She didn't have time to change before heading to her new job, so she brought the white box with her. "What's in that?" Jake asked on the way.

"Uniform," she mumbled into her chest.

"Uniform? Joining the volleyball team?" He cocked a brow at her.

"Actually, I start working at Gore Palace today." He shifted the car and her back flattened into the seat. "What?" 

Jake shook his brown curls, staring out the dash. "Nothing."

They didn't speak again until he pulled in front of the building and idled, not bothering to put it in park. "Thanks for the ride," she tried to get some sort of response from him.

"Mhm," he hummed. 

Seeing that was all the reply she was going to get, she slid out of the seat awkwardly and took her box. Jake barely waited for the door to shut before pulling away. It was difficult not to let the interaction weigh on her as she finally took in her surroundings.

But she'd been there before. Not physically--in her dream. Though it wasn't engulfed in flames, she recognized the space she was in. Now it was teaming with people heading in different directions, but it was exactly like her dream. For a moment, she thought she would faint. Her vision pulsed, the people grew blurry...

"You made it, early too," Bear's voice was distorted. "Skylar?" 

She blinked. "Sorry, I--I just came from science and we had to make this stuff. I think I inhaled too many fumes," she joked.

"You sure? You looked a little out of it for a minute," he said. His eyes searched hers, but came away satisfied. "Ready to learn the ropes?"

"Absolutely, I just need to change first. I ran out of time, and didn't want to be late." Bear showed her to the elevator.

"When you come in, you'll take this elevator. Only this one." 

"Why this one?" The question seemed ludicrous once the silver doors opened and they stepped inside.  "Oh," she awed over the inside. Mirrors. The entire elevator was walled in shiny mirrors with a single golden railing going about the middle like a belt. 

Bear leaned back, his slender form nearly reached the ceiling until he relaxed against the mirrors. "This is the executive elevator. It goes straight to my office on the top floor." She bit her lip when the elevator shifted and began to go up. 

The first ten minutes was spent as a tour of the top floor. It was nothing like she expected. White floors that caused an echo with each step. In the center of his lobby, a giant statue was displayed in the midst of an indoor fountain. Brightly colored fish that she'd never seen before were swimming in circles around it. "Who is that?" She admired the statue of a heavily muscled man, the face was hidden intentionally and she couldn't believe the talent that went into sculpting such a thing. Long hair in intricate braids had been carved to appear the wind was blowing.

"Old viking king. My dad had it carved years ago."

"I like it," she declared, smiling.

Bear's lips turned upwards. "You do?"

"Yeah."

He turned her away from it towards an empty desk in the back corner with a view of the entire lobby from all angles. "This," he informed her, "will be your desk."

She walked around it to survey where she'd be sitting for the next six hours. "What exactly will I be doing?"

"Well," he hopped onto the counter, long legs dangling, "Tilly left a note in the desk with the basics. For the most part, she'll have everything in order before she clocks out. You'll just go over it for continuity, make sure the data is transferred correctly, and most importantly make sure Tilly isn't writing herself checks for cash."

"She does that?"

"She did once. I don't think she knows that I know though. I never said anything."

"You didn't fire her?"

"She was going through some shit. I let it slide. Just make sure everything is accounted for and the company account has the right balance at the end of your shift," he ended with a grin.

"Will do. Where can I change?" She looked around. The walls were sleek, and a far cry from the white downstairs. These were satin black with white trim. A pair of gold double doors stood out among the absence of color. In big, swirly calligraphy was painted: Berach Cruor.

"In here if you want," he said, scanning his key card and pushing open the golden doors. "This is my office. I'll get you a keycard made so you can come in, but for now just knock. You can change in there," he said, pointing to his private bathroom.

"Thank you," she replied sheepishly and scurried away. As soon as the door shut behind her, she let the full panic attack take hold. 

He didn't need her for shit. There was barely any work for her, no one else on the top floor, and he was giving her access to his private office. Had he let Tilly use his bathroom? Or did she have to go around the corner to the public one? Would she have to use the public one? Or did he expect her to come into his office now? Her brain ached with the thoughts.

Before he wondered whether or not she fell asleep, she stripped down and took care to arrange her new wardrobe just right. It couldn't have fit more perfectly. The skirt was her exact size, the shoes were not her usual style but she could get used to the way they made her calf muscles stand out. She ran her fingers through her hair to loosen some of her tangled waves. Leaning forward, she inspected the small bit of mascara that had flaked onto her lower lash line.

Licking her finger, she wiped it away and froze. Her eyes. What had once been two cognac gems, were now complete opposites. One was still the familiar shade of brown she'd seen every time she looked in the mirror, but the other...

