Kip fit in with the other three smoothly and soon the others had no idea how they had ever done without him. Weeks passed and while Kip was pleasant to Zara, he did not ask her out like she had hoped and thought maybe it was because she was the boss.
Asking out the boss, even if there were no rules against it, could be career ending if the boss got offended or the relationship broke up and the boss got rid of the employee with some excuse, so Zara supposed she couldn't blame Kip for being cautious.
Zara was getting somewhat desperate as Kip had shown clear interest in Clarissa, but Clarissa had turned him down, because she was dating someone, but that wouldn't last forever as Clarissa was bound to break up with her boyfriend sometime in the next few weeks, as that was just the way that Clarissa was. She was simply not really interested in settling down quite yet. This did not mean that Clarissa would necessarily agree to date a coworker, as that could be somewhat dangerous if they had a bad break up and then they'd have to work together despite their negative feeling towards each other. Zara wasn't entirely sure which way, Clarissa would decide to go if Kip asked her out again after she had broken up with her current boyfriend, which was why she worried.
Zara was heading back to her office after using the bathroom when she heard Kip and Charlie talking quietly.
"What do you know about your boss?" Kip asked Charlie.
"Why do you ask?" Charlie asked curiously.
"It's just that she's so fascinating," Kip explained. "She has a fine mind for one thing, something I can definitely appreciate and her looks don't hurt either, as she's stunning."
He didn't mention the dreams he had been having about Zara Rossi. You see he was magical, which was an ability that most of the population did not have. There were magicals all over the world that were very careful when they used their magic so that normal people particularly the government never found out about them.
Zara blushed thinking it was nice that Kip had noticed, and she was glad to know that Kip had been paying attention to her, even if she hadn't noticed.
"I just want to know if she is attached to anyone," Kip added, and Charlie hesitated for a moment. "Does she have a boyfriend or a husband?"
"No, she's not married and as far as I know, she's not even dating right now, as she is very involved in her work," Charlie answered.
"Is it against the rules to ask out your boss?" Kip asked.
"I thought you interned before you came here?" Charlie asked.
"I did, but it wouldn't have been wise to ask out my female coworker, as for one thing she was considerably older than me and another she wasn't at all interested. Besides, I was as low on the totem pole, as it was possible to be back then and while there's no rules against it, I didn't need that dent in my ego when Marissa turned me down. Here though, we're on more equal terms, as I finally finished my degree and am no longer an intern, even if she's my boss."
"Well, there's no rule against coworkers dating, not even about the boss dating a subordinate, just like at your last position, that hasn't changed," Charlie said. "Of course, if it ends badly, one of you could leave and that would be you, because Zara would fire you and come up with a legit reason to do so."
"Still, I'm willing to take the risk," Kip said, "though I'm well aware of what could happen."
"It's your neck," Charlie said.
"It's nice to know that she's not seeing anyone, but what else do you know about her?" Kip asked.
"She has a large family, three siblings, parents and godparents are all still alive and a huge extended family," Charlie answered, "and no, I've never met any of them as they don't live in the area. That's all I can tell you. I hope it works out for you. If not, goodbye and good luck."
Zara knowing the conversation was ending immediately ducked back into the bathroom until she heard footsteps coming down the corridor, and once they had disappeared, exited the bathroom

~~~Kip and Zara~~~

Several days later

"What about lunch everyone?" Zara asked the other three. "It's on me."
"Oh, the boss is buying us lunch," Clarissa said in a teasing tone.
"So what do you all want Mexican, Chinese, pizza, Italian, Spanish," Zara ticked off on her fingers what restaurants were close by ignoring Clarissa's teasing.
"I'm in the mood for Spanish," Kip offered. "What about you two?"
This question was directed at Clarissa and Charlie.
"Spanish is OK with me," Charlie offered. "You know what I like Zara."
"It's OK with me too. We haven't had it in awhile," Clarissa agreed.
