I called Carlos at what I'd later realize was a rather late hour. No idea why I thought of calling him at 10pm, or why he even answered the phone, but he was as genuine about the offer as he had seemed the day, he had made it. He seemed surprised about my call initially, which had me question whether this was just somehow an ill-fated idea, but he quickly explained he had actually thought I'd call sooner. Given, almost a week had passed since we parted and I believe I had mentioned I would give him my answer to his offer within a few days, but… well… six days were still considered a few, weren't they?

Handing in my two weeks' notice the next day felt liberating in a way I had never experienced. I could have left that moment, taking my sick days for the remaining two weeks, but that wasn't the kind of person I was. While I didn't plan on sticking around for the entire remainder of my employment, I also figured I at least needed to try and get some things done. Things that actually were my responsibility and part of my job description. Though… that sentiment only lasted two days before I grew tired and sick of snide remarks, mountains of work and everyone and their mother adding to my load. Was I actually the only one working anymore? Fine. Five more hours until my day was over and tomorrow…. I wouldn't return. Screw them, screw Elmer, screw this company. If they didn't know how to treat an employee and colleague with respect why should I return the favor?

Packing my bag that night, knowing I wouldn't be seen again in these offices was a weird feeling, but maybe that was partly due to the fact that I was the only one knowing I'd never be coming back. At least I hoped I never did.

My desk never held a lot of personal items, mainly because they weren't allowed, so packing everything up didn't take much longer than any other day and it also meant I wouldn't been seen carrying a big box with me. I figured the news about my resignation hadn't made the rounds yet and figured it could be any day now that Elmer and his legion of dragons would be notified that they needed to find someone new to work into the ground. Maybe I should see my sick days as mental health days, seeing as I'd probably need a few days to get over my anger of having stayed around for that long. I might not know what things were in store for me at Carlos Manoso's company, but things could only be better, couldn't they?

The day I started working for RangeMan I was as nervous as a first grader starting school. I didn't know what I was in for or what the future held, neither was a I aware whether there was a dress code. From what I remembered the guys that had met us at the airstrip wearing it didn't look like I needed to wear office attire with pant suits and the likes, but I also didn't want to look too casual. I was almost certain that regardless of what I chose to wear, I'd stick out by a mile. In the end I settled on a nice pair of jeans and a black dress shirt and figured I could always show up with something more appropriate the next day.

I found the building rather fast and realized that I had never been in that part of town. It was off the main streets and at the end of the business district, an area where I hardly came to. EE Martin and RangeMan were about the same distance from my place, just in entirely different directions.

Finding a parking spot proved to be rather easy and with one last deep breath, I checked my watch, seeing I was just on time. Pulling the heavy doors open, I found myself in a reception area which was deserted with the exception of a guy behind a massive desk.

Walking towards him, the short heels on my shoes clicked and clacked over the floor, echoing of the walls a second later. Maybe sneakers would have been a better choice? Or at least something without any sort of heel?

"Hi, I'm Stephanie Plum and I believe Mr. Manoso is expecting me?" I said to the guy who looked curiously at me.

He checked something, nodded and asked me for ID a moment later.

Pushing my driver's license across the desk, he looked at it briefly, while dialing his phone and speaking into the receiver, announcing my arrival.

"Take a seat," the guy said after he had hung up, directing me towards a set of couches next to a large window front. "Ranger will be with you in a moment."

I don't know who Ranger was, but figured now was the wrong time to ask. So, I moved as quietly as possible towards the couches and sat down.

Maybe two minutes later I heard what sounded like a heavy door falling into its look and maybe a few seconds after that Carlos came around the corner and into view. He was dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt and reminded me of the way he was dressed during our stay in Fargo. Glad I at least seemed to have chosen right for my outfit.

"Stephanie, good to see you again and glad you could make it," he greeted me, presenting me with his hand a moment later. I grabbed it and realized instantly how smooth and blissfully warm it was. He pulled me almost effortlessly out of my sitting position and we made our way towards where he had just come from, though with a quick stop at the desk again.

"Zero, I want you to meet Stephanie Plum. She is starting today and will hopefully make Tank and my life a little easier."

Instead of a reply, Zero just seemed to smile in a strange way, like he wanted to say Good luck with that.

"It's nice to meet you, Zero," I said, feeling odd calling someone Zero.

He looked at my offered hand, seeming confused, but eventually he reached for it with his and shock it.

"Likewise, Stephanie. Welcome to RangeMan and good luck. With Tank and Ranger as your charge … you'll need it," he just said, grinning a moment later.

Before I could reply, Carlos moved us towards a bank of elevators whose doors opened a second later.

"Who's Ranger?" I asked when the doors slowly closed. "Apparently, he was supposed to meet me and I'm also working for or with him? Is he someone I need to be aware of?"

