[ COMING SOON — not tomorrow, I start my new job ]

JAVI RIVERA AND SCOTT MILLER sat across from Marshall Riggs at the conference table in the StormPAR office located in Oklahoma. The top investor of the company had requested a meeting, and both men figured it could only be about one thing.

They hadn't started collecting their data yet, but in their defense, only one tornado had hit Oklahoma so far that year. Storm season was just starting, and both men were prepared to argue that and point out that as the weeks passed, more and more opportunities would arise.

But much to their surprise, when Marshall Riggs sat across from them, he seemed almost nervous — Riggs was never nervous. He had a way of commanding every room he entered.

"Thanks for meeting with me, boys," Riggs said while clearing his throat. "Well, let's just get it out in the open. I've got a new hire for you."

Javi frowned at that, who oversaw every employee hire they had. Riggs had a lot of control over StormPAR but he had no say in hiring. "May I ask who and what they'd be doing? We don't have any positions to fill."

"Well, she's less of an employee and more of an... intern. A college intern," he explained. Then Riggs scratched his head, looking to his nephew. "You remember Elianna Fisher?"

Scott scrunched his face up in displeasure, recalling a bratty girl that was eight years younger than him, who he had to put up with right up until he turned eighteen and left for school, never giving the daughter of a family friend a second thought.

"Yeah," Riggs chuckled at his expression. "That Elianna. Well, she's in college now. Studying meteorology according to her mama. Told her she could work for y'all for a few months to get some experience under her belt."

Javi remained silent, watching how Scott studied his uncle. "Why exactly are you offering her a job when we aren't big enough to have an intern program yet?" Scott asked.

"Well, I may... owe her mama a favor."

Scott leaned back, a knowing look on his face. Michelle Fisher was a lawyer — a damn good one who had a record of getting some rather scummy people off scot-free. And Scott knew his uncle was the dictionary definition of scummy.

Not that he could complain given that the man had taken him in at a young age after his parents died. He owed him everything, even his current job, to the man.

"So," Riggs said, clapping his hands. "I've made a reservation for you three tonight at the Italian place down the street. You show her a good time and tell her about the company and what she'll be doing."

First, they had to figure out what she'd be doing.

Five minutes later, Riggs was gone, and Scott was clearly sulking, much to Javi's amusement.

"What's so bad about this Elianna?"

"The most annoying kid in the world," Scott said flatly. "I babysat her once — never again. She set my jeans on fire because I wasn't being entertaining enough."

Javi curled his lips around his teeth to keep from laughing. "Well?"

"Well what?" Scott asked with a frown.

"Why weren't you being entertaining enough?"

☁︎

Scott and Javi walked into the restaurant after work, not even bothering to change out of their StormPAR branded clothing. They eyes skimmed the waiting area and the bar — well, Scott's skimmed, as Javi didn't know who he was looking for. But there were only three people seated at the bar. Two business men in suits sitting together and a young, pretty girl at the other end.

"I don't see her," Scott shrugged, looking back at Javi. "She must be late. Not surprising."

"Well, Riggs gave me her number," Javi said while digging out his phone to call and check to see if she was on her way.

Scott leaned against the wall, slightly annoyed at the inconvenience as Javi made the call. Only for an obnoxious ring tone to come from the bar area — was that One Direction?

His and Javi's eyes flicked to the young girl sitting at the end, watching as she picked up the phone.

"Hello?" she questioned, her voice echoing in Javi's phone.

"I'm guessing you're the Elianna at the bar?" Javi asked, making her turn toward them as she heard his voice.

Scott's eyes went wide — well, a minuscule amount of wide because he was a master at keeping a grouchy look on his face.

He knew it'd been ten years since he'd seen the now twenty year old, but Elianna Fisher had grown up nice. Her curly brown hair was half pulled back, showing off a pretty face. Though she was short, she filled out the silky red tank top she wore that was tucked into a black pair of jeans well.

Clearly, she wasn't the same girl she was ten years ago.

And as she made her way over to the men, Scott pushed off the wall and towered over the girl that was well over a foot shorter than him. Seeing as that puzzled expression was still on his face, he didn't speak when Javi did.

