#team lead job vacancy

[hoshifighting]

Workaholic!Joshua

— Synopsis: Joshua consistently skips happy hours or works overtime. You've tried to warn your friend countless times, but he didn't listen to you. As a result, it's no surprise that Joshua experienced a burnout on the office floor. — WC: 5.3k — WARNINGS: Smut, fluff, angst, office setting, fingering (f. receiving), clit stimulation, handjob, penetrative sex, a little bit of car sex, protected sex, dirty talk, flirty Joshua.

[Please be aware that the following text includes mentions of burn-out, collapse, fainting out, which may be a sensitive topic for some]

[Issue Club Serie]

You remember when you heard your manager talking about a job vacancy in the recruitment and selection sector. The name immediately stood out to you—Joshua. You studied with him in college, and you knew he would be perfect for the role.

The manager loved him. Joshua was charismatic, empathetic, and dedicated—everything the recruitment team needed. Every morning, he would thank you profusely, and at least twice a week, he would insist on buying you an overpriced coffee. It took some time for you to convince him that he didn't need to do this.

But there was something else you couldn't help but notice. The sheer number of job interviews Joshua had to lead, the late nights you'd see him at his desk with tired eyes, and how he always seemed a little lonely, even though the team welcomed him with open arms.

Joshua would rarely show up to the department's happy hours on Fridays or the company parties, and even then, he would only talk about work. There was no relief, no relaxation. You found yourself listening to him until the end of the night, as the rest of the team started to ask if he would even bother coming anymore, knowing he probably wouldn't.

You couldn't help but feel for Joshua. He was clearly passionate about his work, but at what cost? You watched as he isolated himself, unable to find that work-life balance that so many of us strive for. It made you wonder, what was driving him to push himself so hard, and at what point would the stress and loneliness become too much to bear?

As his friend, you couldn't help but worry about his well-being. You'd seen him cancel plans, skip social events, and even miss out on family gatherings, all in the name of his career. It was admirable, sure, but also concerning. 

You could consider reaching out, inviting him for a coffee or a quick chat. Maybe he just needed someone to listen and remind him that there was more to life than just work. 

But then again, who were you to judge? 

Everyone has their own path, their own motivations. Still, you couldn't shake the feeling that Joshua was heading for a burnout. You wondered if there was a way to help him find a better balance without undermining his ambitions. It was a tricky situation, and you weren't sure how to approach it.

As you glance at the clock, the hands indicate it's already 3:35 pm. Your stomach growls, reminding you that you've been so absorbed in your work that you've skipped lunch. Deciding it's time for a much-needed break, you gather your phone and wallet, heading towards the exit of the department.

But just as you're about to leave, you spot Joshua, his fingers dancing across the keyboard in a blur of movement. You can't help but let out a small sigh, knowing he's likely putting in extra hours again. Turning around, you make your way over to his desk, standing beside him.

"Joshua, it's past 3:30. Don't you think it's time for a break?" you say, your voice laced with concern.

Joshua looks up, blinking a few times as he registers your presence. "Oh, hey Y/N. I'm just trying to get this report finished before the end of the day," he explains, his brow furrowed in concentration.

You can't help but smile at his dedication. "Come on, you've been working non-stop. Let's go grab a bite to eat across the street. My treat," you offer, hoping to coax him away from his desk.

Joshua hesitates for a moment, glancing back at his computer screen. "I don't know, Y/N. I really need to get this done..."

"It can wait, Joshua. You need to take a break and recharge," you insist, your tone gentle but firm.

With a sigh, Joshua nods and starts to gather his things. "Alright, you win. Let's go," he says, shrugging on his blazer.

You can't help but feel a sense of triumph as the two of you head towards the elevator. "So, how are the apprentice interviews going?" you ask. "They're going well, actually. The candidates are all so eager and eager to learn," Joshua replies, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

You chuckle, nodding in understanding. "That's the best phase, but I hope they don't overwork themselves in the future, right Josh?" you say, casting him a knowing glance.

Joshua ducks his head, chuckling quietly. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you," he says, the hint of a smile still playing on his face.

As you step out into the bustling street, you feel the sun's warmth on your face, a pleasant contrast to the cold, sterile office. You turn to Joshua, a playful grin spreading across your face.

"Alright, Josh, here's the deal. If you talk about work during this break, you'll owe me an ice cream," you declare, wagging a finger at him.

Joshua laughs, a genuine sound that lightens the mood. "Deal. Though, to be honest, I'd buy you an ice cream anyway," he says, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Don't you forget it. And remember, I'm serious," you say, trying to keep a straight face as you give him a mock-stern look.

Joshua raises his hands in surrender, still chuckling. "Alright, alright, I heard you loud and clear."

As you both find a cozy little café, the smell of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee envelops you. You choose a table by the window, and as you settle in with your meals, the casual chatter of other patrons creates a comforting background hum.

"Did you hear about the latest drama?" you begin, leaning in conspiratorially. "The director's wife found out he was cheating on her because her strawberry jam kept disappearing from the fridge—and the director doesn't even like strawberry jam!"

Joshua's mouth drops open, his eyes wide in disbelief. "No way. Seriously?" he exclaims, staring at you.

You nod, your face a picture of exaggerated exasperation. "Yup. She noticed it was going down way too fast and started putting two and two together."

Joshua shakes his head, still processing the story. "That's wild. You know, during the last interview I led, they actually put some strawberry jam on the table so the candidates would—" He stops abruptly as your glare pierces him. He laughs, holding up his hands again. "Sorry, sorry! No work talk, I remember."

You can't help but smile at his sheepish expression. "Thank you. So, back to the story. After she figured it out, she didn’t just confront him. Oh no, she went all out. She invited him to a romantic dinner, complete with candles and, of course, strawberry jam."

Joshua raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "And then what happened?"

You lean in closer, lowering your voice. "She waited until he took a bite of the dessert she made—some fancy strawberry tart. And then she calmly asked him if he enjoyed it as much as his 'office snacks.'"

Joshua bursts out laughing, nearly choking on his food. "No way! That’s brilliant. What did he do?"

You grin, enjoying his reaction. "He turned beet red and started stammering. She didn’t even wait for an explanation. She just got up, left the table, and moved out the next day. Took the jam with her too, just for good measure."

Joshua laughs so hard tears form in his eyes. "I can't believe it. That's some next-level pettiness. Good for her."

You noticed Joshua seemed more relaxed after your lunch together. He even managed a smile when you passed by his desk later that day. However, during the week, your attempts to repeat the lunch outing were met with resistance. Each time you invited him, he had a different excuse.

"Hey, Josh, want to grab some lunch today?" you asked on Tuesday, hoping to replicate the success of your last outing.

"Sorry, Y/N. I need to lead the apprentice interview," he replied, not looking up from his computer.

On Wednesday, you tried again. "How about lunch today? There is a pasta sale going on at the mall."

Joshua sighed, shaking his head. "I wish I could, but I need to filter the job applications. We're getting so many, and I need to find the best ones."

By Thursday, your frustration was evident, but you kept it in check. "Lunch today, Josh? You deserve a break."

"I'd love to, but I need to solve the issue with the employees' late salaries," he said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "It's causing a lot of stress for everyone."

Joshua was developing into someone who rarely took a break from his work. Today was Friday, and as you were leaving with your coworkers, all you wanted was to taste a cold beer and find some refuge from the rough week. The whole department was eager to hang out together, and the air was filled with energy.

You were refreshing your makeup at your desk as your coworkers trickled out, laughing and chatting. Glancing over, you saw Joshua standing by the printer, watching the curriculums pile up.

"Josh, you coming out with us tonight?" you called over, hoping to finally get him to relax.

He looked up, "I don't know, Y/N. I have these curriculums to go through, and then there's the report I need to finish."

Tired of trying, you sigh in defeat, the weight of your concern for Joshua pressing heavily on your shoulders. He notices, his eyes meeting yours briefly, but you turn away and walk out. You knew you didn't have the responsibility of checking on him every single time—it was his choice to work himself into exhaustion. But how could you not worry? He was a great friend, and the thought of him breaking down alone between the dividers of his desk was unbearable.

As you sip your beer, trying to enjoy the happy hour, the image of Joshua's lost eyes lingers in your mind. The laughter and chatter around you fade into the background as your thoughts drift back to him. After a few hours, the night winds down, and you remember you forgot your keys at the office. Debora, your coworker, offers you a ride back so you can retrieve them before heading home.

The office is dark and silent as you and Debora step inside, your footsteps echoing softly on the tiled floor. Only one light is turned on, casting a dim glow over a single desk. You immediately recognize it—Joshua's desk. But he isn't sitting there.

A sense of dread fills you as you approach, the cubicle dividers blocking your view. As you round the corner, you see him—Joshua, sprawled on the floor.

You gasp, rushing to his side. "Joshua!" you scream out, your voice trembling with panic. You carefully lift his head and place it on your lap, your hands shaking as you check for signs of consciousness. He's unresponsive, his face pale and drawn.

"Debora, call an ambulance!" you shout, your voice tight.

Debora fumbles with her phone, her fingers trembling as she dials. She quickly explains the situation to the operator and then rushes to find building security for additional help.

You gently shake Joshua, trying to rouse him. "Come on, Josh, wake up," you whisper urgently, but he remains still, his breathing shallow.

Minutes later, which feel like an eternity, the sound of sirens pierces the silence. The paramedics arrive, and you reluctantly let go of Joshua as they take over, assessing his condition and preparing to move him. You insist on riding with him to the hospital, unable to leave his side.

As the ambulance speeds through the city streets, you hold Joshua's hand, your heart pounding with worry. Outside the building, a few employees gather, watching the scene unfold with concern. You barely notice them, your focus entirely on Joshua, praying silently that he'll be okay.

You don't know exactly how many hours you've been by Joshua's side as he lies in the hospital bed. You watched the morning light grow brighter through the window, dozed off, woke up to find him still sleeping, went to the bathroom, and grabbed something from the cafeteria. When you return to his room, you see Joshua awake, a nurse measuring his blood pressure. An uncomfortable silence settles in as the nurse finishes up and leaves.

You sigh, walking next to him and turning your back to him.

"Are you mad at me?" Joshua asks, his voice still weak.

You shake your head, the words snapping out before you can stop them. "No, I'm letting you rest, since you don't do it yourself."

He sighs deeply, and you close your eyes, immediately regretting your harsh tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you this much trouble," he says softly.

You shake your head negatively, looking down. "I found you on the floor, Josh. The only reason I was there was because I forgot my keys. What if I hadn't come back?"

Joshua struggles, but he manages to reach out and catch your hand that is hanging by the bedside. His cold touch makes you glance at him. His eyes are full of exhaustion.

"Please, don't make me this worried again,"

Joshua squeezes your hand weakly. "I'll try, Y/N. I really will. I'm sorry for pushing myself so hard and for pushing you away. I didn't realize how bad it had gotten."

You nod "You don't have to do everything alone, you know. We're all here for you. I'm here for you."

He nods, his eyes glistening. "I know. And I appreciate it more than you know. I just... I need to find a better balance."

"Promise me you'll take it seriously this time," you say.

"I promise," he whispers, his grip on your hand tightening just a bit, weakly. "I'll take better care of myself."

You sit down next to him, your hand still in his. "Good. Because you can't go through that again."

You didn't like the rumors circulating around the office about Joshua while he was away. It bothered you to hear whispers about his collapse, especially since everyone in his department knew how hard he worked and yet pretended everything was fine. 

