17
PIPER
It’s been ten days since I saw Ant, and four since I came on my vibrator thinking about him. I still can’t seem to wipe him from my thoughts. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Maybe it’s the paranoia of expecting every shadow in the corner of my eye to be him.
Or maybe it’s the disappointment from every time I realize it isn’t.
Or maybe it’s my irritation at my disappointment.
I don’t have time to worry about this today, especially when I’m about to host what might be the most important meeting of my career.
The owners of Cryptech want to discuss sponsoring my little non-profit company.
Cryptech is the largest crypto-security company in the country, and Penpoint caught their eye. They are interested in me and my tiny four-person team. Even a small grant or sponsorship from a large company would make a huge difference for us. Cryptech is exactly the kind of partnership that could help us get to the next level.
Penpoint Assist has been advising tech companies on best usability standards for over two years now. Our main focus started with screen reading software, since then we’ve expanded our specialty to help all kinds of accessibility. It’s something I found a passion for growing up with my sister and finding so many apps she couldn’t fully access. Most are easy changes that actually make everyday tech easier foreveryoneto use. Lately there’s been an increased interest for tech that will improve usability for cryptids as well.
I didn’t realize why Cryptech would care about us until I started googling. The company is run by cryptids.
Magnes Loch, CEO, is a Lake Monster, a human-sized plesiosaur.
Sacha Kwatch, chief financial officer, is a Bigfoot.
Pontius Pleasant, chief technical officer, is the only one I haven’t found more information on, and the only one I am really disappointed not to have a decent photo of. He is a famously talented programmer, and a notorious recluse.
Magnes and Sacha are frequently photographed at various social events, and heavily featured on the company website. But there aren’t any pictures of Pontius. I assume he’s a cryptid too. I wonder if he has wings. I’m scanning their site for the seventeenth time when the door to our tiny office opens.
“Piper Hamilton?” Magnes Loch asks. I’m sure it’s him before the introductions even start. With pale green skin and a two-foot-long neck. He’s too tall to stand up straight in our cramped basement office. He’s wearing a dark green suit that must be custom made. There’s a hole for his tail and everything. Maybe he goes to the same tailor Ant does?
No. I am not thinking about Ant.
“Mr. Loch.” I smile, and offer him a hand to shake.
“Real pleasure to meet you.” He wraps large green fingers around mine and gives an alarmingly disarming grin.
Behind him a Bigfoot steps into our tiny office, looking around with a small frown. We only really have one office space, with four desks crammed into it. Sacha Kwatch, his slicked back hair just barely brushes the ceiling. He must be at least eight feet tall.
“Small space,” the Bigfoot says.
“Sacha. Say hello to our newest potential acquisition.” Loch gestures to me.
Sacha just nods in my direction. His heavy brows furrowed in concentration. Thick fur covers almost every inch of his visible body.
“I was surprised you wanted to meet here,” I admit. “We’re operating on a slim budget. A couple of grants and a few clients, having a sponsorship with Cryptech would help us expand into more comfortable quarters.”
All three of my employees are in the office today. I feel like we look more impressive when the desks are full, and I wanted everyone to meet.
Kara, who does all of our social media and admin work, has her laptop set up in the tiny corner that barely counts as a desk.
Josh and Lex share a desk at the other end of the room, their laptops set up facing each other. They are rarely both in the office. Most of our work can be done remotely. Josh’s canes lean against the wall behind him. It’s difficult for him to navigate the tiny office with his walking aids.
I know there’s a lot of irony in our offices being less than accessible, but it’s the only space that we could reasonably afford, and these issues are part of the reason I am always willing to allow my employees to work from home.
The fourth and final desk in the office is mine. I’m here most days. I prefer having a way to separate my work from my personal life.
But four desks and a narrow walkway in the middle is all the space we have in our tiny office. Not a lot of room for testing or meetings. Not even a quiet room to take a phone call without everyone hearing.
