Page 28 of Hating the Boss

“It only took jumping out of an airplane!” She laughed.

I laughed and nodded after Trent. We began walking back to the base where another airplane was rolling out of the hangar. While Sarah walked, she attempted to flatten her bird’s nest of hair atop her head. I was sure when she had styled it this morning, this wasn’t what she had in mind.

I still couldn’t believe she had actually done it. She seemed confident in her decision to keep her feet on the ground, even throwing in a few curse words for effect that I found sexy falling off her tongue. It was only her second day as my assistant, and I was starting to get to know her better. Her fears. Her annoyances. How “fuck” sounded coming from her lips.

I even knew how her body felt pressed against mine. A moment in the field that lasted longer than it probably should have, but was now etched in my mind. Etching in my nerve endings from where her body touched mine. Her hair smelled of peaches, which created a delicious symphony with the vanilla perfume she wore. I wondered if she had felt me breathe her in through my ragged breaths.

The way her head fit perfectly tucked into my chest made me think of what Anton said about asking her to be my “pretend” girlfriend. It all felt so immature. So elementary school. But I wanted to feel her arms wrapped around me again. Feel her body become enveloped by mine. I could get used to that.

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, noting the triumphant look on her face. She had just jumped out of a plane for me. I wondered what else she would consider…

“Well?” asked Trent, standing just outside the hangar with his hands on his hips. He had a boastful smile on his face, now changed out of the gray jumpsuit and back into his pale blue linen suit. You would never have thought this guy had just jumped out of a plane.

Twice.

“What did you think?” he asked, looking from me to Sarah.

“Insane,” she said, shaking her head.

I laughed. “Pretty amazing, Trent. And I have to say that’s the first meeting I’ve ever had before possibly risking my life.”

Trent clapped his hands together.

“That’s what it’s all about!” he exclaimed loudly. “Seeing who you can trust. Who is spontaneous enough to go along with your crazy ideas.”

“You know I support your ideas, even with my feet on the ground.” I pointed toward the concrete that still felt like Jello under my feet.

“I know, I know.” He waved me off. “We could have had that up on ReelTime!”

“Is that what you’ve dubbed it?” I asked, following him inside the building with Sarah at my side.

Trent nodded.

“What is ReelTime?” asked Sarah curiously.

I noted how Trent puffed his chest proudly, as if he couldn’t wait to talk about his newest baby.

“It’s an app. Think Instagram. The original Instagram. Where you posted in the moment. There was not time for filters or perfecting. It was raw photos being posted in real time. Something people hardly do anymore because they want their caption to be just right or they want to open it in other apps to blur their wrinkles or slap a grainy film filter over it.”

“So, you’re bringing that back?”

“Yes, but in video. It’s original Instagram meets TikTok. Videos posted in the present. No edits or quick cuts. Just raw, real video.”

“Kind of like livestreaming?”

“Yes, but these stay on your feed,” said Trent, growing more enthusiastic. It was good having Sarah here. Her curiosity was keeping the conversation flowing and Trent’s passion was showing. Normally, I would jump straight into numbers and logistics, but that didn’t seem to interest someone as creative as Trent.

“I like it,” said Sarah with a nod. “In this picture-perfect world of social media, it’s hard to distinguish what’s real or what’s not. Hard not to be envious of certain people and their perfect relationships, homes, vacations.”

“Exactly,” said Trent, pointing a finger at her like she had just won a prize.

“I get it.”

“And that’s why I need Brad here to make it happen,” said Trent, placing his hand on my shoulder. “All of my previous apps have been signed under Stellar Industries. Now, we are adding a new kid to the family.”

“We would be proud to have ReelTime as part of Stellar Industries,” I said assuredly.

“Good! Now, let’s get out that contract that I am certain you brought on today’s adventure,” he said with a sly smile.