Friday soon came around and Arthur left as planned to travel to Ealdor before going on to Camelot and his sisters, where he was going to spend the weekend. His present bosses had been understanding about him moving on, to a new job, they had known about the interview as Dragon Enterprises wanted references prior to his interview. They wished him luck and were happy for him to leave in two weeks and take his remaining annual leave. The traffic was light due to the time of day and he made good time and got to Ealdor at two o'clock so he decided to look around the village before heading to sign his contract.

The village had grown over the years, especially since Dragon Enterprises had set up base there. It was still small even though it had doubled in size and now had a village stores. Arthur went in and asked if there were any places for rent, as he was moving to the area. The shopkeeper gave him a local free paper that had adverts for several estate agents in it. "But you will probability have to live in one of the nearby villages or Camelot" she told him "Places around here get snatched up. Mr Merlin encourages his workers to reduce their driving so if you do end up in Camelot there's a good car sharing scheme going on"

"That's handy to know" Arthur said handing over some money for a can of drink.

"Well it's a good thing, too much traffic on the roads otherwise." The woman explained "If you're working for Mr Merlin you're a lucky man he's a good boss, he's been great for the area and his mother is a wonderful lady"

Arthur wasn't sure if he should be listening to gossip, but at the same time it was nice to hear all his previously held beliefs about the company confirmed. As he waited for his change the shop bell went and another customer came in. The shopkeeper glanced up and smiled "Hello Hunith I was just telling this young man what nice people you and your son are, he's going to be working for your son"

Arthur felt embarrassed, the shopkeeper made it sound like he'd been snooping "Actually I said I was moving into the area and looking for a place to rent" he protested looking at Merlin's mother.

Hunith just smiled, she was well aware of Bessie's love of chatting. "Well you must be going to work at Dragon's, you're not a farm worker!" Bessie said defending herself.

Hunith held out her hand "Welcome to the area, good luck with your house hunting, if you're here for your contract Gwen will have a list of agents and may have some idea of what's available she's a very efficient person. Don't mind Bessie she likes to keep her finger on the pulse."

Arthur shook Hunith's hand and looked at Merlin's mother with interest. She was well dressed but gave of an air of friendliness and kindness; it was easy to see where Merlin's character came from. "Thank you Mrs Emrys, you're right I'm on my way there now, the traffic was light so I thought I'd have a reccie before my appointment. I'm Arthur Pendragon by the way."

"Wise man, now I expect we'll meet again soon, Merlin often brings new staff home for a meal to welcome them; I guess you're the new business manager he was advertising for. Good luck" she smiled before walking to a shelf to get her shopping.

Arthur looked at his watch, and grabbing his changed headed back to his car and drove to his appointment. As he pulled into the car park and locked his car he had a good look around. There didn't seem to be any specific places for the management to park, he would need to ask Ms Smith. Once inside the building he reported to the desk and was told to head upstairs to the second floor where Ms Smith would meet him. Arthur headed for the stairs; he never used the lift if he could help it. His job involved too much sitting down and he preferred the exercise. The whole building was modern and light, but then the company was only about five years old and he knew the buildings were propose built. As he reached the second floor and went through the doors he could see Gwen waiting for him.

He walked towards her and held out his hand and gave her a friendly smile he was determined to prove himself. "Good afternoon Ms Smith nice to see you again."

Gwen took his hand and shook it, noting as she did so that Arthur looked the part, was well dressed and looked good in a suit. "Good afternoon Arthur, please call me Gwen, Merlin likes all the staff to be informal in such matters. Please come with me" Gwen walked towards her office. She had had several conversations with Merlin since the interviews and each time he asked her to put aside her feelings and give Arthur a chance, she felt that as Merlin was going to she really had no choice. Once in the office she indicated to Arthur to sit down "Would you like a tea or coffee. You've had a long drive."

"No thank you I got here early and went to the village and got a cold drink" Arthur assured her.

"Right then, I've got your contract here and then I'll show you your office and a quick tour before I leave you with your secretary who will arrange for your pass. If we get it all sorted today it will leave you to find your feet when your start. I take it you've read the copy I sent you and are happy with it?" Gwen was all business.

"I did thank you, and yes, I'm happy" Arthur took out his pen and signed and dated the contract.

Gwen then handed him a manila folder "In there is some details of the area including estate agents and some details of what they have available for rent. I don't know what your plans are, but most people rent before deciding to buy. I realise you're from Camelot so know the area but there is quite a bit of information in the pack that you might find useful, including our share a car incentive."