As the days passed, Joshua's desk slowly filled with Post-it notes and snacks, contributions from you and other departments. Joshua's sudden health scare was a wake-up call, touching more hearts than just yours.

When Joshua returned today, Friday, you watched from your desk as he walked in, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his desk. Messages of encouragement and little treats were piled high. 

His face goes red as he glances around, catching the subtle glances of his coworkers. They quickly return to their tasks, but you see the corners of their mouths twitching with barely concealed smiles.

He worked at his desk, and his department members spared him from taking on too much. As the windows started to show the darkening sky, some people had already left to go home. Unlike regular Fridays, there was no happy hour planned for tonight.

Seungkwan approached Joshua's desk, a concerned look on his face. "Hey, Josh, you should really think about not doing extra hours today."

Joshua shook his head, "I'm going to take it easy for now…" a small smile formed as he looked at you. "Also, I have a happy hour for two tonight, so no extra hours."

As his friends gave you sly glances and teased you with their smiles, you felt your cheeks blush.

"Looks like someone's got a date," Seungkwan said, grinning.

How did you two end up on a date? It started in the hospital. Joshua was still recovering, lying in bed, holding your hand. The room was quiet, the noise from machines was the only sound.

"How can you forgive me?" he asked, his voice soft.

You shook your head, a gentle smile on your face. "I'm not mad at you, Josh. But it would be cool if you took a break every now and then. Maybe we could go to a happy hour someday."

Joshua licked his lips, still holding your hand and giving it a weak squeeze. He looked up at you, all flirty. "Would you be open to having a happy hour with just you and me?"

You blinked, shocked. "What?"

He blushed, looking down for a moment before meeting your eyes again. "Come on, it's so difficult for me to take a break. I'd love to have you as the motive for my breaks."

You scoffed, attempting to conceal the warmth that spread throughout your chest. "You should take breaks for your health and my sanity."

Joshua brushed his thumb against your hand, a playful grin grabbing at his lips. "Don't scold me, Y/N-nie, I'm sick," he teased.

You stared at him, a shocked smirk on your face. "You're taking advantage of me."

"Yes," he said, his smile growing. "Using the advantage, so you accept having an encounter with me."

The memory of that conversation makes you smile as you walk out of the office together, the evening air cool and refreshing. 

"So, where are we going for this happy hour?" you ask, trying to lighten the mood.

Joshua chuckles, his eyes bright with excitement. "I thought we could try that new restaurant around the corner. I've heard good things."

You nod, feeling the tension of the week melt away. "Sounds perfect."

As you both enter the bar, the atmosphere is lively but not unpleasant. You find a cozy corner table and settle in, the soft murmur of conversation and clinking glasses creating a comfortable backdrop.

Joshua looks at you, his eyes filled with gratitude and something else that makes your heart skip a beat. "Thanks for convincing me to take a break."

You smile, raising your glass. "To more breaks and less stress."

He clinks his glass against yours, a genuine smile on his face. "To more happy hours with you."

After dinner, you find yourself sitting in the passenger seat of Joshua's car. The air is filled with a comforting silence, both of you soaking in the cozy warmth of the evening. As he pulls the car up in front of your house, you pause for a moment, your heart quickening in your chest as you struggle to gather the courage to look over at him.

Instead, you direct your gaze out the windshield, staring at the street ahead of you. The dim glow of streetlights paints the night in soft hues of orange, casting shadows on the quiet neighborhood.

"Do you want to come inside?" you ask, your voice hardly above a whisper.

Joshua turns your face toward his, his touch gentle as he lifts your chin with a soft touch. "You want me to go inside?" he enquires, his tone soft.

You nod, your gaze drawn to his mouth. "Yes."

"Then tell me," he teases, "what exactly are we going to do inside?"

You gulp, your mind racing. "We can... we can..." you stutter. You didn't have an answer on the tip of your tongue.

Joshua leans in close to you, his smile growing wider as he whispers against your skin, "I'm going to come inside, but go easy on me," he says, his breath warm and sultry, "I'm not quite recovered yet."

You shiver at his words. "What do you mean?" you ask, your voice still low and quiet as you look up at him.

"What do you think I mean?" he replies with a smirk, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "I mean," he murmurs, his mouth brushing against your ear as he speaks, "that you might have to take it slow with me."

"Slow? How slow?" You're whispering, not because you're afraid of being loud, it's because you're so horny that your voice is strained. 

Joshua's lips curve into a smirk as he sees the effect he's having on you. 

"Slow," he whispers back, his voice low and seductive. "Slow to the point where you feel yourself starting to drip."

He closes the gap between you, his lips hovering just millimeters from yours as his hands slide up your hips.

"Are you sure you want me to come inside?" he asks, his mouth so close to yours that you can feel the heat of his breath on your skin.

Your mind could only focus on the two last words. Mind foggy. "Come inside?" 

Joshua widens his eyes slightly, then a cocky smile spreads across his face as he registers the double meaning of your words. "Hmm look at you, how nasty... I guess we can do this too..."

His lips crash against yours, no longer gentle but filled with urgency. His tongue delves into your mouth, exploring, tasting. You gasp, the wet noises so sultry inside his sleek car. His hands unclasp your seatbelt, and one slide from your knee to your thigh, slipping under your pencil skirt to feel the lacy panties you wore.

"Slowly, like this," he murmurs against your mouth, his voice too sultry.

His hand moves to the front of your panties, and you instinctively raise your hips as he pulls them down, discarding them onto the car's floor. The air inside the car starts to feel foggy, just like your senses, and your breathing becomes more rapid.

Joshua's hand returns to your now bare skin, his fingers teasing and exploring the wet folds of your pussy. You moan softly into his mouth, your body reacting to every touch. And slow, just like he said, he starts to circle your clit with his finger, making you instantly melt against the seat as you spread your legs wider for him.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes dark and intense, filled with fascination as he watches your reactions. Your mouth can't correspond to the wet kisses anymore, your hips roll against his hand, your legs spasm as you try to keep them open, and your skirt rises, revealing your sopping cunt glistening.

You find yourself pushed back against the seat, your body arching as you grow more desperate for him. His eyes never leave yours.

“I can feel how much you want this.” 

You can only nod, your breath coming in ragged gasps as his fingers speed on your swollen bud. 

“So open, so needy.” he murmurs making you feel that sharp stitch in your belly一your horniness growing. 

His words make you moan, and he chuckles, his voice filled with a gloomy promise. “I want to hear more of that,” he says, his fingers teasing your entrance before slipping inside. You cry out, your body responding instantly to his touch, your head thrown back.

“Joshua,” you gasp, your hands clutching at his shirt as you try to ground yourself.

He leans in closer, his breath hot against your neck. “Yes, Y/N? Tell me what you need.”

“More,” you manage to say, your voice trembling, “I need more.”

He pulls back slightly, his eyes meeting yours with a fiery intensity. “More? I can give you more.”

With that, he increases the pace, his fingers moving inside you making the squelching wet songs, louder. He watches you so closely that you feel embarrassed; it is as if he reads everything about you and knows every secret you keep.  

“Every little touch, every little tease… you’re soaking it all up.” He coos, and you feel your orgasm getting closer and closer. 

You can only whimper in response, your body trembling with the need for release. He leans in, his lips capturing yours in a searing kiss. The taste of him, the feel of him, it’s all too much, and you can sense that you are nearing collapse.

“Cum for me, sweetheart,” he whispers against your lips. “Let go.”

His words are your undoing. With a cry, you shatter, your body convulsing against his leather seat. Joshua holds you through it, his touch possessive, trying to keep you still so you can feel the waves better. As you come down from the high, you find yourself panting, your body still trembling non-stop.

His fingers are soaked, glistening in the pale light. With a teasing grin, Joshua brings them to his mouth, sucking them clean with a satisfied pop. You immediately turn your face to the window, your cheeks burning with embarrassment as you try to straighten your skirt. His chuckle fills the car, rich and warm.

“Shy now, are we?” he teases, his voice low and playful.

You can’t bring yourself to look at him, your hands fumbling with the fabric of your skirt. But Joshua isn’t done with you yet. He leans in, his breath hot against your ear as he whispers, “We can resume this inside. What do you think?”

You nod, finally daring to meet his gaze. He gives you a quick peck on the lips before stepping out of the car. You watch him circle around to your side, suppressing a laugh when he catches the glimpse of your knees trembling as you exit the vehicle.

“Did you get this horny?” he can't hide the amusement in his voice.

The walk to your front door feels like an eternity, your fingers fumbling with the keys as Joshua’s need becomes more apparent. He’s pressing his bulge against you, his hands roaming over your body as he kisses your neck, making it hard to focus on unlocking the door.

Finally, the door swings open, and you grab Joshua by the collar of his white shirt, pulling him inside. Your mouths collide in a desperate kiss, his hands clutching your hips as you stumble toward the bedroom. You don’t care about the noise or the awkward angles; all that matters is the friction among you, the urgent need to be closer.

With outstretched arms, you brace yourself against the wall, your body arching toward his as he presses against you. His hands are everywhere—sliding under your blouse, unhooking your bra, teasing the sensitive skin beneath. You moan into his mouth, your hands clutching at his hair while you're absorbed by the feeling.

“Bedroom,” you manage to gasp, your voice breathless and needy.

Joshua’s response is a low growl, his hands gripping your waist as he guides you through the hallway. You barely make it to the bed before you’re pulling at each other’s clothes, the fabric tearing in your haste to be free of it. His shirt falls to the floor, followed by your skirt, his pants, your blouse—until there’s nothing between you but skin and heat.

He pushes you gently onto the bed, his body covering yours as he kisses you sloppy. His hands continue their search, teasing, caressing, making you frantic with need. You arch against him, your fingers digging into his back as you pull him closer.

His cock lays heavily against your belly, a warm, wet spot forming on your skin from his precum. You grab his throbbing length, feeling it pulse under your touch. Joshua shudders, moaning needily against your mouth, the sound vibrating through you and adding to your own arousal.

Your hand collects the sticky lubrication, spreading it along its entire length. You begin to stroke him, your other hand tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. His eyes flutter open, trying to stay locked on yours as you speed up your strokes. His gasps and whimpers alimented your hunger, making you feel yourself oozing more and more.

At a certain point, he lets out a high-pitched squeak, hiding his face in your neck. "I need to be inside you," he says, his voice strained and desperate.

You close your eyes, the heat of his breath on your skin sending shivers down your spine. "Open this drawer," you murmur, nodding towards the bedside table.

Joshua extends his arm, fumbling slightly as he opens the drawer and finds a couple of condoms. He picks one up, glancing at you with a teasing smile. "Always prepared, huh?" he says, tearing open the shiny packet.

His hands move with such practiced ease that it makes your breath catch when you watch him slide the rubber down his length. His cock looks even more inviting now, sheathed and ready for you.

He positions himself at your entrance, pausing for a moment to look into your eyes. Slowly, he pushes inside, filling you inch by inch. You gasp at the sensation, your pussy stretching to accommodate him. Joshua’s groan is deep and throaty, his hands gripping your hips as he bottoms out.

For a moment, neither of you moves, so you adjust to his side, but thankfully his fingers prepared you well in his car. Then, he begins to thrust, his pace is slow at first, his eyes locked on yours, watching every reaction, his ears alert to your every moan, and every wet sound from your stretched little cunt.

You arch your back, meeting his thrusts, your hands clutching his shoulders. “Faster, Joshua,” 

He complies, his pace quickening, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The room is filled with the sex sounds—the slap of skin against skin, the mingled moans and gasps, the creaking of the bed. You feel yourself climbing higher, the knot on your belly desperately wanting to blossom.

