A/N: Technically this has been part of the story all along. But my re-writting of what happens after they go seperate ways moves rather slow, so my updates are a bit slower as well in order to give me time. :)
Jumping more or less out of my seat, I grabbed my purse from the overhead and after a little rummaging my coat, which I had gotten out of when sitting down and followed Carlos outside.
I think I was never happier to have ground underneath my feet or to be back in Trenton than I was right now. It was a feeling you couldn't describe and which also was odd, seeing as I wouldn't describe myself as tied to Trenton. I had just never really made it out of here.
In the distance, I saw several black SUVs and a few guys standing next to them, all dressed in black from head to toe and looking our way.
"I know this seems a little … odd, but the offer for a job in my company still stands," Carlos next to me said when we started walking towards the cars.
"What?" I asked, surprised, wondering when exactly he had actually offered me a job.
"Back in Fargo, when we spoke about your current job and what you are looking for in a new job. When I interviewed you? I meant that."
I laughed for a moment. "You mean the pretend-interview? And the job for your boss?"
"I believe I said something along the lines of the CEO, CFO or COO needing a helping hand and that I could put a word in for you."
"Yes, and you forgot so gallantly to mention that you are all three of them yourself."
"Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto. But… I could really use someone like you, someone who doesn't shy away from work and can find her way into anything."
"While I appreciate the offer, I don't think it would be wise to accept," I said after a few long moments of thought.
"And why's that? I promise you, the pay is excellent and offers you the option to get by for a while even if you decide on not working there anymore after a few months."
I let out a sigh, wondering how to phrase what I was about to say.
"Do you think with the way we have been, especially a few moments ago, me starting to work for you would be such a great idea? I don't want to sound presumptuous, but mixing work and pleasure usually doesn't work out in favorable terms."
He stopped walking next to me, which wasn't the best of signs, and looked at me for a long while, almost as if assessing me. "I like the way you think, but what happened back there is up to you: it could be everything, it could be nothing. If that is the only thing that would stop you from accepting, I have no problem writing it off as me helping you during a stressful situation. I would never mention it again and wouldn't act on anything. I'm well able to separate one thing from another."
I thought about what he said for a moment and had no problem believing him. He seemed like a guy who easily could separate things. The question however, was if I was able to separate things. Yes, I could pretend what we had done never happened the way it did, and also ignore the attraction and simmering tension, but for how long? And then an idea formed.
"You know… we never actually spoke about the benefits of working for you."
"What?" he asked, confused and I couldn't blame him. One second, we spoke about us – more or less – and the next I shifted the attention to his job and company.
"You want me working for you, but you never mentioned the benefits."
He laughed at my comment and shook his head for a solid minute.
"Well, apart from the flexibility and the fact that your boss isn't a total ass, you might find what appreciation looks like. Also, the pay is pretty stellar and you get a whole lot of vacation. Home office if you want, an own office as well, food while in the office. Unfortunately, no hazardous pay, since you would be only confined to the office. You could technically also get an apartment in the building, if you want or need one, though you don't have to. We have an office gym as well as access to a fleet car for every employee who wants one. If you are interested, we could also look into training you to be out in the field, which then would also mean you'd earn more. But that would really only be optional."
"That's quite some list," I admitted cautiously and in a quiet voice. To be honest, it was an impressive list. My current job offered none of that. And probably never would.
"It is what everyone working for RangeMan is entitled to. You work hard, you get appropriately compensated. It's that simple."
"It sounds good," I just said, nodding for no particular reason.
"Look, think about the offer for a few days and get back to me," he replied, producing a business card a moment later.
I took the offered black business card which displayed in a simple yet elegant who he was, what his title in the company was and how you could get a hold of him. Looking at the card carefully and turning it back and forth in my hands, I wasn't sure what to make off his offer. It was a generous one and probably one that wouldn't just pay me more but also teach me something new, but… the doubt still remained. I probably really needed the suggested few days to make a sound decision. "If I take you up on the offer, I want whatever I owe you for the past few days to get deducted from my first paycheck."
He laughed some more at my insisting suggestion and I noticed a few heads of the guys in front of us move in a surprised manner.
"You won't let that go, will you?" he asked, amused, and I shook my head.
"I don't take handouts and prefer to pay back everything I owe."