"Spanish, it is," Zara said. "What would you like Kip? I know what these two want, as they always get the same thing and if they want something different all they have to do is tell me."
"Why don't I just come with you this time so I can see the menu?" Kip suggested thinking this was the perfect opportunity to ask Zara out, something he'd wanted to do ever since he had talked to Charlie and really before that.
"That's fine with me," Zara agreed. "We'll be back you two, behave while we're gone."
This was said, in a teasing way, causing Clarissa and Charlie to laugh.
"We'll be here when you get back," Clarissa promised.
"Hopefully, the wait time for the food won't be too long, as I'm starving," Charlie said.
"It'll get here when it gets here," Clarissa told Charlie with a roll of her eyes to show she was exasperated. Charlie's appetite tended to be irrepressible.
"Come on," Zara said quietly gesturing to Kip.
Kip followed Zara out of the building and into the parking lot to her car.

~~~Kip and Zara~~~

"Do those two always argue like that?" Kip wanted to know.
"Yes, they do, but it's all in good fun," Zara answered. "They are like siblings."
"If you say so," Kip said
"It's all lighthearted fun," Zara repeated. "Once you've been here longer, you'll see what I mean."
Zara started the car and immediately took off for the sky lanes.
Kip was silent for a few minutes as Zara concentrated on driving and tried to get up the courage to ask out his boss. He had gotten to know Zara a little over the last few weeks, but there was still so much to learn.
Zara Rossi fascinated him and he wanted to know more desperately. He had figured out within the last few weeks that she was his mate, though he was sure that Zara was unaware, since as far as she knew she was completely human. He knew he was a new employee and he didn't want to get himself fired for coming on to the boss, but he couldn't seem to stop dwelling on her or dreaming about her, but since they were mates, that wasn't really surprising.
Kip well knew that dreams for magicals could be and often were significant and he been dreaming about Zara ever since he had met her weeks ago.
Those dreams were a clue that told Kip that Zara was his mate, which was one reason he had asked Charlie about her family, and if she was seeing anyone romantically. He had hoped that she wasn't married, as she wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and her middle finger was not discolored as if she had recently got divorced. Of course, in this day and age married or not, didn't necessarily mean you wore a ring, though many people did, but it was not a sure indication without one.
Of course, that didn't necessarily mean that she wasn't involved in a serious relationship.
Kip was happy, though he'd been careful to conceal his reaction, when Charlie had said that Zara was indeed not married, just as he had thought and didn't have a significant other at least at the moment.
He didn't want to give away the game or his feelings for his boss too soon.
"Am I gonna be in trouble if I asked you out for dinner?" Kip finally asked after screwing up his courage once they were approaching the Spanish place.
Zara said nothing for a moment while on the inside she cheered and did a happy dance, even as she activated her thrusters and landed in a parking spot at the Spanish restaurant.
"No, you're not going be in trouble," Zara promised him smiling. "And my answer is, I'd be happy to go out to eat with you."
Kip shoulders relaxed, at his positive response and he realized how nervous he had been, but he had charged ahead and now he was glad he had.
"Tonight?" Kip asked trying not to sound eager.
"Tonight's fine, as I don't have any plans really, except to go home perhaps do some laundry, fix myself a meal, watch some screen," Zara said. "Laundry however, can wait and I can watch screen anytime."
"Let's go inside shall we, so I can look at the menu," Kip suggested feeling elated. "It'll be easier to look at the menu than going through the drive-through since I'm not the one driving."
"It easier than me reading off the choices to you," Zara agreed, as she and Kip got out of the car, the doors having automatically opened as soon as Zara had parked and shut off the engine.
Soon the two of them were standing in line and Kip read the choices as soon as they were close enough to the menu that was on the wall behind the counter.
"I'll take the calamari, as an appetizer and the Croquetas for main meal," Kip finally said, as the two of them reach the counter.
"Good choice, I've had both of those several times and really enjoyed them," Zara said.
