“You’re up for that big promotion, Dax. Good job!”
He normally wasn’t the type of guy to show much emotion, but the news made Dax grin. This was exactly what he and his daughter needed. After spending the last two years stuck in the hole of debt his ex-wife had left him in, things were finally starting to look up.
“Thanks, Mr. Blair.”
Tony beamed at him, the approachable smile he always used on his employees. They were a pretty big deal business-wise on Oak Mountain and he was used to dealing with bear-shifters and humans alike. It was funny to see his human attitude being used on a fellow bear-shifter though and Dax had to keep the thought to himself.
“You have more than earned the opportunity to prove yourself,” Mr. Blair said. “You’ve been working for this company loyally for the past ten years. You even managed to come in to work when it seemed like everything was falling apart around you.”
“I did that for Marnie,” Dax said, his heart warming at the thought of his three-year-old daughter. She was at home now with her babysitter, a fifteen-year-old girl who at times Marnie seemed to adore, while at other times, she was impartial to. It was as good as they were going to do, though. He had to work.
“We know,” Mr. Blair said. Something in his voice seemed off and Dax frowned, staring pensively at his boss. “That’s something the elders and I were discussing. You and Marnie.”
“What about us?” Dax asked, his hackles beginning to raise. Anything involving his daughter immediately put him into hyper-protective mode. He wouldn’t let anybody tell him how to raise his kid, not even if it cost him his promotion. He was a damn good father and anybody who saw the two of them together knew that.
“It’s great how you were able to turn things around for her. It really is. But you know that at its core, just like all businesses on Oak Mountain, there are some key rules to abide by, set by the ancients and upheld as sacred even in today’s society.”
“What, is good parenting a no-no?” Dax asked, unable to keep his deep voice from cascading into bitterness.
Mr. Blair chuckled. “It’s nothing like that, I can assure you. It’s just that the elders believe the demands of this job are potentially too rigorous for someone who is saddled with the responsibilities of single parenting. You are clearly doing an amazing job with Marnie but even you must be able to admit that it cuts into your availability.”
Dax glowered, nodding silently. As much as it pained him to say, being the father of a young toddler was certainly on the spectrum of time-intensive tasks during the day. As great of a kid as she was, there were demands even on the most predictable of days he couldn’t foresee. A 104-degree fever, roughhousing boo-boos and doctor’s appointments that had to be rescheduled at the last minute, play dates and birthday parties and tumbling classes.
He did his best to afford the things he could to ensure that his daughter had a fulfilling life but the truth was that he was barely scraping by. He never bought anything for himself except the occasional night out drinking with his co-workers. Even then, it was one or two times a week, if that, depending on the babysitter’s availability. He couldn’t overwork the kid and still feel good about going out and tipping back a few; she had her own life to worry about.
“Look, it’s nothing that you can’t take care of, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that Vince will get the promotion over you. It’s just something we thought you should know that we’re taking into consideration when it comes to making our final decision. Regardless of which way the council votes we want you to know we couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve really cleaned up your act since your wife left you. We know there are some heavy things weighing on your mind and have your bad days, but you’re doing the best you can with what you have, and that shows true strength of character.”
Dax winced. He hated it when people talked to him about his troubles or what he might or might not have “weighing on his mind.” It wasn’t any of their damn business. But he couldn’t say something like that to Mr. Blair. He needed this promotion. Badly.
“Thanks,” he said instead. Alan beamed.
“You’re welcome! So, Vince and a few of the other guys are celebrating being up for the promotion. You should perhaps call your sitter and join them.”
Dax had to keep himself from growling. He hated Vince more than he’d ever hated anybody of his own kind. He was a smug, cocky son of a bitch who hardly worked a day in his life because he was so good at manipulating and charming his way up the ladder. It was sickening. He’d even had the nerve to steal some of Dax’s ideas back in their founding years in the company, which had kept them close together in rank in the board’s eyes. Dax had nearly come forward about it but there was some strange pride that kept him from speaking out. He wanted the council to see Vince for what he was on their own, not because he’d been a narc. There were some things that were just important for a man to let unfold on their own and unfortunately, this seemed to be one of them.
“Well, I’ll be sure to see what I can do about making it,” Dax said, pursing his lips into a tight smile. The last thing he wanted to do was be drinking buddies with Dax, but the elders liked seeing the people working in the company getting along and having a sense of comradery. Whether it was forced or not didn’t matter, he guessed, as long as he showed up and made it look like he was making an effort. Maybe it would score him some points knowing that he was able to keep the sitter longer and be more flexible like they wanted him to be.
Sure, when summer vacation was over and his babysitter started going back to school then things might be different. However, if he had his promotion by then he would be able to afford a nice daycare for Marnie.
Yet somehow, he knew a daycare really wasn’t what the elders were looking for. They were a traditional bunch who believed that every child should be raised with two proud parents, a team that worked together to provide Oak Mountain with its best chance of a progressive future. Dax’s wife had left him. Sure, part of that had been his own damn fault. The woman was controlling and aggressive and had driven him to taking refuge at the bar. He would drink heavily some nights, resulting in long drawn out fights that could have been handled much better on his part. But alcohol made his already stubborn nature impossible to move and his wife expected compliance from him he was hard pressed to provide.
“Great! You’ll have three months to prove to us you’re a man worthy of this promotion. I’m pulling for you, Dax!”
Alan winked, and not for the first time made Dax think this human custom absurd. It seemed there was no helping it. Mr. Blair was a man of business and his nature had transcended all species into a strange manner indeed. Yet it was something that Dax had a quiet respect for. The man knew what he wanted and went after it. He was able to achieve things many would only dream possible and that was something he had done on his own.
The company had been one of Alan’s pet projects but it was something he had only been able to put together with the help of the elders. He saw to it that it remained running at the top of its game, offering valuable services to humans, bear-shifters, and even the wolf-shifters over in Stonybrooke. Dealings with the dragon-shifters were a little strained now with all the tension between them, but it was still something that Alan hoped to smooth over in terms of business. He was a man with a vision, and there was nothing wrong with that in Dax’s eyes.
“Well that’s all for now then. Enjoy your weekend!”
“Thanks,” Dax said. “You too.”
Alan beamed again and headed back to his office and Dax sighed heavily. Well, that was a load to think about. He was going to have to call the sitter and see what he could arrange. If nothing else he might be able to process it all better with a little bit of booze in him. What the hell, it couldn’t hurt.