《Stepping Through》We Play the Game – 07 – The Nature of the Business
Advertisement
And then there were the calls. Devon’s business wasn’t a busy one as it turned out, at least beyond the ever running fax machine. There were three calls the entire week, each one rather odd. All were calls for Devon, and were people with distinctly foreign sounding accents, except for Claire who wanted to check out how the job was going.
“Have you worked anywhere that still has a fax machine?” she’d asked her. That call had come in on Wednesday, mostly because Claire was spending most of the week at her boyfriends to test out how living together would work. Tina had been crossing her finger that it would be a disaster. Not that she didn’t want Claire to be happy, and DeWayne seemed like a good enough guy. It’s just that a good roommate was hard to find. Everyone she met these days seemed to be allergic to pets and Tina had found herself in between boyfriends the same way she had been in between jobs. “It’s like the 1980s in there.”
“The 80s?” Claire scoffed. “You weren’t even born in the 80s.”
Well, neither was Claire.
“No,” Tina agreed. “But my parent’s still live there. I’m sure mom has the same coffeemaker that Devon uses.”
But when she answered, the callers made her the subject of interest, before she decided to pass them on to her boss. With one, an older woman by the sound of her voice, the questions were rather probing.
That call came in Thursday morning just after eleven, interrupting her fax collating duties.
“Hello, Seekers of Lost Heirlooms,” Tina answered brightly. “How can I help you?”
There was a pause on the other end. That was the same as the previous calls. She took it that callers weren’t expecting a woman answering the phone. Devon hadn’t said much about his previous admins.
Advertisement
“Is this the office of Devon Olafson?” an older sounding woman asked.
“Yes he is,” she replied. Tina did have some Reception experience. That was generally the first job you were sent to from a temp agency. Funny, though, to have a person with no real affiliation being the first voice of your company, but that was business in the big city. “Can I transfer you over?”
“In a minute,” the woman said. “Are you his new assistant?”
“Yes,” Tina admitted. “I just started on Monday.”
“And how are you finding the job so far?” the woman asked.
“It’s okay,” Tina replied, and then oddly felt compelled to continue. “It’s very educational. I’ve never done so much historical research before.”
“Oh, and what does your employer have you working on?”
There had been that non-disclosure agreement, but Tina didn’t think she’d be breaking it by mentioning generalities.
“Oh, the Byzantine Empire and stuff like that,” she replied. “It’s kind of interesting.”
“I see,” the woman answered, then completely changed tact. “You sound like an athletic young woman? Are you into sports?”
“Sort of,” Tina replied. That was a weird question. “I think Mr. Olafson is free now. I can transfer your call.”
“Of course,” the woman replied. “Have yourself a good day.”
With a bit of a chill running up her spine, Tina transferred the call.
That afternoon, she brought the call up with Devon.
“Nature of the business,” he told her. “Some of the people I have to deal with live in their own little worlds, and their curiosity knows no bounds. Even where it comes to my choice of admin assistants.”
“Okay,” she replied. Well, she’d had jobs where she’d dealt with stranger people. Especially in her barista days. All twenty-three of them. She even joked about that with Devon.
“The worlds of coffee lovers are even tinier,” Tina shared over their late morning coffee. She indicated that nonexistent space between her thumb and forefinger.
He'd given her a strange look then.
Before she could pursue more questions, however, he had work news. He needed her to join him on a short road trip.
Ooh, she thought, forgetting about the phone call entirely. Road trip!
Advertisement
Bow of the North
In game of thrones i felt that the Starks received way too much hardships and tragedy. i know that there were vital points of story, and there were times these hardships were building points for their characters, but i feel when every member of a family has been either killed, raped or crippled then they deserve a break. In my story that break comes in the form of a powerful hunter/general from another world. I have no intention of altering the story to save every stark, or have them win every time, and some of my favourite characters may even be victims of this plot change as well. edited The main character, and there will be several new characters introduced to the storyline, will not just be some over powered guy who makes outrageous decisions that always work out (cough Plot armour) but will be someone that treats the world as a real world and has fears, doubts and is cautious in his decisions. He is susceptible to changing his mind and character traits depending on his experiences in this life. The story will primarily follow the plot at the beginning with some minor changes, and as more things change they will increase till the entire story is changed at the end. I am not copying the world of GoT exactly. cultures, politics and nobility may be changed or made up.
8 587Boundary Scramble
[Participant in the June Royal Road Community Magazine Contest] At the psychic power training school known as Vyse Academy, two students seek to go beyond the boundary imposed by nature and society. Sarika wishes to overcome death and resurrect her sister; Ruta just wants to avoid any trouble with those higher than her in the social hierarchy. Their two ambitions bring them deeper into a school-wide conspiracy involving faculty members, would-be dictators, celebrities, mercenaries, and mutants. They must take care not to lose sight of their goals, for once they go beyond the boundary, there's no guarantee of a safe return. Expect a short novella with psychic battles, broken boundaries, and peanut allergies.
8 126The Bewitching Chaos Ghost System
Asher Vipond is an honest young man ready to have his whole life change forever. He was about to undergo an event that everyone across the entire world eagerly awaits for. It was the event where one would awaken their System’s Soul Magical Power! With this, Asher would be able to gain a powerful mystical ability, cultivate and refine Mana Energy to rise to the top of the food chain in a harsh unforgiving world. All of Asher’s hopes and dreams were dependent on this one day and he couldn’t fail no matter what. However, in a strange twist of fate, Asher ends awakening a power unknown to all. A power that can be also quite perverse at times. And all it cost was….his humanity. Please consider supporting me on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/cosmicprime
8 162Land Of Zhelerez
Calvin Tan, 21 years old, currently in his 2nd year taking his Diploma at Republic Polytechnic, tried to save a young child that apparently drop an object while walking towards bus 39 after their bus had a breakdown in the middle of the expressway. Calvin had made the situation much worse than it seems...Will he suffers? Read to find out! Reincarnation - OP Hero Hey readers, this is my first time writing a story and hope I got time to update it at least once a week.If there's any mistake in grammars or typo's found do tell me. As a matter of fact my English is definitely not really good. Schedule:Been cancelled || 10% chance of being rewritten in the futureCan also be found here - Map included >.https://fnovelgames.wordpress.com/land-of-zhelerez/
8 192Hybrid's Possession: Possessive Alpha's Book 1
Warning: There is talk of abuse and sexual abuse throughout the story. Ellie is a mere human, doing what she can to survive. After losing her parents all she has left in her world is her brother Keith. Too bad because of his addictions, she has to give herself to one of the most powerful hybrids in the supernatural world. Kaydence Monroe, is cocky, rich, powerful in both his abilities and business. Not to mention gorgeous as they come. Too bad he's a prick that thinks Ellie belongs to him.
8 246The Dragon's Treasure (Fem!Harry x Draco)
Lady Narcissa Malfoy and Heir Draco Malfoy meet Lady Holly Potter in Madame Malkin's Robes For All Occasion's, and realize she is something far more precious than just the Girl-Who-Lived. Holly comes to live with them at Malfoy Manor. Come along with Holly, Draco, and their friends as they navigate Hogwarts, love, pureblood society, and a meddlesome Headmaster.Soulmark AU, Fem!Harry, Slytherin!Harry.
8 89