"I'm sure I'll enjoy them too, as I love fried calamari so long as it's not tough," Kip said, as Zara ordered their food to go. "You're welcome to share it with me as are Clarissa and Charlie, but only if there's enough to actually share."
"Yes, you'll enjoy it, as no, it's not tough here, though I've had it be so in other places that serve it. Some place don't really know how to cook seafood," Zara said. "This place however, does know how to cook it to where it is tasty and delicious. That should also be enough to share, and in fact, I could easily make a meal off the calamari alone."
"I can't wait to try it," Kip said.
The two waited for their food chatting quietly, sitting at one of the booths near the counter that was unoccupied, and it was soon delivered to them in several plastic bags.
"Thank you for your patronage. Please come again," said the guy who delivered their food.
"Thank you we will. We love this place," Zara promised the guy who was wearing a red shirt and black pants and the shirt said Sean.
"Sure does smell good," Kip said, as he took a sniff of the great smells coming out of the takeout containers
"Just wait until you taste it," Zara said, as Kip carried one bag and she carried the other.
"I can hardly wait to try it," Kip said, even as his stomach growled hungrily and his mouth started to water.
"Someone is hungry," Zara teased him.
Kip smiled at Zara's playful, teasing tone.
"What can I say? I haven't eaten anything since breakfast this morning and that was just a cup of coffee and a danish," Kip teased right back. "That danish wore off hours ago, so it's no wonder I'm hungry now."
"Then you should've had some eggs or something to go with that danish," Zara told him. "Having just a danish isn't a very healthy breakfast Kip."
Zara's tone had turned lightly scolding and Kip accepted it meekly.
"You need more than that for breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day," Zara told him.
"What can I say?" Kip shrugged. "I don't cook very well and I was also running late this morning so coffee and a danish was all I managed."
"And eating out is a bit expensive," Zara agreed when Kip said nothing else.
"Yes, it is," Kip agreed.
"I'll have to cook for you sometime," said Zara.
"You did mention about cooking yourself a meal a few minutes ago Kip said. "I guess that means you can actually cook."
"I can actually and quite well," Zara agreed. "I'll have to invite you to my place sometime, so you can judge for yourself how well I can cook."
"I would think you'd be too busy to take cooking lessons, I mean, with all the work there is to do at the historical society," Kip said. "There are only so many hours in a day."
"While there is only so many hours in a day, as you just pointed out I learned back when I was growing up how to cook," Zara said, as she navigated the sky lane traffic.
"I already had those skills by the time I left home for college, though I will admit I've improved on them some over the last few years," Zara said. "Both my parents are terrific cooks, and it was mostly my father that taught me how to prepare a meal as my mother was often busy at the bakery she owns. That doesn't mean my mother didn't teach me and my siblings a few things, just that it was dad that taught us all the basics of how to prepare a meal."
"I would think that they would give you time just to be kids and not give you cooking lessons," Kip said trying to imagine little Zara standing at the stove cooking something while her father stood beside her making sure she didn't get burned.
"Both of them logically pointed out that it would be far cheaper to learn how to cook and also healthier than eating out all the time, simply because we didn't have such basic skills," Zara reminisced. "While my parents are very wealthy they were still right. It's not like they forced us to take those lessons, but considering my mother is such a terrific baker and my dad's a great cook it wasn't really that much of a hardship to learn how to cook simple things at first and then more complicated things the older we got.
"With all the time saving devices that have been around for awhile, it wasn't really that much of an imposition or that time consuming. We still had plenty of time to just be kids, as it's not like we would chained to the stove and forced to cook every minute we were awake and active. It wasn't like we spent all day on learning how to prepare a meal, just a couple of hours a few days a week.
"Spending time with dad was always a pleasure, as we wouldn't be kids forever and that he took the time to teach us such a basic skill just showed that he loved us and wanted us to be able to take care of ourselves."