Joshua’s rhythm falters for a moment, his grip on your hips tightening. “I’m close,” he whispers, his voice strained.

“Me too,” you reply, your nails digging into his back.

Joshua takes his cock out of you, positioning himself a little further back before slamming all the way in again. The sudden movement makes you grab his forearm, while his other hand lays on your belly. Each thrust is powerful, hitting that perfect, spongy spot inside you that makes you sob with pleasure. You grow tighter around him with every second, the stimulation driving you both wild.

"You're perfect," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire.

"Am I?" you manage to gasp between his thrusts.

"Absolutely," he praises, his words going straight to your core. "You're so tight, so wet. You're perfect for me."

The praise sends a jolt of pleasure through you, making you arch your back and cum for him. Joshua smiles at the sight of you unraveling beneath him—Your legs try to close instinctively, but his hips keep them wide apart. Your eyes roll back, your pussy gushing as your fingers curl around the headboard.

He finds your clit with his thumb, rubbing it just as your orgasm peaks. It shatters you, making you curse.

"Fuck, Joshua! You're so deep... don't stop... please, don't stop. God, you're going to make me cum again."

"You're so fucking tight," he groans, his pace quickening. "I can feel you squeezing me. You're gonna make me cum so hard."

"Keep cumming for me, baby," he whispers, his own voice shaking.

His moans grow louder, his pace more frantic. Your dirty talk pushes him to the brink, and with a final, powerful thrust, he cums hard. His loud moaning, combined with the sensation of his cum filling the condom, makes your head spin.

Joshua leaves you shaking for the second time that evening, fully exhausted and completely satisfied.

Joshua falls on his side beside you, his breaths coming hard and fast. You can't help but tease him, a smirk playing on your lips.

"Are you going to faint here too? Should I call an ambulance? After all, you weren’t as slow as you said you would be."

He laughs, his chest heaving. "I’ve got enough energy to fuck you all night if you want to, leave your bed all drenched," he says, kissing your cheek and playfully slapping your clit, making you shudder.

"All night, huh?" you tease back, your fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. "Big talk for someone who just collapsed next to me."

Joshua grins, his eyes sparkling. "You doubt me?"

"I’m just saying," you reply, your tone playful. "Maybe you should pace yourself. I wouldn’t want you passing out on me."

He leans in, his lips brushing against your ear. "I’m not going anywhere. And if you think that was all I’ve got, you’re in for a surprise."

You chuckle, your fingers dancing down his stomach. "Promises, promises," you whisper, your hand inching closer to his now half-hard cock. "Let’s see if you can keep up."

Joshua groans, his body responding to your touch. "You’re going to regret challenging me," he murmurs.

"Bring it on," you whisper back.

[clonecaptains]

No Vacancy

a tyler owens x shy reader fic

warnings: none! she/her pronouns mentioned; no use of y/n; this is all cozy fluff

word count: 3k

summary: you're part of the wrangler crew and have a crush on tyler. and you're debating on acting on these feelings. you might just get your chance when he shows up at your motel room.

a/n: this is my first tyler fic! this is the ol 'there's only one bed' trope - and im already planning a part two! hope yall enjoy!

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All these motel rooms look the same. Warm earth tones all over the place and strange prints on the bedspread. But after a long day like today, it’s a welcome sight. That bed’s calling your name. You shrug your bag off your shoulder and hit the light switch. The lamp in the corner illuminates the room in a warm glow. It’s cozy.

The door clicks behind you; and you stand in the room for a moment deciding what you want to do next. Your job was done for the day. You are the official tornado wrangler social media accounts manager. Now that the wrangler team has gained a substantial following, it’s your job to post updates about new videos or the latest t-shirt design up for charity purposes. You’ve posted what you needed to post for the day, and now is your chance to rest.

You decide on a shower to think about the events of the day while you clean off.

Today was a first for you. It was your first time being in tornado while sitting in the passenger seat of Tyler’s truck. You’ve been on the team now for a while, but it was part of your initiation they’d said. Tyler was sweet. He pulled you aside telling you that you didn’t have to if you didn’t want to. And you really didn’t want to, but you wanted to prove to yourself that you could. More than that, you trusted Tyler would keep you safe.

You loved watching him, and his excitement was contagious despite your fears of this major storm. He’d been blasting his storm playlist, but when it got close to the moment, he made sure you were ok.

When the storm hit and passed you over, you couldn’t help but scream – in fear or excitement you don’t know. You grabbed Tyler’s arm in the heat of the moment, and feeling his warm skin under your fingertips was more of a thrill than the storm was.

You’re not sure how well you’re keeping the secret that you’re completely in love with him. You fell the first day you met him several months ago. And while you did prove to yourself that you could handle a tornado – you don’t know if you can handle the ache you feel when you’re around him. Riding shotgun in his truck today and touching his arm will keep you on cloud nine for the next week.

A creak in the pipes of this old motel tears you from your thoughts. You get out of the shower and dry off to put on your pjs. That’s when your mind drifts back to Tyler. How sweet he was with you all day leading up to your first tornado, and how he let you hold his arm. How he checked on you a dozen times after to make sure you weren’t too shaken.

You were shaken, but not but the storm. No matter how often you’re around him – he has the same effect on you. He makes you feel dizzy. His presence is so hard to ignore. It’s not just his handsome face or broad muscular frame – though that certainly is a factor – it’s his charm and relaxed demeanor. He’s a perfect balance of rowdy and sweet. And you are smitten.

You wince thinking about how it’s probably painfully obvious to the rest of the team. And what’s worse, it’s obvious to him too. If he’s seen it – and hasn’t said anything then you can only assume he doesn’t feel the same way.

All of this goes through your mind during your nightly routine. It’s early in the night, you left the wranglers down in the parking lot – most of them were still having a beer chatting over the day’s storm. You can faintly hear people talking outside while the night is winding down.

You settle into bed turning on the TV when you hear keys turning in the lock on your door. Much to your surprise – the door opens and who but Tyler himself is standing in the doorway. He’s just as confused as you. He steps backwards out of the doorway to check the key in his hand and the number on the door. He smiles with a soft huff – shaking his head at something you didn’t know what until later.

“This is the right room according to this,” he holds up the key and closes the door behind him. Suddenly the room feels a hundred times smaller. You feel yourself start to panic.

“They set this up,” Tyler continues. “I know it was Boone,” he laughs setting his bag down on the table near the door. “I’ll sleep on the floor,” he tells you right away to try and ease the fear he can probably see in your eyes.

You don’t have a reply because you’re still shocked he’s standing in your room.

“You did great today by the way,” Tyler was still talking, and you were glad for it.

But you do find your voice, “Thank you.” That actually means a lot to you.

“Wasn’t too bad, was it?” he asks, looking over his shoulder. He’s rifling through his bag.

“No, no,” you feign being nonchalant and he cracks a smile. “Tyler, do you want to check if there’s another room available?” you ask him in the same breath. “I don’t want you to sleep on the floor, that won’t be comfortable at all.”

“Tryin’ to kick me out?” he gives a little wink as he reaches for the phone to call the front desk.

The phone call was quick – not long enough for you to decide which outcome you’d prefer.

Do you want him to stay? if he stayed then you’d have to deal with your crush being in your room all night. Having to play it cool as best you could. Or do you want him to leave? And regret later that you didn’t say anything about how you felt when you had a good chance to in this moment

The choice is made for you in the span of a few seconds.

“No more rooms,” he clicked his tongue. “The floor’ll be fine!”

That’s one of the things you admire most about him. He’s considerate and polite – and he’s happy to be. You know the floor is not comfortable. But he offered like it was the most common thing in the world.

“I am gonna shower first,” he says. “You showered right?” he asks pointing at you, and you nod “yeah! Go for it!”

Now that he knew he was staying, he takes off his boots. Something about them resting on the floor by the doorway makes your heart ache. It’s so close to what it could be like if you were together. A taste of domestic life with Tyler.

He disappears into the bathroom, and you resume flipping through the TV channels. You hope that will distract you from thinking about your crush being very naked and wet on the other side of that door. It’s not like you intentionally linger on it, but when you hear the shower curtain rings slide along the curtain rod and the water kick on - your face warms heavily.

When you hear him quietly hum in the shower, you feel yourself begin to relax. Something about it warms your heart, you think maybe he feels comfortable and doesn’t mind being heard while he hums.

You know the tune, one of the songs he’d been blasting in the truck recently. That makes you think back to being in the tornado again. You can’t believe you did that. Maybe that is your sign to do something else brave. If you could weather that storm surely you could admit your feelings to Tyler.

What if he didn’t feel the same? Then you’d have to awkwardly share a room, and the rest of the time spent working at this job with him knowing you have a crush on him.

How many times have you heard him say “if you feel it, chase it.” If he felt it, would he not have chased it by now? You feel it and you want to chase him, but he makes your knees weak.

What if he does feel the same? How do you maneuver this? There are too many questions, and you don’t know any of the answers. All that you know was you have it bad for him and it hurts. It’s such an ache. Being around him all the time for work, but never having him. You’re embarrassed to admit how much touching his arm earlier was a thrill, it’s all you’d been able to think about.

The more you think about all of this, the harder your heart beats. You’ve barely had time to process anything since he’s been in your room. It gets even worse when the shower stops. You hear when the curtain opens, and when his feet touch the floor.

Then you hear your name.

“There aren’t any towels.”

Oh no. You forgotten you’d used them both. You weren’t expecting to have to share.

“I’ll go get you one! I’m sorry I used them both!” You grab the key and dart out the room, you dn’t even care that someone might see you in your pajamas. You’d rather go grab one for him than wait awkwardly for a towel to be brought up. The less you have to think about him naked in the next room the better for your sanity.

You grab the towels and an extra pillow from the front desk and head back.

“I’m coming in!” You laugh opening the door, and you hear him laugh from the bathroom. “Ok I have them,” you tell him near the bathroom door. He opens it just a smidge and sticks his hand out. You both laugh when you hand him the towels. The awkward moment acknowledged and laughed at instead of worrying about it.

“Thank you,” he replies as he closes the door.

You sit on the bed again, but this time instead of sitting in the middle – you sit more on one side. It’s big enough for you to share so you don’t see why not. It’s not fair for him to sleep on the floor.

As hard as you try to prepare yourself for sharing a bed with him, it lands like a brick in the pit of your stomach when he steps out of the bathroom. The scent of his bodywash hits you first, you always loved how he smells. But just looking at him, he’s a dream.

He’s wearing a soft worn t-shirt and some gym shorts. His hair’s a mess, and it makes you giggle to see it so unruly. He smiles at your quiet laugh.

“Something funny?” he prods running the towel over his head again before hooking it on the back of the door.

“Your hair is always so perfect!”

“You’re getting an exclusive behind the scenes look,” he smiles moving towards the table where he’d put his stuff. He digs through his bag to pull out his phone and charger - plugging it into the nearest outlet.

“Tyler?” your voice comes out timid. He looks up from his phone and sets it down to give you his attention. “You can stay up here,” you point to the empty half of the bed. “I got an extra pillow too.”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” his eyes are soft, his brows furrow.

“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable on the floor!”

He’s quiet for a moment. He looks at his hat sitting on the table amongst his things, and he strokes along the brim of the hat. Usually, you’re able to read him but this leaves you a little miffed. It makes your heart start to beat a little faster from the anticipation.

“Alright,” he decides standing up.

Ok, ok. Don’t panic. This is what you asked for.

He checks the lock on the door making sure it’s locked, and he turns off the floor lamp in the corner.