"Nice to meet you, Elianna. I'm Javi," he said, shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you. And Eli is fine," she said with a polite smile. "Mr. Riggs mentioned I'd be working closely with you and the Scott Miller I grew up with. Is he coming?"

Javi chuckled before patting Scott on the back, who was still stiff. "This is my man, Scott. Been a while, I guess."

Elianna looked at Scott, taking in his imposing stature and handsome features. Or rather, as she was thinking in her mind, his 'stupid hot' features.

She couldn't help but shake her head, an uneasy laugh leaving her lips. "No, you're not that Scott Miller," she said. "Scott was this total math loser with bad acne that used to babysit me."

Okay, Scott thought, she was exactly the same girl she'd been ten years ago.

Then again, she'd been raised by both an absent lawyer mother and an absent doctor father, so her attitude was sort of justifiable.

Scott couldn't help but roll his eyes, not caring how unprofessional it was — she wasn't being professional either. Then again, she didn't have to be. She already had the job, and Javi didn't have the authority to fire her.

"I see the attitude you had when you were twelve is still alive and well," he said stiffly.

Eli snickered, seeing that he was still as blunt and rude as ever — he'd made her cry that night he babysat her. But it was hardly her fault for the fire incident. He was paying more attention to his math homework than her, which was what he was getting paid to do.

So, she just put her hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow.  "And I'm willing to bet you're still a loser given that you're in a polo shirt, so look at that. Just like old times."

Before Scott could retort with something equally as rude, Javi stepped in. "How about we all get a table and have a nice, friendly meal? And Eli, you can tell us how you know Scott's uncle?"

"Oh, my mama just keeps him out of jail for tax evasion," she shrugged, not seeing the big deal even though Javi and Scott were utterly appalled by the real reason she'd been hired. Eli glanced between them, a little amused. "You guys didn't know that?"

Javi slowly shook his head. "He may have left that bit out."

☁︎

"God, I can't stand her," Scott complained as he and Javi walked back to the office after Eli got into her blue Mercedes that looked brand spanking new — no doubt bought by her parents. "Javi, we can't work with her."

"We gotta. And she wasn't that bad," he insisted. "She was really funny and nice."

"To you," Scott corrected.

"Well, you weren't exactly Mr. Friendly either," Javi pointed out.

"She's a brat!"

"...And you're what exactly?" Scott scoffed as Javi just laughed heartily. "I'm kidding. But come on, when we asked her the basics, it was clear she knew her meteorology stuff. At least she won't be hindering us work-wise."

"She'd better not," he muttered. Then he rolled his eyes. "I can't believe she flirted with the waiter. That's just tacky."

"Jealous it wasn't you?" Javi asked teasingly.

Scott glared — full on glared — at the man. "I'd rather saw off my foot and eat it."

"Well that's a little extreme."

"It's not extreme. You don't know her like I do, Javi."

"She ain't the same ten year old you knew. Just give her a chance," Javi told him. "And if I'm wrong, I'll help you saw off the foot. Which one are you thinking?"

"The left seems most reasonable."

☁︎

"I'm home!" Eli called as she entered the giant house she called 'home'. She kept talking as she walked toward the kitchen, knowing sound traveled. "Mama, I met with those StormPAR guys. Did you know Scott Miller was a total freaking babe now? Like, my body had a physical reaction and everything. It was gross."

Getting no response, she kept talking as she went to the refrigerator and found a bottle of apple juice.

"The owner was really nice. Javi something — also hot," she went on, thinking on the dinner. "But he was in the Army, and we all know soldiers are the worst. I couldn't really tell though before he told me about it. Also, Scott had no idea about that whole tax thing, so wish you and Marshall had given me a heads up."

Eli leaned against the counter, waiting for some kind of response from either of her parents. Only to get none — not even a text from one of them in another room saying that they were glad she was home safe despite the later hour.

Both their cars were in the driveway, so she knew they were home.

They were just ignoring her.

"Guess I'll go to bed," she said, talking to no one as usual. "And let's face it, Scott's dumb face is gonna be in my dreams."