"I never thought about it that way," Kip admitted. "I was never taught how to cook by my mother or my father for that matter as it just wasn't a skill that me or my brother were taught. To be fair though, my father can't cook to save his life and I suppose I just wasn't interested in cooking lessons, as I was much too active to enjoy spending too much time inside."
"Oh me and my siblings were pretty active as well, but that doesn't mean we didn't enjoy spending time with both of our parents as they spoiled us rotten you know?" Zara said. "Besides, it's not exactly uncommon for children not to be close to their parents to where they want to learn useful skills like cooking. Hell, a lot of men can't even do their own laundry much less cook their own food or do their own dusting."
"There are droids for that though," Kip shrugged, "unless you want to hire a human cleaning service."
Droids had been around for hundreds of years now and had advanced quite a bit over the centuries they could be used for all kinds of things cleaning, watching your kids, security they could even drive a vehicle if necessary. The only problem with droids was they could also be reprogrammed by those with the know-how. While her family could easily have used droids for the chores, they also had magic so cleaning was easy, and there was too much chance of a droid giving someone information if they knew how to extract it from the droid's memory banks if someone, for instance, broke into their home.
Her family had too many secrets to protect to risk using a robot for any reason no matter how advanced they had become. Kip didn't know that though, at least not yet.
"My family has always preferred to do for themselves and not have droids or a human cleaning service," Zara told Kip.
"My family never had droids either, but then, that's only for the wealthy really, and my family just isn't, as we're solidly middle class. We did have a retired neighbor though, who was nice enough to look after my brother and me while both my parents worked," Kip said.
"Well, my family could've had droids, as we're very wealthy, but they're too easy to reprogram or for someone who's clever to get information from their memory banks," Zara explained. "Droids pick up more information than people realize and they could easily pick up a person's passwords for example if they're in the room when somebody's putting the password into their computer since they come equipped with cameras.
"They could get your bank number if you're doing your business over the internet and that's just one example of many. Droids are ignored as inconsequential by most people, as they don't realize that they're even there recording what their owner does.
"I know they're not supposed to be programmed to do that, but you never know how someone will program a droid and what kind of hidden agenda that person has. I mean, think about it, there are so many dishonest people in the world that think nothing about adding secret programming to to get somebody's bank account information or spy on them so they can be blackmailed. Not everybody is good with technology, so they wouldn't be able to reprogram the droid and erase any secret programming or even be able to look for it.
"Unless they are specifically told not to or asked to do some chore out of the room most people don't think to order their droids not to record any sensitive information. If they are still in the room you need to remember to shut them down whenever you're dealing with something sensitive like your bank account, as it's all too easy for them to record that information for some nefarious person to get a hold of. It might never happen, but then, you never know either so it's better to be cautious and safe."
"I never thought of that," Kip admitted. "It would be easy for some criminal to drain your bank account if they got a hold of your bank account number, even if that's by hacking a droid that's in your service."
"Exactly which is why my family doesn't have any. We prefer to do for ourselves, then possibly forget to shut down a droid that's in the same room as we are when we're doing something we don't want anybody to know about, not necessarily illegal mind you, just something sensitive," Zara explained.
"You give me a lot to think about," Kip told Zara looking thoughtful. "Droids are such a part of today's society that many people don't think about how much damage they could cause."
"I won't say that droids are bad thing necessarily," Zara said, as she landed in the parking lot at the historical society. "For one thing, they show how advanced our society has become and that's not a bad thing at all. Just because my family doesn't use droids as a general rule doesn't mean they aren't useful. We didn't even have a nanny droid, much less one to clean," Zara shrugged.
Kip was silent as the door to Zara's car automatically opened as soon as she put it in park. Both of them went into the historical society, each carrying a bag of food.
The silence between them was comfortable as each had realized that they had shared a part of themselves with each other, and while they still had a lot to learn, they were comfortable together, even though they had yet to have their first date.

~~~Kip and Zara~~~