“On or off?” he asks near the bathroom. When you tell him ‘Off’, he taps that light switch and the loud hum from that light stops. The only light now is from the TV across from the bed.

Your heart is fluttering in your chest when he pulls the covers back. When he sits down and you feel his weight on the mattress - that really gets your heart pounding. He pulls the blankets back over himself and lays down with a heavy sigh. You know he’s tired, he’d been driving like a maniac into storms all day.

Though he’s more than just a rowdy storm chaser, he works long hours helping families and doing charity work. You love him for all these things. And you’re glad it’s dark because you feel like you might cry. He’s so close, and you have no idea what to say or do to tell him what you feel.

“Can I turn this off?” you ask trying to hide the quiver in your voice.

“Yes ma’am,” he replies and sinks further into the blankets. Both of you shift to get comfortable now in the dark, and his leg touches yours - causing you to jump. You don’t mean to gasp, but it slips out.

“Sorry!” he laughs and it relieves some tension. Some. You can’t calm down and you don’t know how to. He’s just a few inches away!! You were both lying on your backs, and his shoulder’s almost touching yours. You can still smell his body wash from earlier.

Just say it. Tell him you love him. You survived a tornado today!

You try to hype yourself up, but it isn’t working.

Before you plan out anything to say, you blurt out his name. That’s all you can muster. But this time, it’s worse than before, and your voice quivers audibly. More than that, you’re starting to tremble.

“Hey, hey- it’s ok,” he rolls over on his side to face you. “Me too,” he says and you have no idea what he’s talking about. Until he reachs for you in the dark. “Give me your hand,” he whispers and you roll on your side to face him. You reach towards him, and he gently wraps his hand around your wrist – guiding it to his chest. He puts your hand over his heart, and you feel it pounding under the warmth of his skin and soft shirt. “You see, I have a crush on this girl-“

Your eyes have adjusted in the dark and it’s enough to see the soft, almost shy look he gives you.

“Really?” you whisper. “Me?”

He lets go of your wrist and puts his hand on top of yours and presses down, emphasizing his point.

“Why haven’t you said anything til now? What happened to ‘if you feel it chase it’?”

He clears his throat comically and shifts a little, “Well, I-, ok you got me. Maybe I was a little nervous.” He shrugs. Your hand hasn’t moved from his chest, neither has his hand. He slowly starts to curl his fingers around your hand.

“You? Nervous for me? Do you know what I’ve been thinking about all day today?” you pause. “I can’t believe I’m about to tell you this.” He scoots a little closer to you, ready to listen. “It wasn’t the tornado I’ve been thinking about. It’s been how it felt to touch your arm today.” Your face is on fire. But it gives you a thrill to feel his heart jump and see the smile on his face widen.

He lets go of your hand and hooks his arm so his forearm is close to your face. “Would you like to again?” he teases, and you shove his chest playfully. He laughs, a good deep laugh. He’s relieved and happy. It makes your face hurt from your own smile, and you shyly move your hand from his chest to touch his forearm.

The air shifts. You both feel it when you stroke up and down his arm. You aren’t going to tell him how much you love feeling his arm hair under your fingertips. But he could probably figure it out. Maybe you didn’t mind if he knew.

He reaches for you then, your hand curls around his wrist this time. His hand cradles the back of your head, and he pulls you closer.

“I’m sorry I waited so long for this, I didn’t want to scare you. But truth is I was scared,” he admits.

“I was too, I was scared you didn’t feel the same way,” you whisper back. Your faces are so close to each other, and your bodies almost touching. You can feel the warmth from him.

He lets out a soft grunt like he’s been hit, shocked at what you just said to him.

“Can I?” he asks. You know what he’s asking. His expression is so sweet, so gentle. Another reason you love him. You feel safe in his presence, in his grasp.

“Yes,” you whisper, and then you start to laugh at yourself.

“What?” he smiles laughing.

“I was just gonna say you should ‘chase it’,” you smile. You barely finish the sentence before he closes the gap between you. Warm lips on yours, his nose pressing into your cheek. The stubble on his chin brushes your skin as you whimper into his mouth.

It’s a brief kiss before it breaks. There’s a slight pause where you look at each other smiling, enjoying the moment. Then he dives in for a deeper kiss. His arms pulling you closer, holding you tight to him. Though you wouldn’t dream of pulling away.

At some point you do break apart, both a little breathless. You feel dizzy and lovesick from the way he’s looking at you; something tells you he feels the same.

He starts to laugh again, shaking his head. “We won’t hear the end of this one.”

“Nope,” you smile knowing already what Lily and Dani will have to say.

“I know Boone had a hand in this.”

“Lily and Dani too, they’ve been pushing me to talk to you for weeks,” you giggle burying your face in his neck. He hugs you to him and squeezes. He adds a little reassuring rub on your back. “I’m still scared,” you admit, a secret murmured into his skin.

“I know,” he squeezes again. “Me too. Don’t want to lose you. But you’re worth chasing.”

You hum happily into his neck when a big yawn takes over you.

“Sorry,” you giggle, his laugh joining yours.

“You had a big day. Riding in your first tornado! That and the kissin’ outta wear anybody out,” he winks. Then tilts his head down to kiss your forehead. “Get some sleep.”

“Don’t let go,” you yawn, cuddling into his chest.

He whispers quietly against the top of your head, “never.”

[fortheloveofwonderland]

Rusty | Chapter 16 | S.R

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Summary - You and Spencer start making plans to leave Bandera. When Spencer makes a discovery about Luke, it leads to him having a blow out with the whole BAU team before saying his goodbyes to his old friends.

A/N - there will be a time jump after this chapter and things will ramp up pretty fast. Also just to note, if it seems like Spencer takes two steps forward and five back sometimes it’s because he does. Healing is not linear and he still has a long way to go.

Pairing - Spencer Reid / Fem! Reader

Category - strangers to friends to lovers | angst | smut minors DNI

Warnings - dissociation, jealousy, swearing, tears, arguing, mentions of prison and vague hints of sexual abuse, mentions of Cat Adams and Ben’s Believers, Luke and Spencer are both mean, goodbyes, sad BAU team.

WC - 6.8k

Chapter 16 - Take Your Memory With You

Grant was whistling to himself as he swept the barn floor, finishing up making the ranch look as presentable as possible. He was working tirelessly getting the place to look as orderly and neat as he could before he had a realtor round to get the old place on the market.

He was slightly wistful about the idea of selling his parents ranch but the excitement he felt about taking the next step outweighed it. He’d already eagerly been looking at homes in DC and Virginia, scouring job vacancies and preparing for his potential move. 

He and Luke spoke on the phone and texted every chance Luke had available whilst working on a case he could tell Grant little about. Every time his phone went off and he saw Luke’s name on the screen he got butterflies in his stomach. He didn’t know this, but Luke also experienced the same thing when Grant texted him. 

It was probably crazy that he was considering this, packing up his life and moving to the other side of the country for a man who was supposed to be a one night stand. 

He’d never once allowed himself to throw caution to the wind, to do something reckless like this. He was sensible, predictable, he didn’t do things like this. But that was part of the reason he wanted to do this. 

It might be insane and it might end up being the dumbest thing he’d ever done but he had to give it a try. Luke had made him feel things he wasn’t sure he’d ever felt and it was worth the risk to see if there could be something lasting between them. 

As he finished sweeping, he wiped his brow on his sleeve and leant the broom against the wall of the barn. As he did so, he heard the faint sounds of footsteps on the gravel. His brows pinched together, he wasn’t expecting company. 

He picked up his shotgun which was leaning near the broom but didn’t raise it, taking a few cautious steps out of the barn with it by his side. He was surprised to see Spencer headed up the path, one hand in a thick splint and the other in the pocket of his jeans. He wore a brown suede stetson which covered his mess of hair.

Grant placed the shotgun back down and rubbed his hands together as the other man slowly approached. Spencer was offering him a slightly lopsided smile as he grew closer.

“Uh, hey, sorry to just show up here like this.” Spencer rolled his lip awkwardly between his teeth.

“Not a bother.” Grant shrugged. “What can I do you for?”

Spencer removed his stetson, holding it in his good hand while he considered how to begin. He’d told you last night he was going to get moving on selling the ranch so the two of you could make a break before Luke inevitably showed back up and that’s what he was trying to do.

“I’m not going to beat around the bush.” Spencer exhaled. “I’m leaving Bandera and wondered if you were looking to acquire any more land? I’ll be leaving my cattle and two of my horses as well if that sweetens the deal. I’m not looking to break even or anything, I just need a quick sale.” 

Grant narrowed his eyes on Spencer curiously, a small smile creeping to his lips.

“Well I’ll be, I was gonna ask you the same thing.” Grant chuckled deeply.

“You’re leaving too?” Spencer’s brows pinched together. 

“Yeah, I’m relocating to the East Coast.” 

“Oh,” Spencer pulled a face. “How come?”

Grant chuckled again before a dreamy smile spread across his features and Spencer could tell he was getting a little lost in a memory.

“I, uh, met someone.” His cheeks flushed. “I reckon it makes me a damn fool for upping sticks for a man I hardly know but he’s not like anyone I ever met before. But I’m gonna make it to DC if the creek don’t rise.” 

Spencer felt a sharp pain in his chest, his vision becoming blurry around the edges. He stared at Grant as the cogs turned in his head. Surely it had to be a coincidence? It could not be feasible that Grant was talking about…no, no way.

“Uh, DC?” Spencer croaked. “Weird, that’s where I’m from.” 

Suddenly Grant’s brow furrowed heavily and he sucked in a deep breath as he remembered something Luke had said before he’d left. 

“Never chose this life, it chose me. Always thought I’d get out of the south one day, move to some big city, ya know? New York, LA…maybe even DC. Unless that idea scares ya.” 

“Why would it…why would it scare me?” 

“You seem like the jumpy sort.” 

“I was still processing an old break up. It ended suddenly and I never got any closure. But I think I have now, I think I’m ready to move on.” 

“Hold on a gosh darn second,” Grant shook his head. “He’s not…you’re not…”

“Luke,” Spencer exhaled. “Luke Alvez?”

Both men’s expressions fell, skin paling as they came to the same conclusion. Spencer’s head started to spin and his vision grew even hazier. 

“You’re the break up he was talkin’ about.” Grant pinched the bridge of his nose. “I had no idea, Spencer.”

“It’s fine.” Spencer shook his head, his tone saying it was anything but fine. “I’ve moved on. He should too. You two would make a great couple.” 

It seemed as though you and Spencer weren’t the only ones with the same taste in men. Spencer stumbled backwards at the implications, feeling lightheaded. 

“If I’d known-”

“It’s really fine,” Spencer laughed but it didn’t sound genuine. “You’ll love DC, it’s great. Uh, I should probably…go.” 

Before Grant could say another word, Spencer was turning and running back down the path towards the road. Grant watched him go with a sigh. Of all the men in the world, he’d ended up in bed with Spencer’s ex. And clearly Spencer was not as fine with it as he made out.

***

When Spencer arrived back at the ranch he was in a complete daze. You found him wandering outside the lodge aimlessly. His eyes were unfocused, he wouldn’t respond to your voice or to your touch. 

You led him inside but he didn’t even seem to realise what was happening. You sat him on the couch and went about breaking him out of his dissociation. You placed ice cubes in his hand, got him to drink some honey and lemon tea and used the photograph of his mom to snap him out of it.

You knew he’d gone into town to ask around if anyone was interested in buying his land, what had led to his dissociation? You wondered how long he had been in this state for, how long he had been wandering around like a zombie. You were grateful he’d made it back without hurting himself. 

