said.
"You're quite welcome," Dave said.
"Is this how you treat all prospective new hires?" Spencer had to ask, though he certainly didn't want to offend the man sitting across from him.
"The ones on my personal staff got the same treatment and they were free to either take me up on my offer or reject it," Dave said smiling. "Of course, since I pay better then any other company they accepted my offer. They'll all tell you that they love their jobs and that they are treated more like family then people who work for me, though they do what they are paid for or they'd be fired, as I can't stand laziness or incompetence."
Spencer nodded at this, because he could understand Mr. Rossi point of view, when you were paid for a job you did it or you wouldn't be working very long, you didn't whine or complain.
"Of course, for anyone else that works for me I don't know most of them because I pay other people to do the recruiting and the hiring. My organization is vast, and I have millions of employees," Dave added.
Spencer nodded again as what Mr. Rossi was saying did make sense as Dave would be the top man and underneath him would be plenty of people that answered to him and who did the hiring and the firing of employees. Most of those employees would never even meet David Rossi as he was far too busy a man to meet every single person that worked at one of his businesses.
"Of course, from all I've heard about you I don't have to worry about laziness or incompetence," Dave added with humor twinkling in his eyes.
Spencer flushed at the praise as he wasn't used to it.
"You don't have to butter me up I'll seriously consider your offer," Spencer said.
Dave said nothing, but mentally shook his head again. His mate couldn't even take an honest compliment it seemed, without him thinking that he was being buttered up, which told him that he was so rarely, sincerely complimented that he took it as a way to get him to do something.
"So what did you think of Mr. Morgan?" Dave asked.
"He seems like a pretty nice guy," Spencer said cautiously.
Though why he insisted on spending the entire afternoon with me is still beyond my understanding, as after all I'm sure there are plenty of other things he could've been doing, Spencer added in his thoughts.
"I'm sure you'll be good friends once you get to know him, as he's a good guy," Dave said. "He's head of my personal security, he's married to my computer expert Miss Penelope. I'm sure you'll absolutely love her as everyone does that talks to her for a few minutes and anyone who doesn't isn't worth knowing."
Spencer said nothing unsure of how to respond, because he never really had close friends before and really he didn't expect that to change, because when somebody listened to him for a few minutes they knew that he wasn't worth knowing. He was just walking library according to many people. Besides, it wasn't like he got many opportunities to expand on his knowledge to others anyway.
"I heard he spent the afternoon with you," Dave added after a moment, not being able to read what Spencer was thinking as his face was expressionless and his body language was giving nothing away as to his real thoughts.
"Well, yes, he insisted, though I'm sure he had other jobs to do, duties to perform. He didn't have to spend the afternoon with me, as I would've been perfectly fine on my own," Spencer said in a neutral tone, not giving a hint of his real feelings.
It had actually been pleasant to spend a few hours with someone as they chatted. Derek as he had told Spencer to call him hadn't seemed to think it was weird that he knew so many obscure bits of information. No, Spencer had been able to talk to his heart's content and Derek had actually asked intelligent questions seeming genuinely interested. If it was an act it was a good one, because Spencer certainly couldn't tell it was and he was usually pretty good at telling if people were faking being interested.
Dave had already heard all about this from Derek who had been able to tell that Spencer was lonely, that he didn't expect people to stay around just to keep him company. It had been Derek's opinion that the way Spencer chatted on showed that he wasn't used to having anybody to talk to, other than as part of his job when he helped people find books or checking them in or out, but that was hardly real conversation. No, Spencer had been mostly ignored all his life and wasn't outgoing enough to make friends easily and apparently he didn't even try to. There was likely a history of bullying when he had been a kid, Dave figured and if the bullying had been severe enough that would make anyone with a brain would cautious about peoples intentions when they were adults. He also believed that Spencer thought so little of himself that he didn't even try to forge that kind of relationship with anybody or perhaps, it was he'd been hurt so much in the past that he didn't want to risk being close to people that could betray him. It could even be a combination of both for all he knew.
"He was free to do what he wanted and it really says something that he chose to spend a few hours just talking to you," Dave said outwardly calm. "Otherwise, he probably would've been spending time with Penny."
Spencer said nothing, but felt a nice warm little glow that Derek had chosen to spend a few hours with him and he wasn't under orders to do like he had believed before because after all who'd want to spend their free time with someone like him?
By the time dinner was over several hours later Spencer actually felt hope for the future for the first time in a long while.
~~~Dave, Aaron and Spencer~~~
Spencer dwelled on the fact that he had fallen in love with David Rossi at first sight for the rest of the day and he couldn't understand that at all. He had heard of this phenomenon of course, but he had always put it down to mere chemistry or fanciful imaginations.