I couldn't interpret the smile on his lips and it was only there for a second anyway…

"Is he your personal… assistant or something? And if so…, what am I doing?"

"Some would say he's essential to the company and a tough bastard that can be hard to please. I wouldn't go as far. Workaholic maybe but nothing that's impossible or hasn't been done before."

"Okay," I said slowly, processing what he said. "And I… work for him?"

The smile returned once more, though even shorter than before.

"So… am I his assistant or something? You have never actually said what exactly I will be doing."

"First of all, you are no one's assistant. No matter what some guys here might say at one point sooner or later." There was a short moment of silence and looking at him he seemed to think about his next words. "Regarding Ranger…"

"Yes?"

I saw him press his lips together. Oh god, what now? Was this the part he hadn't told me about? The downside? The small print? But then again, how bad could that Ranger guy be? Carlos was the boss after all and he didn't look like someone who would put up with crap.

"There is no downside," he laughed. "And I certainly do not put up with crap. Or drama for that matter," he said, laughing some more and making me realize I must have phrased my thoughts out loud.

"Then what aren't you telling me? If he is an okay guy, there wouldn't be the need for your evasiveness."

"I don't try to be evasive, trust me. I'm just… amused. You see… Ranger is me. It's a nickname I got stuck with in Ranger school. Hardly anyone calls me Carlos."

"So, you are not essential to the company despite the fact that you are the CEO and you also aren't a tough bastard who's hard to please?" I ask, remembering what he had just said himself.

"No, not really. I mean… do I run a tight ship and bark out commands? Yes, but that's different."

"Will you bark orders at me?" I asked, partly amused, partly worried. I usually did well with highly stressful situations, but no one has ever actually barked at me. At least I don't think anyone ever has.

"Do you want me to bark orders at you?" he asked, equally amused.

"Can I get back to you about that?"

Instead of a reply, he just laughed some more. "I'll give you a tour of everything later, but first we have an appointment with Tank for your contract and the usual waivers and other paperwork you need to sign." And with that the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. I saw a normal looking office space with plenty of cubicles that didn't seem to house anyone right this moment. The entire floor was actually empty and the only sound that could be heard was a buzzing of what I figured was a fridge somewhere in the distance.

"Waivers?" I asked, confused. This was the first time I heard anything about waivers.

"Nothing unusual or spectacular. An NDA which is needed due to our work and sometimes our high-profile clients. Though most of them make us sign their own NDAs on top of ours, but…well," he explained, shrugging a moment later. "There's also a waiver for your medical records for our company medic to be up to date with everything that might be of concern. We would prefer if you sign a form that declares one of us as your emergency contact in case it is needed and also that we have your permission for power of attorney in case someone needs to make a decision regarding your health when you can't."

"I'm… I'm sorry?" I asked, not able to hide the shock. This was sprung on me as if this was normal. Which it wasn't. At least not until now. I never had anyone wanting access to my medical files or asking for me to literally sign over my life to them. This was... scary, to say the least. And maybe we should have talked some more about working for him because right now I felt massively uneducated about …anything.

"It's normal procedure. And maybe a bit over the top for you, since you won't be out in the field, but I rather be safe than sorry if something should go wrong unexpectedly. I promise this is completely normal, everyone has signed the same waivers and it is really just a precaution in your case. The company medic follows the same hypocratic oath as every other doctor and he can't tell me anything you aren't comfortable sharing yourself."

I didn't know what to say. Maybe a first in my life. While I sort of understood why he was asking for the waivers and power of attorney I wasn't sure I felt comfortable. Same with my medical files being handed over to someone I hadn't even met. It wasn't as if I was hiding anything or my medical history was riddled with diseases but this was highly personal and something I didn't know I really liked. What was maybe normal for him was highly unnormal and unorthodox for me.

He must have noticed my less than ecstatic reaction since we stopped walking.

"How about we start small? I give you the contract and the bare minimum of waivers, which is the NDA and we work our way from there? I'll let you meet everyone and maybe we stop by Bobby's office, who is the medic, later today? I guess you don't have to sign everything right now and I can see how some of my requests might seem scary. I don't want you to sign over your life to me or RangeMan, but you need to understand the environment we work in, Babe. While you are not in danger as far as bodily harm goes, I just want to cover all my bases to be prepared for whatever could maybe eventually at one point in the future happen."

I thought about his offer for a while. It sounded good to start small and work my way towards everything else. After all, no one new how long I would last here before I figured I was in over my head.

"Maybe we can reevaluate everything that isn't immediately needed at a later stage," I agreed, feeling calmer within seconds. He nodded his agreement and we went on to what I figured was Tank's office.

This certainly was a very odd first day when it comes to starting a new job.