It took close to fifteen minutes but suddenly his eyes were present again and he looked at you with a frown, melted ice dripping from his hand onto the floor. 

“Hey you,” you whispered with a soft smile. “You okay?” 

Spencer blinked rapidly, looking down at what was left of the ice cubes in his hand, noticing the citrus flavour on his tongue and the photograph of his mother on the coffee table. 

“Wh-what happened?” He croaked as if he’d just woken up. 

“I was kinda hoping you could tell me.” You quickly got up and went to the kitchen for some napkins. 

You hurried back and scooped the last of the ice from his palm before giving him the napkins to dry himself off. 

“I…I have no idea.” He shook his head. 

He was lying. He knew exactly what had happened. Grant had met Luke and the two had clearly hit it off and now Grant was moving to DC to be with him. His Luke. 

No, that wasn’t fair. Luke wasn’t his and hadn’t been for a long time. It wasn’t beneficial for Spencer to think that way. He had moved on, he had you, Luke was in his past. 

Spencer had never had any intention of him and Luke being together again after he moved to Bandera, that relationship never would have worked again. But it didn’t mean he stopped loving Luke, stopped caring about him. And it made his heart ache to think of him with someone else. Now he knew exactly how Luke felt.

“So, you’ve moved on, huh?” 

“It’s been two years, what did you expect?” 

“What did I expect? Well for starters I expected more from you than leaving without a damn word! I expected that you wouldn’t completely cut me out of your life! I expected…maybe I hoped that I wasn’t the only one still pining like an idiot. So she gets the healed Spencer Reid? She gets to have you now you’ve worked through your trauma? When I was the one that spent a year by your side after, trying to help you? How is that fair?” 

———

“No one can help me! Why don’t you understand that?” 

“She seemed to be doing a fine job.” 

“Goddamnit, would you let that go?” 

“Let it go? How the hell can I let that go? Every time I close my eyes I will see her on top of you!” 

Luke had to walk in on the two of you in bed, seeing first hand that Spencer had moved on. The mere thought of Luke with Grant was enough to cause him to slip into a dissociation, he couldn’t imagine what it had been like for Luke to witness that. 

“You don’t remember?” You gave him a look of scepticism and Spencer shook his head.

How could he tell you what had sent him over the edge? There was no way he could admit that this had happened because he found out Luke had moved on. Spencer loved you, he loved you more than he’d ever loved anyone. But selfishly he thought Luke would always be there. God that made him sound terrible. 

“No,” Spencer pushed himself to his feet, balling the napkin up in his hand and traipsing to the trash can. 

“I don’t believe you.” You stood too, folding your arms over your chest. “You’re lying to me.”

Spencer sucked in a breath and slowly turned back to look at you, clenching his jaw tightly.

“Yes I am,” he nodded. “But only because I’m trying to protect you.” 

“Protect me?” You cocked an eyebrow at him. “Protect me from what?” 

“If I tell you why I dissociated you will no doubt get upset and I have upset you way too many times before.” He heaved a sigh.

“Tell me.” You insisted. “Tell me right now.” 

Spencer rolled his eyes a little, leaning back against the kitchen counter and glancing out of the window at the land beyond. 

“I went to speak to Grant about buying the ranch and it turns out he’s also leaving town. He’s moving to DC because he met someone…” Spencer trailed off, keeping his eyes out of the window.

In his peripheral vision he saw you frowning, filling in the blanks to the sentence he didn’t want to finish and honestly it wasn’t all that hard.

“Luke?” You croaked. 

“Yeah. Grant is moving to DC to be with my ex boyfriend.” 

“And that caused you to dissociate.”

“Yeah.”

“Because you still have feelings for Luke.” 

“Yes.” He huffed, turning his head to face you. “Of course I do. But I don’t want to be with him, okay? I want you and only you. But it surprised me and it upset me and I would understand if you were annoyed by my reaction.” 

“Spence,” you exhaled, taking a few steps closer to him. “I’m not annoyed. He was a big part of your life, I understand that it would throw you through some kind of loop to find this out.” 

“I really wish I didn’t love you so much.” His words surprised you as he raked his fingers over his ever growing facial hair. 

“Why?” You frowned lightly. 

“Because you’re too good for me.” He shrugged meekly. “Everything I’ve put you through, it’s too much. I’m a fucking wreak. Last night after we…fuck Y/N it was so amazing but when you were asleep I just…I felt numb. I should have felt something, you know? But I felt fucking numb because no matter how much I keep trying to convince myself otherwise, I’m not whole.” 

Tears started down his cheeks and you came closer, placing your hands on the sides of his face and holding his gaze. 

“I’m too good for you? Spencer, I murdered my step father.” You gently reminded him. “And so what if you aren’t whole? Who says you need to be?” 

“I don’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve done.” He cupped the back of your neck in his good hand. “And I want to be whole, I want to give you every little piece of myself but I can’t because I lost a big part of who I am in prison.” 

You cooed him, brushing his tears with your fingertips and trying to calm him down. 

“As long as you can love me with every piece you have left, I’m okay with that.” You smiled before he was tugging you close for a kiss. 

He could undoubtedly give you that, every shred that still belonged to him was yours. And he’d never loved you more than he did in that moment. 

You were startled apart by the sound of a phone ringing. Spencer turned back to the counter where his device sat and saw the name flashing on the screen. You peered over his shoulder and saw it too. 

His body went rigid and he sucked in a deep breath. His hand reached out for the phone and you saw it was trembling. 

“You don’t have to answer it.” You whispered but Spencer was shaking his head. 

“I need to.” He picked up the phone. “I need this to finally be over.” 

Spencer took the phone and without looking at you, turned to the door and quickly left the lodge. You observed him through the window as he put the phone to his ear and continued walking in the direction of the stable. 

You wrapped your arms around yourself and rolled your lip between your teeth. You just had to hope he was strong enough to handle this. 

***

Spencer headed down the steps of his lodge and once his feet hit the dirt at the bottom, he answered the call. He huffed out a breath before he spoke.

“What?” He grumbled. He was met by silence for a moment or two so with a sigh he spoke again. “Hello? What do you want?” 

Another short burst of silence and Spencer was grinding his teeth as he trailed up the path towards the stables.

“I, uh…” the voice croaked. “Sorry I didn’t expect you to answer.” 

“Well I did. So what do you want? No, let me guess. Grant called you?” Spencer wished he could keep the bitterness from his voice but it was impossible.

“Yeah,” Luke sighed. “I’m sorry you had to find out that way.” 

“Sorry I found out that way or that I found out at all?” Spencer spat, unable to calm himself. 

“You don’t get to be angry, Spencer.” Luke’s voice remained calm, but was laced with his frustrations.

“I get to be however the hell I want to be.” Spencer bit back. 

“I found you in bed with a woman Spencer, if you’re allowed to move on so am I.” Luke growled slightly. 

Spencer reached the stable and cradled the phone between his shoulder and face while he unlatched the door with his non-splinted hand. 

“I don’t care about you moving on.” Spencer scoffed. “But you could have done that with literally anyone! Why did it have to be someone I know? Someone where I live?” 

“Sounds like you don’t plan to live there much longer anyway. Grant said you were trying to sell him your ranch?” Luke spoke and then Spencer heard him thanking someone under his breath. 

He must be at work. Judging by the sound of him then sipping something Spencer assumed someone had just given him a mug of coffee. 

“That’s why I answered your call.” Spencer walked across the stable, ignoring his horses and sitting down on the wooden crate against the far wall. “I am leaving Bandera and I wanted to tell you to stop calling me. I need a real fresh start, one where you guys can’t keep hassling me.” 

“Hassling?” Luke spat. “You’re mistaking us caring for hassling?” 

“Luke you guys smother me!” Spencer raised his voice, almost immediately back on his feet. “For my entire FBI career I have been the youngest on the team which means I’m babied and coddled and I’m sick of it. I am a forty year old man! I don’t need you or anyone else to worry over me like I’m a still a kid.” 

“After what you’ve been through, Spencer, how can we not worry about you? It’s nothing to do with age, or you being younger than everyone else. You spent three months in prison being abused before having to face off against your rival who tried to kill your mom. Then less than a year later you were taken hostage by Ben’s Believers, you almost died. 

“And then you made the decision to runaway without telling anyone, except Prentiss but I’m sure you only told her because you had to. How the hell can we not worry about you? Half of the team expected you to relapse, you know? Hell, I thought you might relapse. How the fuck can we not worry about you when you’re out there in the middle of nowhere on your own!” 

Spencer had started to pace while Luke ranted down the phone, back and forth through the stable and ignoring the attention seeking huffs from the horses. 

“Well I’m not on my own anymore. And I’m leaving Bandera and I’m not telling any of you where I’m going. I picked up the phone to tell you this is the end. I will be blocking your numbers, fuck I might even just destroy my goddamn phone again so there is no way of Garcia tracking me down. It’s over Luke, I don’t want anything to do with any of you anymore.” Spencer spat harshly, unable to stop his rampant pacing. 

“I’d argue with you but to be perfectly honest I’m sick of this. I’m sick of worrying about you all the time, I’m sick of feeling dejected every time you ignore my calls. I am sick of the fucking Spencer Reid show!” Luke yelled. 

If he was at Quantico Spencer imagined it would have garnered a lot of attention. 

“The Spencer Reid show? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Spencer grumbled. 

“Our entire relationship was about you. You and your goddamn trauma, even before prison! You and your daddy issues or mommy issues and your adabonment issues and your sobriety and whatever the hell else you were dealing with. My PTSD didn’t matter. I had to suppress my own trauma, trauma from serving overseas to protect the fragility of your psyche.” Luke was really shouting now and Spencer could only imagine the eyes of the team were all on him. 

The rage was pooling in Spencer’s stomach, rapidly clawing its way through his body. He turned to see Rusty staring at him but it wasn’t the same wary way she usually regarded him. Her eyes were wide but docile. 

Tentatively he stepped closer to her, once again cradling the phone in the crook of his neck so he could raise his hand in her direction. He moved slowly, cautiously, so as not to frighten her. But she didn’t move. 

He laid his palm against the side of her face and she nuzzled into his touch. Spencer felt a little sceptical by her sudden fondness for him when she’d previously shown him nothing but disdain.

He dared entwine his fingers with the coarse hair of her mane, trying to ground himself with the texture whilst staring into her large brown eyes. She made a small noise of contentment. 

“If I was such a fucking problem for you then it shouldn’t be hard to hear that I never want to speak to you again.” He fought to keep his voice levelled and under control. 

Luke was breathing heavily down the phone, clearly trying to rein himself in like Spencer was. 

“You…” he huffed. “You fucking broke me, Spencer. The way you left, it destroyed me. Nothing in my life has ever hurt as much as having to hear from Prentiss that you’d left without a word. I’ve spent the last two years trying to get over you, trying to move past the pain that you caused. And I have finally met someone who made me forget all about you. I’m not asking you to be happy for me, but you don’t get to be mad either.” 

Spencer kept his focus on Rusty, weaving his fingers deep into her golden mane and staring unblinking in her eyes. He swallowed thickly, chewing on the inside of his cheek. This was so strange. 

“Have a nice life, Luke.” He breathed out. “Tell the others I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore. I need to forge my own path and the only way I can do that is by cutting old ties. I’m sorry.” 

“You owe them more than that.” Luke was quick to speak, feeling as though Spencer was imminently going to hang up. “At least tell them yourself. We’re all here at the BAU, let me put you on speaker?” 