"On that point do I have a designated space?" Arthur asked

"No, no one here has a designated space. The company has a strong ethos of equality and we are all treated the same from the CEO to the cleaners. Merlin believes, as we all do, that we are all cogs in a wheel and none of us can do our jobs without everyone else. You will find it strange to start with, but it works very well. Unlike any other company, to my knowledge, we have no 'them and us.' We all call each other by our first names, although some of the older staff insist on calling Merlin, Mr Merlin, and we are all treated with respect. As a result it's a very happy place to work. There is only one canteen and no executive facilities." Gwen smiled at Arthur's expression. "A bit different than your father's company I believe."

"It is, I doubt my father even knows most people's names and if anyone, even my sister, called him anything but Mr Pendragon or Sir he'd have a heart attack. One of the reasons I couldn't work for him" Arthur admitted. "He always calls my sister Mrs Knight at work."

"None of that here, Merlin also has an open door policy; he will see anyone at anytime. Mind you unless he has a meeting, and for the first couple of hours in the morning, you will have to find him in the research labs. He hates paperwork and trusts his staff to do their jobs without him chasing them. You will find you have a level of autonomy here that is again unprecedented, to my knowledge. We do have meetings three times a week where all the managers meet up, members of staff are welcome if they wish, or if they have a particular concern, but they don't often come. We publish an online staff magazine each week that keeps everyone informed. For instance we will get a photo of you today and put it in the next issue."

"I can see why this is such a sort after place to work and you don't get much staff turnover. I noticed the bonus is also across the board" Arthur said

"Yes if the company does well we get a bonus two weeks before Christmas, everyone gets the same rate depending on length of service. We also have a hell of a Christmas party." Gwen revealed. "But we all work hard make no mistake about that, and none harder than Merlin, you won't find him on the golf course. Now let's get going"

The first stop was Arthur's office where his predecessor was still working "Hi Tristan" Gwen said as she entered the office "This is Arthur Pendragon"

Tristan looked up and smiled as he held out his hand "Hi Arthur I'll still be here for a week when you start, so I can get to show you everything. You're a lucky man I just wish I was staying. This is your domain" his waved his arm round the office.

Arthur looked around and was surprised it seemed all the offices were that same size as the CEO's another thing he wasn't expecting. Tristan had called someone into the room. "This is Mordred Parker your secretary, he's been here for nearly two years and knows the place inside out, Mordred this is Arthur Pendragon your new boss in two weeks time."

Mordred and Arthur looked at each other with interest. Arthur thought Mordred could almost be Merlin's younger brother. They shook hands "Hi Mordred I look forward to working with you." Arthur said

"Me to" came the reply.

Tristan laughed "You'll get used to Mordred he's a man of few words until he gets to know you"

"Well, we must go, more tour to do. Mordred Arthur will come back here when we've finished can you get his photo for the magazine and for his pass please" Gwen said as she walked towards the door.

"Sure thing Gwen" Mordred smiled as he went back to his desk.

Gwen continued the tour, one of the last places they went to was the development labs "I expect we'll find Merlin down here" Gwen said as she opened the door.

Inside they were met by a gentleman that Arthur thought must be in his late sixties, it surprised him, as most of the workforce seemed to be much younger "Hi Gaius, this is Arthur the new business manager, is Merlin down here?"

"Nope, he left about quarter of an hour ago; I think he thought he would catch you upstairs." Gaius looked at Arthur before holding out his hand almost reluctantly. "Hello Arthur, you look like your mother, same colouring"

"You knew my mother?" Arthur asked puzzled

"Yes I knew your father as well, worked for him once, but that was many years ago, he changed after your mother's death. I left shortly afterwards." Gaius continued to look at Arthur as if trying to read his mind.

Gwen broke the silence "Gaius works here when he wants to, which seems to be most of the time. He's Merlin's uncle"

Arthur wondered if Merlin had ever told his uncle about the bullying, which would explain the looks he was getting. "A pleasure to meet you" Arthur said.

"Well, when you find my nephew tell him his mother expects him home on time tonight, will you Gwen" with that the older man walked away ignoring Arthur.

"Right lets go up to the office and see if we can find Merlin then you can see Mordred and be on your way." Gwen said nothing about Gaius's strange attitude and Arthur decided to let it ride.