The band of brown was gone. Her iris was entirely green. It wouldn't have been so noticeable if it was a dark, forest shade, but it wasn't. It was just as bright and shimmering as Bear's. While the thought was fresh in her mind, she shot Charlie a quick text.

Do you think your mom would have time to squeeze me in for an appointment this weekend? Eyes need looked at.

She pocketed the device in her skirt and gave a final glance in the mirror. Good enough.

"All set?" His back was turned to her, busying himself over his desk. 

She stepped into the office. He had an entire living room set near the large window overlooking the city. A glass fire was burning at a table in the center of the black couches. Part of her wondered if he was the one to decorate, or if he paid someone to do it for him. "Yeah, thanks for letting me change in there."

He whirled around, mouth open to say something back, but he stopped. His eyes went from the shoes and slowly--so slowly--rose to her hips, her waist, her bust, and finally settled on her face. She was burning under his gaze, and by the look on his face he was well aware.

"Do they fit?" he asked after a beat.

"Uh-huh." Words. Her words had escaped her. He crossed the room to stop a few feet in front of her, his hands fumbling to get into his pockets. "I'll just--" 

"Of course, of course," he cleared his throat and lead her to the door. "Manny will walk you through computer programs and get you up to speed on the schedule."

"Thanks," she went to say, but the doors had already closed.

-------

Manny had been an intimidating Hispanic, that by the end of her shift, she surmised he belonged to some drug cartel. His voice was low and deep, and he carried himself like a mafia boss. He was nice enough to her, but she could tell he wasn't someone she needed to ever see the bad side of.

"You good?" he'd asked her when the clock hit ten.

"Yeah, thanks for everything today." She slung her backpack over her shoulder--her clothes were stuffed inside under her various textbooks. 

"See you tomorrow," he said, disappearing as the elevator doors shut.

She gathered her things and closed out of all the programs, leaving the files she'd proofread on top of the keyboard. She hadn't seen Bear since she'd got there. He'd stayed in his office, and even when Manny had told her that five o'clock was when he took his evening coffee, she hadn't seen him. She set the steaming mug on his desk and went back to her own.

She was glad that she didn't have to run to a coffee shop in the lavender heels. An entire barista bar was set up in the lobby. Folgers was nowhere to be found, but she made due with the assortment he had when she felt like she was going to fall asleep from boredom.

She'd only just hit the elevator button when his door opened. "Hey," he greeted quietly.

"Hey," she muttered, stepping in when the doors opened.

They stood side by side, neither one knowing what to say. She glanced at his reflection and saw the way he sucked on his lower lip. "So--" they said at the same time and broke off laughing.

"Sorry, go ahead," she urged.

"I was just going to say, how did you like Manny?" His eyes twinkled.

"Boy," she whistled lowly. "What a guy," she giggled. 

"Yeah," he laughed, "he can be intense. Used to run a marijuana trafficking ring in Guatemala."

"I knew it!" She put a hand on her hip. "He just gave me this vibe that if I wanted to get high, he was the guy to ask."

"Well don't ask," he snapped and she felt her cheeks flush. "He charges too much. I'll give you a deal."

She loosed a breath. Four floors left to go. "I'm just kidding. I don't smoke anymore."

"No? Too bad. I do some of my best work stoned." He cocked his head a bit and flashed his teeth.

The ding sounded and the doors opened. A few security guards were scattered about, but the building was mostly empty. "Need a ride home?"

She looked out at the blackened sky. Images of the two men made her flinch. "No, no it's okay. You've done a lot for me already."

"It's no problem, really. I'm leaving now anyways." He followed her gaze to the dark beyond the building's lights. "I'd rather drive you home than let you walk alone at this time of night."

She chewed her lip, knowing he was right. "You sure you don't mind? I'm buying a car as soon as I save enough, and then I won't be so pathetic."

"You aren't pathetic," he drawled. "Come on, I park back here." He lead her away from the parking garage and towards a door leading down. Beside it was a familiar green door. 

Her eyes closed for a moment as the vision of all those flames licking at the green paint came rushing back. The animals down there...

"This way," he called, bringing her back to reality. It was a private, well-lit, garage. With every step inside a new row of fluorescents buzzed to life. "Which one?"

Her mouth fell open. "One? They're all yours?" Her toes curled at the shiny red Camaro half hidden between two blacked out Audis. 

"Which one?" he repeated with a devilish smile.

"That one." She pointed straight at the Camaro. "That one, for sure."

"Camaro it is."