The Blind Date by Landish, Lauren (suggested reading .txt) 📕

While Lady Elisa doesn’t demand us to jump at her every request, I’ve found it’s not a bad idea to do so, especially if you want to stay in her good graces. If she asks if you’re busy, you better have a pretty damn good reason to not drop what you’re doing and get up there. Like a fire. Or a rabid dog currently chewing on your ankle.

Or maybe a zombie apocalypse . . . but I think Lady Elisa’s tough reputation would scare off any undead threats. Whether Shaun of the Dead slow style or World War Z speedsters, she’d stop them with a stare.

“I’ll be up there in two minutes,” I assure Gina. “Thank you.”

Locking my computer, I grab my jacket and head upstairs, where Gina’s alone in the front office area. “Hello, Gina. Holding down the fort alone?”

“Something like that,” she says, giving me a smile. It’s an unfamiliar gesture, and I realize that until now, she’d smile for River but not for me. Have I been that much of an asshole to everyone? “She’s in her office. Go on in.”

Lady Elisa’s office, as always, inspires me as I step inside. Motivation, maybe a bit of envy, and an overwhelming sense of awe . . . I’m not sure how to put it all together into words. I just know that I want an office like this someday and that I’ll do anything to make it happen. With my nose to the grindstone for the hard work, a dedication to learning, and even a bit of luck, I feel more confident than ever that I can do it.

Although I still have plans to change the desk placement and get rid of that awful red throne chair. Black leather will suit me better, I decide.

“Noah, I’m glad you could come up so quickly,” Lady Elisa greets me, simultaneously indicating one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Please sit down. I want to have a talk.”

I take one of the chairs, doing my best to stay calm. This isn’t her informal sitting area, which means she wants to talk business. And she’s getting right to it. No small talk or offers of coffee. “Of course. What can I do for you?”

“Talk to me about the latest on BlindDate,” she demands.

I feel like this has all the hallmarks of being a trap. Lady Elisa doesn’t often ask things she doesn’t already know the answer to, and I’m certain with BlindDate being the company’s most recent launch, she’s got her finger on the pulse of the stats. But perhaps she’s checking my assessment?

If so, I’m on solid ground. “Downloads and utilization rates are steady, even showing a small increase. We’ve released an initial update, making the questionnaire more user-friendly and adding in a few additional parameters. The coding team is also working on a way to add profile personalization, letting users . . . for lack of a better term . . . ‘decorate’ their profile to give a better sense of who they are to prospective matches. Virtual stickers, backgrounds, effects, and so on.”

Elisa’s chin rests on the back of one hand as she listens to me, her eyes ticking from me to the computer screen on her desk. I suspect she’s looking at either the spreadsheets of data or the actual BlindDate app. She hums thoughtfully.

“Is there something specific you want to know?” I ask, feeling like I’m missing something even though I answered her question efficiently.

“What have you learned during your time at Life Corp?” Elisa asks directly, her eyes suddenly locked on me, pinning me in place.

I swear my stomach drops through my ass, ruining her fancy chair.

Why does it sound as though this has become a dismissal interview moments before I’m escorted off the property? Are the numbers not what she’d hoped either? They’re not bad by any stretch, but ‘good enough’ never truly is enough. Not for me, and not for Elisa. Is that why River isn’t here? If it’s a numbers game, that rests solidly on my shoulders. We’ve always said River’s the idea man and I’m the implementation guy. I guess that’s coming back to haunt me.

I swallow thickly, thinking quickly about what I want to say. If this is going to be my last chance to work with Lady Elisa, I’m going to be honest and tell her everything.

“You’re a mentor to me. In the years that I’ve been at Life Corp, I’ve learned by watching how you do things—your driving force and how it determines your process, analysis, and action. More than once, I’ve overcome a problem or an obstacle simply by applying something I learned from you. Our conversations are nuggets of wisdom that I use every day to make myself a better executive for Life Corp.

“More recently, I’ve learned that it’s not about me and my goal to sit where you are. Or at least, not only about that,” I tell her quietly.

I’m not ashamed of the workaholic habits I’ve cultivated because they’ve gotten me to where I am and my family to where they are. But there’s more to life than I ever considered, and that’s important too, shaping how I work now and how I see myself working in the future.

“It’s about the people around me, about the workers who fill the desks on every floor. It’s about everyone from Steve the security guard to Gina and Tina. Because we all have worth, add value, and can offer important insights. We work together as a team to provide the best experience for our end-users, no matter the app.”

Elisa nods, a faint look of surprise on her face, though her brows don’t lift more than a centimeter. “Can I ask you a personal question, Noah?”

More personal than that? I’m pouring my heart out here!

I nod silently, giving the expected permission.

Elisa leans forward, interlacing her fingers on her desk to stare down her nose at me. “It sounds like that’s a new revelation for you . . . the people around