He didn't understand how his feelings had reared up so quickly, that he had trouble suppressing them so that Mr. Rossi didn't notice. He knew he had no chance with getting into a relationship with someone who would likely soon be his employer, as for one thing employer/employee relationships didn't mix no matter what romance novels said. For another he knew that David Rossi would never return the feelings of someone like him as he was likely completely straight and even if by some miracle he wasn't he still wouldn't be suitable for someone as rich, handsome, well-educated and debonair. He was sure that this David Rossi would want an heir to carry on the family name and he certainly couldn't produce one because he was a man.
No, he would have to do his best to hide his feelings and luckily, he was very good at doing just that. Still, he wondered what it be better if he didn't take the job that was offered? The salary was certainly more than he had expected and very generous. He would make enough to perhaps get away from the library and set up his own little business if he desired to, once the job was completed.
He trusted that Mr. Rossi would pay him exactly what he had originally offered as he had an impeccable reputation in business. Besides, once he signed the contract he would be required by law to do so or he'd be able to sue. No, you didn't get the reputation Mr. Rossi did if you didn't have good business ethics.
Still, could he hide his feelings for as long as this job was going to take? If there really were thousands of unsorted volumes picked up at estate sales and other places? The library was also apparently disorganized, so it was going to take months, maybe even a year or more to get it all sorted out.
He would have to read over the contract carefully before he really agreed, Spencer decided. Make sure he wasn't being taken advantage of. He didn't expect anything of the sort, but it didn't hurt to be careful.
Finally, Spencer decided to sleep on it after he had a fine meal from from service, as he might as well take advantage of Mr. Rossi's generosity.
Spencer had been expecting to toss and turn, but instead he slept like a baby and when he woke, he found it was still just shy of 5 AM. This wasn't surprising as he had gone to bed fairly early.
Finally, exactly 2 days later he called the number he had been given and he was connected to Mr. Rossi immediately.
"Yes, Dr. Reid?" Dave answered being very formal, as the situation called for, even if he would rather not be so with his mate.
Spencer was silent for a few seconds and Dave took that to mean that he was rather startled to be called doctor even though he had earned the title many times over.
"I called to say that I decided to accept job on a trial basis," Spencer said. "If this is not okay then I'll just head back to Richmond."
Normally, Spencer wouldn't even consider trying to bargain with an employer, as they didn't like that, but in this case he thought that Dave might be amendable to it. Spencer didn't want to be stuck for a whole year or more if he couldn't hide his feelings for or stand being around Dave, as that would be torture.
"I think that can be arranged," Dave said after a few minutes of seeming contemplation
Dave really wanted to say yes, immediately if it was the only way to keep Spencer here, but he also didn't want to seem to eager, as that would make Spencer suspicious, so he remained silent for long enough that it seemed he was actually thinking about it. "I'll have my lawyers draw up the paperwork immediately. Why don't you come on by or better yet I'll have Derek pick you up," Dave offered. "We can discuss terms."
"I can take a cab," Spencer protested.
"Derek will get you through security, much faster," Dave said his tone firm.
Spencer sighed nearly inaudibly, but gave in, as it appeared that Dave's mind was set so he didn't argue anymore.
"Alright, I'll be waiting," Spencer said.
"We'll discuss things as soon as you arrive," Dave said before saying goodbye and hanging out. Things were definitely moving apace.
~~~Dave, Aaron and Spencer~~~
"So things are moving really fast now," Aaron said, as soon as David hung up the phone.
"Yes," Dave said simply. "We have a lot to discuss with our last mate. We must try to convince him to stay with us, but we can't force the issue, as that just leads to unhappiness and possible betrayal. Dinner the other night in the restaurant, private room or not was not the place to discuss such a thing, not with the waiter coming in and out. No, what we have to discuss must remain among the trusted few. You me and our very trusted personal staff, since they were turned immortal, once they proved their loyalty."
"Well, you are going to have at least a few months to do that," Aaron said. "I might want to stay in the background since he's seen me before and he'll probably be suspicious if I show up. He's brilliant so he might put the pieces together."
"I doubt he'd guess the real reason why we would have gone out of our way to get him here," said Dave, "but he might come close to the truth. As for you staying in the background I don't think that's a good idea, because when he meets you later he'd be rightfully upset that he didn't know that you were part of the organization. He's only met you once briefly and totally by accident so if we introduce you right away he won't be suspicious."
Aaron considered it and felt that perhaps, Dave was right. This way there would be less room for misunderstandings.
"Alright then, you'll introduce me as your chief executive officer, since that's technically, what I am," Aaron decided.
"That's best," Dave said
"So it's a good thing that the library is so disorganized," Aaron said smiling.
"Yeah, I know I should've put more organization into it," Dave admitted, "but I was so busy building the company, that by the time I realized what a mess it was I knew it would take a massive amount of work to set it right."
"It doesn't help that you're always buying more books at estate sales," Aaron said, smiling a little.