Spencer clenched his jaw, holding tighter to Rusty as he felt his knees buckling. He knew Luke was right, he did owe them more than him vanishing again. It didn’t mean the thought of talking to them all didn’t make him feel nauseous. 

“Fine,” he croaked out before he changed his mind. “Hurry up though.”

He heard shuffling and some barely perceptible whispers. A chair scraping across the floor, footsteps and a door opening and closing. 

He knew Luke’s hand was over the microphone when he spoke again as his voice was muffled but he just managed to hear what he said. 

“Guys, I’ve got Reid. He wants to talk to us all.”

Spencer rolled his eyes, that wasn’t exactly true but he wasn’t going to argue it. A little more shuffling as he assumed Luke put the phone on a table and then Luke’s voice was louder. 

“Go ahead Spencer, we’re all here.” Luke remained on his feet, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Rossi and Emily were standing by a layout board going over the information in the Sicarius case while Tara, JJ and Penelope were at the table, the latter hovered over her laptop and the other two looking over files.

Spencer was silent. He could all but picture his old team gathered in the round table room and he felt the nerves swarm his body. 

He moved his hand from Rusty’s mane to the side of her face, brushing his fingers along the silky texture of her coat. Again she didn’t seem to have any qualms about him doing so. 

“Uh, hi everyone.” He spoke quietly. 

At the BAU, Penelope Garcia’s hand flew to her mouth as she stifled a gasp at hearing her boy wonders voice for the first time in what had to be months at this point. 

Tears flooded to JJ’s eyes, obscuring her vision as she gnawed on her lip. Tara, Rossi and Emily managed to keep their composures. 

“Kid, it’s good to hear your voice.” Rossi was the one to speak. 

“Hi Dave, good to hear yours too.” Spencer’s voice cracked. 

“Is everything okay junior G?” Garcia couldn’t stop herself speaking. 

“Yeah,” he replied. “I, uh…I told Luke that I’m leaving Bandera. I need to get away from everything for real this time. And I’m afraid that includes all of you.” 

More silence swelled in the room as the six agents exchanged looks of concern and upset. 

“What do you mean?” JJ’s voice gave way to her sorrow. 

“I don’t think I’m ever going to fully heal while I still have one foot in DC. I love you all very much but you all remind of me the worst things that have ever happened to me. I need a clean break. Last time I left without saying goodbye and Luke reminded me that I owe you more than that. So, uh, I guess this is goodbye.” He sighed, feeling strangely emotional.

Until now he’d only let himself think of how in running away with you he would miss his ranch and the life he’d created in Texas. He hasn’t let himself dwell on the idea that it also meant cutting ties with his old team entirely. 

He heard a little more shuffling, key tapping and then the device cradled against his face beeped in his ear. With a frown he removed his hand from Rusty and pulled the device into his eyeline. 

Incoming FaceTime call.

He grit his teeth. Apart from Luke he hadn’t see any of their faces in two years. 

“Turn your camera on, Reid.” Emily’s voice came through the speaker, commanding him like he still worked for her. “At least let us say goodbye to you face to face.” 

Spencer huffed, moving to sit back on the wooden crate. His finger hovered over the button for a moment or two before he accepted it. 

This was going to be tough. It was hard enough lying to them at the best of times let alone face to face. As much as he was being honest when he said he was fed up of their babying, their worry it wasn’t the full story. 

He had to cut contact with them in order to keep you safe. He was choosing you over his friends. He just had to keep his expression in check so they didn’t see through to his hidden agenda. 

The screen was blank for a few moments and then suddenly it was as though he was back in the BAU round table room. He could tell from the angle that Garcia had mirrored Luke’s phone screen and his image was being displayed on the large TV. 

Apart from Luke, none of them were prepared to see Doctor Spencer Reid sporting scruffy facial hair, with curls down to his shoulders and longer than any of them had seen in years or wearing a denim shirt over a plain white tee. But to their credits, they hid their surprise well, including Garcia. 

Spencer almost waved at them before he remembered that would mean them seeing his splinted arm. Luke could have told them already but he didn’t want to worry them any more than they already were. 

Garcia and JJ at the table both had tears in their eyes and Tara was sitting in the middle of them had her hands laced together in front of her. Emily and Rossi were nearest the camera and Luke was off to the side with his arms folded. 

“Wow this is weird.” His brows pinched together. “I feel like I’m in the room.” 

“Are you eating?” Garcia suddenly spoke up. “You look skinnier than I remember and that’s saying something because you were always so tiny.” 

“I’m eating.” Spencer nodded. 

“Clearly not enough.” Penelope huffed. 

“Garcia,” Emily shot her a look to silence her and the bubbly blonde shrunk a little in her chair. “You look good Reid, rugged even.” 

The small quip of her lip made Spencer chuckle. 

“About time.” He joked but there was still the underlying melancholy in his voice. “I really am sorry to be doing this but I just need some time. I appreciate that you all care about me, but I’m fine I swear.” 

“Does this have something to do with the girl? Because it seems like odd timing.” Luke grunted as he spoke. 

Spencer felt his cheeks redden but only Rossi and Tara seemed confused by what he’d said. Spencer didn’t know that Luke had already filled Emily, JJ and Garcia in on how he’d found Spencer indisposed when he’d visited. 

“Girl?” Tara cocked her eyebrow at the screen. 

“Uh, yeah.” Spencer pulled a face. “I guess I met someone. Thanks for telling everyone, Luke.” 

“So she’s the reason you’re leaving? Why you’re cutting us all out of your life?” Luke narrowed his eyes. 

“No, of course not.” Spencer shook his head. “I just need to do this.”

“Is she going with you?” Luke frowned, his jaw set. 

“That’s none of your business.” Spencer spat. “Why don’t you focus yourself on your own personal life rather than sticking your nose in mine.” 

“Spence,” Emily spoke in her calming manner. “Is this still about what happened to you in prison?” 

Spencer’s face fell and thanks to a combination of his new phone's excellent camera and the quality of pixels on the BAU screen, they all saw it. 

“Prison? With your friend Delgado?” Garcia pouted. 

“Spence, we know that was hard for you.” JJ added. 

“That’s not what she’s talking about.” Luke spoke up, his slightly pointed tone obvious to everyone. 

“What is she talking about?” Rossi frowned looking between his Unit Chief, Luke and Spencer on the screen. “Prentiss? Alvez? What do you know that we don’t?” 

“Don’t you dare.” Spencer spat. “Don’t you fucking dare tell them!” 

“They have a right to know why you’re being like this.” Luke growled. 

“Alvez,” Emily scolded him. “It’s not your place. And it’s not mine either.” 

The other members of the BAU gave each other curious looks while Spencer tried hard to control his anger. He couldn’t believe Emily would have the nerve to bring it up. She threw it out there like a grenade but refused to pull the pin, expecting him to be the one to do it. 

“What happened in prison?” It was JJ who asked, of course it was. “What don’t you want us to know?”

“It’s nothing.” Spencer hissed. “Goddamnit Emily, did you really have to say that?” 

“Don’t hiss at me like that.” Emily shook her head at him angrily. 

“You aren’t my boss, I can talk to you however I like.” Spencer growled. “You had no right to bring that up in front of everyone.” 

“I’m your friend and I’m worried about you.” She shrugged. 

“You had no right to mention it.” He repeated. “What happened to me is nobody's business but my own. So stay the fuck out of it.” 

“Spencer!” Garcia gasped. “What has gotten into you?” 

“I’m not the same person I was.” He grunted. “Look I didn’t want this, I don’t want to fight. I just need to say goodbye.” 

Silence flooded over them all again, the impending end was heavy in the air. None wanted to speak, none wanted to bring this to its closure. So Spencer spoke again. 

“You’ve all been such a huge part of my life and I love you all from the bottom of my heart.” He wasn’t entirely sure he meant to look at Luke but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from him. “You meant the whole world to me, I wouldn’t change a single second of what we had. But I have to move on, I have to heal. I’m sorry this has to be the end but it’s the only way.” 

If anyone else noticed Spencer was talking solely to Luke, no one mentioned as much. But Luke knew, and he gave a soft nod as his vision blurred with tears. 

“We, uh, we love you too man.” Luke replied. “You’ll always be a big part of my heart - our hearts I mean.” 

The others sent their kind words Spencer’s way but he was still staring at Luke and Luke at him, eventually they fell quiet and Spencer forced his eyes off of his ex.

“Uh, bye then I guess.” Spencer shrugged. 

“Bye kid, stay safe out there.” Rossi nodded at him.

“Bye Reid,” Tara smiled sadly. 

“Oh I hate goodbyes!” Penelope was crying now. “Love you boy wonder, goodbye.” 

“Goodbye, Spence.” JJ wiped her own eyes. 

“We’ll always be here if you ever change your mind.” Emily added. 

When he looked back at the space Luke had previously been occupying, it was empty. Luke was gone. 

Spencer swallowed, trying to hide his upset at the fact Luke had fled in such a way before he’d technically gotten to say goodbye to him. 

Before he could show how much it hurt he ended the call and sighed heavily. Before he got back up he went through their numbers one by one and blocked them before deleting their numbers. But just as he was about to do the same to Luke’s contact information, a text appeared on his screen. 

📲 Luke Alvez: I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye. I really do wish you all the best but I just can’t let myself believe this is really over. I will always love you, Spencer Reid. 

Spencer felt his chest tighten as he read over the words a few times. And then he blocked Luke’s number, forgetting to delete it like the others. Perhaps it had been subconscious, or perhaps he’d deliberately kept it, he wasn’t sure. 

Either way he had removed them from his life so he could take this step forward without putting you in danger. 

***

Two days later Spencer’s ranch was up for sale with a local realtor but the two of you didn’t have the luxury in sticking around and waiting for it to sell. 

He’d managed to get another nearby rancher to take on his cattle and, somewhat reluctantly on his part, Wilbur and Franklin too. Although he didn’t have as strong of a connection with them as he did with Willow, he was going to miss his two stallions a great deal. 

Spencer had purchased a horse trailer which could be hooked up to the back of your car for Rusty and Willow and the rest of the backseat and trunk were filled with Spencer’s belongings, which were mostly books. 

He sat in the passenger seat while you arranged the last few things on the backseat and checked the trailer was secure, assuring Willow and Rusty with pats on their heads that they were okay. 

He stared out at his lodge, the one he’d called home for two years and the For Sale sign stuck in the dirt. He was growing wistful at an alarming rate, feeling his vision blurring with unshed tears. 

He’d never made a home here quite like he had in DC but for some reason this was harder to leave behind. He’d loved his apartment in the city, lived there for most of his adult life, but he’d given it up without a second thought. 

Perhaps because here on his ranch in Bandera it was the life he’d chosen. DC and the FBI had been thrust upon him by Jason Gideon, not that he minded that and he was grateful for Gideon’s persistence to have him on the team. But it never really left Spencer any room to choose his own path.

With his intelligence he could have done just about anything, he’d thought he might have long ago cured schizophrenia. But Gideon had pursued him, claiming the young genius as his own prized pig for the BAU to show off. Moving to Texas was probably the first thing he’d done for himself his entire life. 

Sure, he still wasn’t making any medical breakthroughs or using his brain to help the world. But this life was so simple, something he’d sorely needed after years of chasing criminals. But now instead of chasing them, he was going on the run with one. 

Really if he stopped to think about it, it was insane. He’d spent fifteen years protecting and serving, bringing people like you to justice. He should just turn you in, then he could keep his ranch and not have to cut his friends out of his life. 

But you had opened up Spencer’s eyes. In meeting you, Spencer finally understood why he’d never made things work with anyone else. Life just made so much sense to him now. 

