Margaret brought Karina and the documents to my office, then nodded toward the door and said, "I'll go prepare the TD1 forms and print an employee handbook and benefits package."

I pointed to one of the chairs in front of my desk. "Please sit, Karina. Before signing, we'll review the terms of the contract and non-disclosure agreement to ensure they're correct and you're aware of the contents and meanings."

When we reached the bottom of the last page, she looked up and said, "With all the added data printed in bold, it's impossible to miss, and there's no convoluted obfuscation. So different from previous experiences."

"I'm pleased you like it. One of my first tasks after taking over was rewriting our templates, removing the bafflegab and adding clarity. They're a bit longer this way, but far easier to understand."

"Why doesn't everyone do them plain and simple like this?"

I chuckled. "Lawyers."

"Yeah."

"Are you ready to sign?"

"Are you sure you want to do this, Logan? It seems so impulsive. Think about what it'll do to your budget."

"Already budgeted. After my last trip, we began searching for someone to assist me with purchasing. It has very quickly become more than I can handle."

"Oh! So not as impulsive as it seems."

"Not at all. Trump's tariffs have given us our best sales growth opportunity since privatisation."

"Hunh? How so?"

"With our counter-tariffs and boycott, US wine and spirits exports to us have plummeted, and we're scrambling to find replacements to fill emptied store shelves and decimated wine lists. The current estimate is close to a billion dollars a year."

"Oh, wow!"

"Indeed. This will be my third buying trip in quick succession – Chile and Argentina from the end of February to mid-March, followed by Australia and New Zealand into April. And after France and Italy, we'll head to Spain and Portugal the first week of May."

"Aha, finding new suppliers."

"Eventually. But I saw it would be much quicker and easier to focus on expanding the selections from our existing ones, and because they're already in the system, it's easier to get new listings from most of the provincial boards. Also, their brands and reputations are already known to our customers, so only minimal additional marketing is required. "

"Oh, how clever."

"Hey! More than just a good-looking dude." I pointed at the documents. "Are you now ready to sign?"

"Much more so, now." Karina giggled. "But, does this mean we'll have to stop seeing each other? The old forbidden office romance trope."

"Oh, my. Something I've not considered. Though we don't prohibit, our employee handbook is clear in strongly discouraging them. Did you mention anything about us to Margaret?"

"She asked how you found me."

I winced. "What did you tell her?"

"Serendipity."

"Great! But knowing Margaret, she wouldn't stop there."

"True. She asked me to elaborate."

Oh, yeah, that's her. "How much did you tell her?"

Karina grinned and shrugged. "Told her I'd leave the elaborating to you."

"Superb, Karina. Fast, astute thinking. We'll have to play platonic around the office. In Chambéry, as well." I shrugged. "But that's easy; I've years of experience with it."

"As do I."

"And to add to mine, when rumours spread and that I was a closet gay, and innuendos grew, I announced my asexuality to the staff to quash the closet homophobes. Strange how ace is more acceptable than gay for some."

"True. And this would stop most women from hitting on you."

"Hmmm. I didn't notice any." I shrugged and chuckled. "But I wouldn't recognise it, anyway, so I've never thought about this. I can now see how my disinterest might be where the gay idea arose."

"Yes, likely trying to explain your lack of response, the handbook's strong discouragement notwithstanding. Many women would have thoughts about hitting on you, most just fleeting, but some more serious. God! Even in my barely recovered state, I had thought of seducing you.  – until you told me you're ace."

"Oh! So, that turns women off."

"No, not turn off. More like dismissing thoughts."

"So, how did we end up pleasuring each other last night?"

"Hmmm. Seems to have been a natural escalation from our comforting cuddle and kiss."

I pushed my mind back to last evening in bed, examining how it evolved. "Ummm, with my wet thigh showing your arousal, I suggested helping relieve your tension."

She giggled. "And suggested so endearingly, I couldn't refuse. But with that, continuing became easy, knowing we both want it. We both now know your asexuality doesn't matter. What does matter, though, is that we've evolved to the point that physical shows of affection have become automatic for us. We'll have to control our impulses around the staff."

"That'll be easy for the next month and a half. France and Italy for two and a half weeks, back for a few days, then off to Spain and Portugal."

Karina tilted her head. "Would it make sense to do Spain and Portugal while we're over there? Save the expense and tedium of two extra flights."

"Brilliant, Karina. Another reason to hire you. And with you keeping me stable, I'll not need the extra time for recharging between calling on producers. I need to put together a new itinerary and rearrange the appointments with all of them."

"Hmmm! Rather than reworking, why don't we enjoy the spaces between them? And we'll have lots of time to get from the last one in Italy to the first in Spain. The only things needing to be changed are the rental car reservation and the return flight."

"More of your clear thinking, Karina.

"Thank you." She grinned at me. "I now feel more worthy of being hired."

"Great!" I took a pen from my blazer pocket, handed it to her and pointed. "Your initials in all the boxes to indicate you've seen and agree with how the blanks have been filled, then your signatures at the bottom of the last page and on the non-disclosure agreement."

As she initialled, she said, "Absolutely impossible for anyone to misinterpret this."

"I'm pleased you think so. This was my intention. As you complete each page, pass it to me, and I'll add my confirming initials."

"Oh! To signify your agreement with the terms."

I nodded, and a minute or so later, after initialling all boxes and adding my signatures below hers, I rose and extended my hand. "Welcome to Corgram, Karina." Then, striding toward the door to close it, I added, "Among our office protocol is that closed doors mean knock and wait. Let me use that and give you a more personal welcome."