"Yeah, I know, Spencer has a massive job in front of him." Dave sighed. "It's going to take him years probably just sort it all out."
"Especially since he'll read books as he goes along," Aaron smirked.
"Yeah, from what I know he reads far faster than is average. I got a demonstration of that at dinner the other night, when he went through the menu at a much faster pace then you or I could have. He was done in less than 30 seconds and didn't have to look at the menu again before he ordered his meal, which by the way, was the cheapest possible one."
Aaron snorted at that, but knew that he and Dave would correct that particular habit, if he agreed to join them and therefore, make them a triad. Three was a very powerful number in some cultures.
"Yes, we'll correct him of that habit, even if it takes years," Dave agreed already knowing what Aaron was thinking. "He doesn't really make much on his salary at the library and from what I know from his background his childhood was all about moderation. I can guess a lot just from the stuff that Penny found out about him, but there are a lot of things that don't make electronic records. Besides, computers weren't even around until like the 50s and it wasn't before recently like the last 20 years or so that they started putting records on computer anyway."
"Penny was very thorough," Aaron said smiling.
"She always is," Dave agreed. "If she didn't find it, it's not on there to be found."
"So how do you want to play this?" Aaron asked finally.
"I think we should be honest," Dave said finally. "We'll have to play it by ear, but still, I think we should be completely honest, because I suspect he's very good at telling when someone is lying or at least not telling the complete truth, as it's a skill that some people develop when they have very bad childhoods or jobs that require it."
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Aaron said, as he had read the same information as Dave that Penny had dug up.
"Immortality and triads are going to be very strange concepts to him and I'm not sure how he's going to react to the information," Dave said.
"I would suspect disbelief at least, possibly anger, because he'll likely think that we're feeding him a line and that we got him to come all the way here to New York just for our own sick amusement," Aaron said.
"On the other hand, once logic reasserts itself he'll realize that we would not risk the integrity of our company just to play such a sick joke on him. He'll likely demand proof, which both of us will be happy to provide. We can't really predict how he'll react, because everybody's different."
"We might want to wait a few weeks anyway, let him get settled in before we decide to tell him," Aaron suggested.
"I'm not sure he'll agree to actually live here, even though we have plenty of room," Dave said. "If he doesn't then the penthouse suite at the Lotte is his for as long as he wants it."
"I would think it would be hard to resist the amount of pay you offered him," Aaron said, "though I know that not everybody is driven by money. Spencer certainly doesn't seem to be, as he could get a much more high-paying job if he cared to."
"So we'll just have to be very careful not to spend too much money on him until he's comfortable, though I refuse to stint on things like clothes and food."
"Yeah, he really does need a whole new wardrobe, though you might have a fight on your hands," Aaron said.
"We'll simply buy him new clothes and tell him that I want him properly dressed and not looking like an old man from the 50s and 60s," Dave said. "He won't have to do any public appearances since JJ is a face of the company, but still, people will treat him better if he's properly dressed. It's definitely not fair, but that's just the way society works. He might develop more self-confidence once people are treating him with greater respect."
"You know he might dress like that just so people don't notice him. You know so he fades into the background," Aaron suggested.
"That's more than possible actually," Dave said consideringly. "Of course, from what we know his mother was sick before she died just a couple years ago and I doubt she ever educated her son on style. She probably wasn't one of those women that dressed in the latest fashions, as she was a literature professor. From what I know she preferred literature from the 14th and 15th centuries mostly and that alone ought to tell you something."
"It could be that he was just neglected so much that he never started to dress fashionably, as he didn't have any positive influence in order to do so," Aaron suggested. "Or perhaps he started to dress unfashionably on purpose, so people would ignore him."
Dave nodded, because Aaron could very well be right for all he knew. There was only so much you could learn about someone from a background check or from other people after all.
"Well, he'll be here in a few minutes so we had better be prepared for any and all questions," said Dave finally.
"I'll follow your lead, as you've actually met him and while I have it was only for a few minutes. Still, I've been hearing reports about him for the last couple of years," Aaron said.
Suddenly the phone rang and Dave picked it up. He listened for a minute then put it down, but as soon as he did so he shot a look at Aaron and then Aaron knew that Spencer and Derek had arrived.
"We had better go down and greet them," Dave said trying to appear calm, but really he was a nervous wreck an unusual event for him. However, this was more important than anything else he had ever undertaken in his life, well, other then convincing Aaron that the two of them were meant to be together
"I think it would be better if we met them in your office for a first meeting," Aaron suggested, knowing that Dave wasn't thinking like the owner of a large, multifaceted company, but like a man in love.
"That's probably wise," Dave decided.
The two of them strode briskly to their private elevator that led up to their penthouse suite that had several extra bedrooms and a lot of space to make it a very comfortable place to live. It had been home for some time now for the two of them.
~~~Dave, Aaron and Spencer~~~