"Fair enough," he finally agreed.
"And if I don't take the job, we'll figure out something else."
"Very well," he agreed after a long pause, probably wondering what his chances were of talking me out if it. Slim had he asked.
We walked the remaining few feet towards the waiting vehicles and men and after he had spoken to all of them briefly, he turned to me. "Can we drop you off somewhere? The private airstrip isn't really frequented by taxis or the likes."
"I... um… well," I started, needing a moment to collect my thoughts. I had never been to the private airfield in Trenton, so I wasn't entirely sure how far out it was and what options I technically had. But when he mentioned no taxis around, I also figured chances for a bus were even less favorable. "If you don't mind," I finally said and saw a little surprise on his face. I might be stubborn and was all for equal rights and opportunities, but I wasn't stupid and could admit when it was appropriate to accept help.
I had assumed one of them would drop me off, getting the boss himself on the road back to the office, but was surprised when everyone but the two of us got in one car and sped off and Carlos took it apparently upon himself to drop me off.
To be honest, I am not entirely certain which option I would have preferred if presented with a choice: the boss himself or one of his employees.
He held the passenger door to a massive SUV open, helping me inside a moment later and closing the door once I was safely seated.
"What's your address?" he asked me once inside himself, typing something on the car's GPS.
"St. James and Dunworth," I provided, saw him type and wondered whether he really needed a GPS. Trenton wasn't that big of a city and unless you lived and worked in the outer skirts, everyone usually knew most streets.
I knew the drive wouldn't be a long one, despite the fact that I didn't even have the slightest clue about where exactly we were. But Trenton wasn't widespread and I figured the private air terminal wouldn't be hours out. We were cruising for a few minutes and the next thing I noticed were hands that shock me softly.
Opening my eyes, annoyed at the interruption, I realized I must have dozed off. No surprise when thinking about the last few days which were uneventful in general, it still took its toll on me it seemed.
"Sorry to wake you up, Sleeping beauty, but I think we have arrived," Carlos said, looking almost apologetic my way. Blinking a few times, I realized he was right and we were only a few buildings away from my place.
I sat up again from my slumped posture and directed him towards the parking lot of my apartment complex, seeing it rather empty at this time of day. He parked pretty much next to the door and killed the car, turning my way.
"I meant what I said earlier. My job offer still stands."
"I really appreciate it, but I think I need a day or two to think about it. At least. Also… what exactly would you need me to do? I mean, you mentioned benefits and roughly what it is that your company does, but I don't think I'm able to do any of that. I'm not necessarily fit or sportif for that matter."
"While you would be subject to the annual health screening and endurance tests everyone at RangeMan has to go through, I wouldn't sent you out in the field. Not until I know you would be able to stand your ground and be okay. It'd be more along the lines of scheduling and probably the paper work that doesn't require any of us to sign off on personally. Maybe an introduction into various systems, payroll, rosters. But I wouldn't throw you in at the deep end, you'd be getting plenty of training and still have people afterwards to ask everything you might need help or clarification with. You don't fend for yourself."
"Okay, that sounds good enough, I suppose," I said, not sure what to make of any of this. Technically it sounded like what I was doing so far at my current job, so I guess I should be okay in the long run.
"You're still not convinced," Carlos detected in a somewhat neutral tone.
"I just… I need a few days to think about everything. I don't do too well with change," I admitted with a laugh. "But I really appreciate your offer, I really do. Just give me a bit of time and I'll get back to you about my final answer as well as a time frame should I accept the offer."
"That sounds fair," he just replied honestly.
Opening the door of the car, I unbuckled and moved towards the door, getting out a moment later and seeing Carlos moving to do the same on his side.
"No need to get out on my account," I suggested and saw him look at me puzzled. "I have your card and promise to think about your offer thoroughly and will give you my answer in a few days."
I smiled at him, closed the door and waved for a short moment at him. Why? Not sure, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Then I walked the few steps towards the door and was a few minutes later back in my own place, grateful to see my own bed again. What a couple of crazy days.
Now, apart from thinking about everything I also realized I needed to get my baggage sorted which probably was still somewhere at the other end of the country.
Dialing the hotline number for my airline, a mechanic voice told me that I was currently 56th in line and my approximate waiting time should be around an hour. Great. Really great!