Relationships of any kind for him had always been about compromising pieces of himself. With Ethan he’d become subservient, as was par for the course for a first relationship he was a moldable putty in Ethan’s hands. He said and did what he thought the other man wanted whether or not Spencer himself wanted it too. 

With Lila and Ivy the woman he’d had a one night stand with after Maeve’s death and Caleb with whom he’d had a six month booty call with, he’d conceded parts of himself for the sake of casual sex. He’d lessened his own values for the sake of other people. And with Maeve herself he often dumbed himself down to allow her to feel superior. 

And then there was Luke, who Spencer didn’t realise until it was over just how compromised he’d let himself become. Luke was traumatised from serving overseas, needed something to focus his mind on to quell his own darkness. Spencer permitted himself to fall into the role of beta, not that it was a hard persona to emulate. 

He was for the most part a submissive person, but mostly in part because he’d always been pushed into that mantle. Sometimes he thought it might be nice to have a little control in his own life, in his own decision making but with Luke that was taken away. 

He didn’t mind, for the most part. But now he looked back on it there were times where he’d wished he’d been able to make even the simplest choice of what they were having for dinner or what movie to watch. 

He didn’t need to be an alpha and honestly he probably wouldn’t even know what to do with that kind of dominance. But Luke coddled him as though he wasn’t able to make his own decisions, handled him with kid gloves as though Spencer was one moment away from breaking at all times.

And that was even before prison. 

Even with his friends, his team, Spencer compromised himself for their own happiness and well-being. He slotted into roles that needed filling in their lives rather than forging his own. He was what people needed him to be. He was malleable. He was a hunk of clay just waiting to be sculpted by those around him. 

But then he met you and he finally understood what it was like to not have to bend to the will of others, to shape himself around the demands of others. 

In moving to Texas and being alone for so long he was able to start forming himself away from the ordinance of the people around him. He started to discover exactly who Spencer Reid was in his most authentic incarnation. 

Upon meeting you he did not bend, he did not falter. And he found that someone actually loved him for who he was when he was just himself and not trying to appease or alter himself to be deemed fit. 

So he would miss his ranch, no doubt. He would miss his friends despite the fact they barely talked anymore. But the decision to leave with you was an unimaginably easy one. You didn’t love him for the person he could be, you loved him the raw version of him, the real, uncensored Spencer Reid. 

The driver’s door opened and you slid in with a smile, rolling down the window and lighting a cigarette between your lips. You turned to him as you started the engine reaching across the centre console and giving his hand a squeeze.

“You ready for this, stud?” You cocked an eyebrow at him. “Not too late to change your mind.”

He waited until you took a drag, exhaling the smoke out of the window before he gripped the back of your head and drew you close for a kiss. 

“Y/N,” he spoke once he pulled back, tucking your hair behind your ear. “I have never been more sure about anything in my life. I know things haven’t always gone smoothly for us, I guess we’re both just a little…rusty.” He chuckled and you did too. “But practice makes perfect, right? And I’m fairly certain we’ll figure it out together.” 

You smiled brightly at him, taking another drag on the cigarette before putting the car in reverse. Spencer took one last look at the place he’d called home for two years, wistful but excited for what the future held. 

You dangled your arm out of the window and with a wink sent his way you spoke in mirth, “Well then cowboy, we better giddy up.”  

@kalulakunundrum @katrina0-0 @bakugouswh0r3 @prettyboyandthefangirl @zooni92802 @babyspiderling

[magicfootballstuff]

Strictly Unprofessional - part 1 (alexia putellas x reader)

Summary: You’ve just landed your dream job as a photographer at FC Barcelona Femení. The only problem? You hooked up with the captain five years ago and haven’t seen her since.

Part 1/9

Read other parts here.

———

Like anybody would be on the first day of a new job, you’re nervous. 

It’s your first job as a full time photographer. You’ve only done freelance or part-time work before - mostly events, some portraits, and one brief stint as an assistant to a photographer who specialized in taking photos of pets - but you were also waitressing in the evenings to earn enough to pay your bills.

Today you start as a photographer for the Barcelona women’s football team. You heard about the vacancy from a friend of a friend and applied, and finally all the hard work at media school and years of worrying when your next job would come in is worth it because they offered you the position.

There’s another reason you’re nervous. You actually met one of the players before, a random encounter with none other than the Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas while in Ibiza five years ago. Not that you knew who she was at the time. You met her at a beach party and though she told you she was a footballer, you were much more interested in letting her buy you drinks and going back to her hotel room later in the night. It was only later, when you returned home to Barcelona, that you took the time to look her up and realized she was actually quite good.

Since then she’s become a global star. It’s a little weird seeing the face of somebody you once had a meaningless hookup with on a billboard or on the front of a magazine. Sometimes you wonder if she even remembers who you are.

Well, you guess you’ll find that out today.

You nearly didn’t apply for the job because of Alexia. You haven’t had many one night stands and you don’t really know what the etiquette is supposed to be when you bump into them years later, but you eventually decided that the job itself was too good to pass up because of a bit of potential awkwardness between you and one of the players.

It’s been five years. It’ll be fine.

You decide to dress smart-casual on your first day, wanting to impress without going overboard, wearing a nice cream coloured sweater which you tuck into the front of your nicest pair of jeans. You pack and repack your camera equipment what feels like a hundred times, checking that you haven’t forgotten anything important, until you couldn’t possibly be any more prepared. 

You arrive at the Barcelona training facility where your new boss greets you and introduces you to the rest of your colleagues in the media department, then takes you on a tour of the facility. You meet a lot of other people along the way, including the coach Jonatan Giráldez, but none of the players. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.

“So preseason actually starts tomorrow,” the head of media tells you, as she leads down a corridor lined with physio rooms and offices. “Most of the girls will be in tomorrow morning - we’ll want to get some shots of them all arriving for social media - and we should have a full team by Friday, but a couple of the more senior players are in the gym today. Let me introduce you.”

She pushes open a set of double doors at the end of the hallway and you follow her into a large air-conditioned room full of gym equipment. In the corner, two women are chatting while a third lifts weights.

You’re led over and introduced to them.

“This is Irene, Marta and Alexia.”

Your heart stops as you hear Alexia’s name. You give your name and shake hands with Irene and Marta, but your gaze remains on Alexia as she puts down the weights, wipes her face with a towel, then turns to face you.

“Hi,” she says, offering out her hand, which you tentatively shake. “I’m Alexia.”

Your eyes drift up from your joined hands to her face, which glistens with sweat from her recent workout, and your breath catches in your throat. She looks almost exactly as you remember, though slightly older, any softness that may have lingered from her youth gone and replaced by chiseled, more defined features. Her eyes are warm as she smiles at you but there’s not a single glimmer of recognition in them.

And that’s when you realise - she has absolutely no idea who you are.

It stings. You’ve spent the last few days worrying about this exact moment, worrying that one night five years ago could ruin your first day at your dream job, without even considering that it would actually hurt more if she didn’t recognise you.

“You’re the new photographer?” Alexia asks, finally dropping your hand.

“That’s right,” you nod, trying not to let it get you down.

“You’ve got an easy job with this one,” Marta jokes, gesturing to Alexia. “Alexia loves the cameras. She’s had lots of practice since she became a superstar.”

“Shut up, you make it sound like I’m a diva.” Alexia turns back to you, then says, “It’s nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“You too,” you manage to agree, before you bid goodbye to all three players and make your way towards the door to resume the tour.

“You’ll get to know the players really well,” the head of media tells you, as you leave the gym. “Lots of big personalities but they’re all great. And despite what they said, Alexia is a complete professional. She’s a big name, of course, but there’s a reason she’s the captain.”

You try to remember the Alexia that you met in a beach club five years ago but the memories that were a bit hazy anyway are already being overwritten by the brief encounter you’ve just had. Maybe it’s for the best that Alexia doesn’t remember who you are, to save your own professionalism being called into question if it got out that you’d had a fling with her all those years ago. But you also can’t deny that every cell in your body feels as though it’s been charged with electricity since you saw her again.

———

Your second day is even more overwhelming than the first. As promised, the rest of the team arrive for their first day of pre-season and you get thrown right in at the deep end, capturing photos of the players arriving and greeting each other, then moving over to the pitches to get some action shots of the first training session of the new season.

One of the other photographers, a guy called Hugo who has been with the club for just over a year, guides you. He introduces you to many more of the players and points out a couple of the new signings so you can make sure you get plenty of photos of them on their first day.

“We don’t play favourites, obviously, but it’s always a good idea to get some good shots of Alexia,” Hugo advises you. “The fans love her, and the social media guys love us when we give them content that’s going to give them a lot of engagement.”

You take his advice on board as you seek out Alexia and direct your camera towards her, taking a few action shots of her in the middle of a tackling drill.

Once the players all head inside after training for a team meeting, you return to the media office and check out some of the pictures you’ve taken. You delete a few of the bad ones while saving the good ones to your hard drive, until you stop on a photo you took of Alexia. 

It’s a photo taken between drills, one of Alexia standing with a ball tucked under her arm as she talks to Patri Guijarro, but both players are caught in the middle of a fit of laughter. It’s perfect in its candidness, an unfiltered moment between two friends and shows the Barcelona captain’s humanity in a way that you never get to see in any of the staged magazine photoshoots she does.

“Wow,” Hugo says, glancing over your shoulder at your computer screen. “Social media will love that.”

He beckons over the social media manager, who agrees and asks you to send the photo across, along with a few others.

When you see the photo on all the Barcelona social media channels later that day, you can’t help but feel proud that you’re already making your mark.

When Alexia reposts it on her personal Instagram, it means even more.

———

You’re just starting to find your feet when the real chaos starts.

“Photo day,” Hugo says, as if every day as a photographer isn’t exactly that, but you soon realise what he means. “Luckily for us it only happens on this scale once a year.”

Hugo talks you through the process. Between the two of you, today you’ll be capturing hundreds of posed pictures of every single one of the players in the new home and away kits. It’s almost like a military operation, two rooms set up with lights and green screens, a defined list of poses that each player needs to work through, multiple hair and makeup stations just down the hall.

You cast your eyes down the schedule for the day, split into ten minute slots with player names and which kit they’ll be wearing, and you’re not sure if you’re relieved or disappointed to see that both of Alexia’s slots are on Hugo’s list.

But then you’re thrown headfirst into the chaos, and by the time you’re thirty minutes in, you’re already starting to memorise the list of poses and feeling more comfortable.

It’s actually a great way to get to know the players individually. There’s time for a bit of smalltalk between poses or while you’re swapping out props, and you make the effort to remember names and get to know the girls a bit too. The better you know them, the better you’ll be able to capture them with a camera. 

You’re slightly ahead of schedule by lunchtime and you’re just about to leave to go and grab some food from the campus cafeteria, when you hear a knock on the door and look up to see Alexia standing awkwardly in the doorway, dressed in the new home kit complete with socks and boots.

“They’re running a bit behind in the other room and said I should come here to make up some time,” she explains. “Is that okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” you say, gesturing for Alexia to come in and take her place in front of the green screen.

You stay behind your camera, all of a sudden feeling a bit weird about being alone in a room with her, until you look up and realise that Alexia is struggling with her captain’s armband, the red and yellow striped band caught awkwardly on the sleeve of her jersey.

“Here, let me help,” you say, stepping out from behind the camera and crossing over to Alexia. 

Between the two of you, you manage to sort it out, straightening out the sleeve of the jersey and tucking it neatly so that the armband is on clear display around her bicep. You spot a glimpse of a tattoo on her inner arm and your fingers brush against the warm skin of her arm as you adjust the armband and step back.