Merlin was sat in his office working at the computer when they got there. He looked up as Gwen and Arthur walked in and Arthur saw a stiffening of Merlin's shoulders as he saw him. But Merlin smiled "Hello Gwen, Arthur I was hoping to catch you before you left."

"We went down to the labs. I thought you would be there" Gwen said a fond teasing tone to her voice.

"I don't spend all my time there Gwen" he looked at Arthur "I'm glad you took the job Arthur, if you need to know anything before you start ring either Tristan, Gwen or myself. I hear you met my mother this afternoon"

Arthur looked at Merlin in surprise Merlin laughed "We have a small village mentality news spreads fast." He paused "Mum knows nothing of our past please keep it that way."

Arthur blushed slightly "OK I won't say a word, does your uncle know?"

Gwen butted in "Gaius was his usual self" she explained.

"Not to my knowledge, no. My family were never aware I made sure of that." Merlin looked at Arthur "It wasn't something I talked about and I don't intend to now, the past is the past let's keep it that way. I hope never to hear it mentioned again." Merlin looked out the window and when he turned back he was smiling "Welcome to Dragon Enterprises Arthur I hope you will be happy here, now I've seen you I need to go, sorry but mother is threatening me if I am late home, it's her birthday so I bid you both goodbye."

Gwen spoke once more "Don't forget her present Merlin and tell your mum I will see her tomorrow, have a good evening"

"I will Gwen and thank you from her" with that Merlin was gone.

Arthur went to see Mordred and then left to go to his sisters. His visit had given him a lot to think about, including his new relationship with Dragon's enigmatic boss. It was clear that Merlin would not tolerate any further reference to the past, but Arthur felt there were still many things he wanted to explain, but he would do as Merlin asked. Arthur found it almost inconceivable that Merlin had managed to keep the bullying away from his family, although he knew that when it first started his father had called him into the office at home and told him off, he also remembered to his shame, his reaction and threats he'd made. He wondered if that's why Merlin had never told his family.

By the time he got to his sister's Morgana was home as was her husband. Leon had also been Arthur friend and one of the 'gang'. Only he had always tried to stop the bullying, once he realised the affect it was having on the younger boy. He to felt shame now, he knew he should have tried harder at the time to stop it. He had always walked away, not wanting to be involved. When Leon heard who his brother in law was going to work for he was amazed, and felt that Merlin Emrys must be an amazing person to forgive such treatment. Morgana was also surprised, although she hadn't known about the bulling to the same extent. Her relationship with her half brother hadn't relay developed until they were at University together. By then they had accepted each other and got over the shock of finding they were siblings.

Once they had settled down the three of them talked about Arthur new job and his boss "You know he's amazing, I couldn't believe it when he gave me the job! I had no idea he was Dragon's CEO. He has an amazing set up there. You wouldn't believe some of what he does father would have a fit, everyone is on Christian name terms and I mean everyone. There is an ethos of equality I've never heard of before. His staffs are so loyal and I should think his productivity is higher than anyone else's as a result."

"Can you get me a job there?" Morgana laughed "Uther drives me nuts sometimes"

Arthur looked at her "Never mind sis perhaps he'll retire and let you take over"

"The old goat will never do that, sometimes I think I should have cut loose like you did" Morgana confessed.

"You couldn't have coped with the cut in pay! No your welcome to it and you'll deserve it when he does leave, even if it is in a box" Arthur grinned. "I don't miss him at all you know, now you I miss and you Leon."

"Well I hope you're going to stay here until you get your own place" Morgana asked.

"Won't father get in a mood?" Arthur asked "I don't want to cause you any problems"

"You won't, he can't afford to loos me as well, he misses you, you know, I'm sure you could come and work for us" Morgana said "He soon got used to our marriage"

"No, I could never work for him, it's not just work you know it's not. He will never accept me for who I am, and I can't live a lie" Arthur said sadly "and unless I do father will not accept me as his son."

"Then he's a fool Arthur" Leon said kindly "You're always welcome here, stay as long as you like. Now tell me what's your company car going to be?"

"That will give you a surprise; we are strongly encouraged to share cars if we live away from the area. There are two company cars that stay on site, in case there needed, two hatchbacks. It's a very green company and if I drive in I fight for a parking space like everyone else" Arthur said rolling his eyes.

"What! Your precious Jaguar in the staff car park" Morgana laughed. "Oh dear wait till you boss sees that."

"I know I think I might get a second car, he drives a Yaris! What other CEO drives Yaris" Arthur added. "But he goes by his principles I give him that. I'm looking forward to working for him"