“Perfect,” you say, as you return to your spot behind the camera. “Okay, first pose is square to the camera, arms behind your back.”

———

You get through the photos in record time with Alexia, who must have done this a million times before because she already seems to know the exact sequence of poses you expect from her. She also shows her professionalism by being the only player you’ve photographed so far today who doesn’t complain at the awkwardness of having to pretend to scream and celebrate into a camera lens.

Once the shoot is done, Alexia comes to stand at your shoulder as you scroll through some of the photos you’ve taken on the laptop wired up to the camera.

“I like that one,” she says, pointing at the screen when you hit a photo of her kissing the Barcelona badge on the front of her jersey.

“You should get copies of them all in the next couple of weeks,” you tell her.

“This might sound weird because you’re new, but have we done a shoot together before?” Alexia asks. “For a magazine, or something?”

Time seems to stand still. Your throat goes dry, the hairs on your arms stand to attention. Alexia must recognise you after all, even if she doesn’t remember where from. It’s now or never, if you’re going to remind her of what happened all those years ago in Ibiza, now is your chance. But if she doesn’t remember, maybe it’s best not to tell her. A clean slate without any awkwardness.

“No, I don’t think so,” you answer, your heart practically in your throat.

“I thought you looked familiar, but never mind,” she says, before she makes her way to leave. “Thanks again for squeezing me in. I’ll see you around.”

As she disappears around the corner and out of sight, you can’t help but wonder if you just made the wrong choice by not telling her.

[bjrcrecruiting]

Partnering with Toronto’s Accounting Recruiters: Tips for Success

Finding top-tier accounting talent can be a daunting task for any organization. Whether you’re a growing business seeking an experienced CFO or a startup in need of a skilled accountant to manage day-to-day finances, partnering with an accounting recruitment firm is often the most effective way to streamline your hiring process and secure the best talent.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of working with accounting recruiters in Toronto, share tips for building a successful partnership, and offer insights into how recruitment firms can help elevate your accounting team.

Why Partner with Accounting Recruiters in Toronto?

Toronto is one of Canada’s leading business hubs, home to countless companies in industries such as finance, tech, manufacturing, and more. This diverse landscape creates a demand for highly skilled accounting professionals who can help organizations stay financially sound and compliant with evolving regulations.

Recruiting for these roles, however, requires more than just posting a job and waiting for applicants. Accounting professionals must possess a unique blend of technical expertise, attention to detail, and industry-specific knowledge. This is where working with top accounting recruiters in Toronto can provide a major advantage.

Benefits of Working with Accounting Recruitment Firms

Access to Specialized Talent A key benefit of partnering with an accounting recruitment firm is their access to a large pool of candidates who are pre-screened and ready for placement. Recruiters specialize in identifying individuals with the right mix of skills, certifications, and experience. Whether you’re looking for a senior accountant, auditor, or financial analyst, accounting recruiters in Toronto know where to find the best talent.

In-depth Industry Knowledge Accounting roles are often highly technical, requiring candidates who are not only good with numbers but who also understand tax laws, financial reporting, and industry-specific regulations. Recruitment agencies that specialize in accounting have a deep understanding of these technical requirements and are experts at matching candidates to the unique needs of your business.

Faster Hiring Process In today’s competitive job market, top accounting talent is often snapped up quickly. Relying solely on traditional hiring methods can result in missed opportunities, leaving your business at a disadvantage. By working with top accounting recruiters in Toronto, you can accelerate the hiring process. Recruitment firms have existing relationships with candidates, allowing them to move quickly to fill your vacancy before competitors do.

Reduced Risk of a Bad Hire Making a poor hiring decision can be costly in terms of time and money. Recruitment agencies take much of the guesswork out of hiring by conducting thorough candidate screenings, checking references, and even running background checks. This reduces the risk of hiring someone who may not be the right fit for your organization.

Tailored Recruitment Solutions Every company has unique hiring needs. A specialized accounting recruitment firm will work closely with your organization to understand your goals, company culture, and the specific qualifications you require for the role. This personalized approach ensures that you’re not just hiring someone with the right skills but also someone who aligns with your long-term vision and values.

Tips for Partnering with Toronto’s Accounting Recruiters

While working with a recruitment firm in Toronto can provide many benefits, it’s essential to approach the partnership strategically. Here are a few tips to help ensure a successful collaboration:

Clearly Define Your Needs Before reaching out to Toronto accounting recruitment firms, it’s essential to clearly understand the role you’re hiring for. What specific skills and qualifications are required? Is there room for flexibility in terms of experience or certifications? The more information you provide to your recruiter, the better equipped they will be to find candidates who meet your exact needs.

Choose the Right Recruitment Partner Not all recruitment firms are created equal, and it's important to choose a partner with a proven track record in accounting placements. Look for firms that specialize in finance and accounting roles, have a deep understanding of the Toronto job market, and have a strong network of candidates. Working with a firm that is well-established in the local accounting recruitment scene will increase your chances of finding the right candidate quickly.

Maintain Open Communication A successful partnership with an accounting recruitment firm is built on open and regular communication. Be clear about your expectations, timeline, and any potential challenges the recruiter should be aware of. Providing timely feedback on candidates and communicating any changes in your hiring needs will also help ensure a smooth process.

Trust the Recruiter’s Expertise Recruiters spend their entire careers studying the job market and understanding the needs of both employers and candidates. Trusting their expertise can go a long way in finding the right fit for your company. Whether it's advice on salary expectations, market trends, or candidate availability, lean on your recruiter’s industry knowledge to make informed decisions.

Provide a Positive Candidate Experience Remember that the recruitment process reflects your company. Even when working with an external recruiter, it’s important to maintain a positive candidate experience. Ensure interviews are conducted professionally, provide timely responses to candidate inquiries, and keep the lines of communication open throughout the hiring process. A positive experience can help you stand out in a competitive market, increasing your chances of securing top talent.

How to Choose the Best Accounting Recruiter in Toronto

When it comes to selecting the right accounting recruiters in Toronto, it’s important to look for firms that specialize in the accounting and finance sectors. These firms will have the expertise needed to identify candidates who are qualified and a strong fit for your company’s culture and goals.

Here are a few key qualities to look for:

Industry Expertise: Does the recruitment firm specialize in accounting and finance roles?

Track Record: How successful have they been in placing top accounting talent in the Toronto area?

Candidate Network: Do they have access to a strong pool of qualified accounting professionals?

Client Testimonials: What do previous clients say about their experience working with the firm?

Partnering with a specialized Toronto accounting recruitment firm can make all the difference when it comes to finding the right accounting professionals for your organization. By working with recruiters who understand the local market and have access to top-tier talent, you can streamline your hiring process, reduce the risk of a bad hire, and ensure that you’re bringing on the best possible candidates.

At BJRC Recruiting, we are committed to helping companies find top accounting talent in Toronto and across North America. If you’re looking for a trusted partner in your accounting recruitment efforts, contact us today.

Know more https://bjrcrecruiting.com/2024/09/22/success-tips-toronto-accounting-recruiters/

[kristannafever]

She Ain't Gotta Do Much - 12

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M WC: 5126

Chapter index

------------------

The coming-winter chill was replaced with an autumn heat wave and Kristoff drove to Tony’s deli on Monday morning with the windows rolled down, belting along to the song on the radio.  He’d never felt more alive.

Moving Anna into his townhouse over the weekend had been easy, and they spent Saturday and Sunday night enjoying each other in every way imaginable, from making dinner together to ending up tangled in the sheets of his bed. 

Sven had called him on Sunday night and wished him good luck with the job and to let him know if there was anything he needed.  Him and Tilly had spent the weekend together as well at Sven’s place, and she still had every intention of them living together.  They planned for it to happen as soon as Sven was back to full strength and not in danger of popping any of his sutures. 

He’d taken the cell that Kristoff’s Ma had been carrying around and was prepared to answer any incoming calls straight away.  Once they had their home office set up in Kristoff’s place, they’d get a proper land line.   Both men hoped they’d be getting a few calls over the upcoming week since Anna spent her Friday afternoon updating their website and getting them in the top five of the search results on Google. 

Her meeting with the CEO had gone well.   While he was disappointed that she was moving on, he respected her decision and the fact that she was going to be directly promoting and training her replacement from her own team.   She had told Kristoff she knew exactly who would best fit her vacancy and that she was happy that the CEO was on board with her decision. 

Not only that, Anna told him she had a long wondering question answered in the meeting about why her stupid ex had been fired all those years ago.  The CEO’s answer; he had learned about what happened and didn’t want anyone who would sleep around the office, let alone lead someone on and cheat on them.  What Anna had hoped, was confirmed, leaving her feeling vindicated for staying on with the company after all that. 

Kristoff parked his van in front of Tony’s deli, seeing the man opening up a food truck parked half a block up.  He hopped out and jogged over and greeted him, chatted briefly, then was let into the deli to start the demo.

About a half hour later the refuse bin finally arrived, and Kristoff hauled the rather large pile of construction garbage into it then paused for a moment to catch his breath, wiping his long sleeve t-shirt across his forehead then looking at his watch.

His new hire was late. 

After another hour of working like a madman, Kristoff took another break and dug out the contact information of the guy from the locked workbox in the van.  He called the number and there was no answer.

Feeling upset and mad, he got back to work for another half hour before he tried again.  Again, no answer.

Kristoff kicked a chunk of drywall across the floor and scrubbed his hands down his face.  Tony had a deadline to get the food truck back to his friend and Kristoff had a deadline to get the deli open.  His stomach turned again and he wondered what he was going to do.  Sven could do some interviews sure, but they needed someone immediately and he wasn’t sure how soon they were going to find someone.  This was not a job that Kristoff could complete without help.

He took five minutes to phone Sven and let him know what was happening.  His friend’s tone was less than impressed, and he promised to get another ad out there and interview as many people as he could.  At this point, they would take a couple of labourers, even if Kristoff was going to have to spend more of his time showing them things than working.

Then he called Anna to fill her in and let her know he wasn’t going to be home for dinner.  She sounded as upset as him that their new hire hadn’t shown up for his first day.

Sadly, he was not the first that had done that to them.  Which was why for the longest time, it was just Kristoff and Sven on the tools.  Being burnt by people they had put in place seemed to be par for the course.

Around five o’clock, Kristoff’s phone rang.  He looked at the number, surprised it was the no-show calling him back.  They usually never called back.

“Yeah?” he barked into the phone, not really having time to deal with lame excuses.

“Hey man, I saw you tried to call me a few times.  I, uh, got another job somewhere else.  Better pay.  You know how it is.”

Kristoff did know how it was.  He also knew of a thing called decency.  He said nothing.

“Anyway,” the guy continued.  “I should have called to tell you.  Kinda slipped my mind.  Sorry, man.”

“Yeah.  Thanks.”  Kristoff hung up and shoved the phone back into his pocket.  His head tilted back and he groaned at the ceiling.   Fuck he was tired.  He let out a heavy sigh and got back to work.

Tony came to check on him when he was done for the day and Kristoff had to admit to him that he was going to be single handed until they found another employee, but assured him that he would meet their deadline one way or another.  Then he had to ask if Tony was comfortable leaving him the keys, because he was going to stay until he figured he had done as much as Sven and him would have gotten done.

The older man was hard to read, leaving Kristoff wondering if he was as unimpressed as he imagined he’d be if it were him.  Then he came back five minutes later with two deli sandwiches wrapped in paper and the keys to the shop. 

“I’ve been there,” Tony said, after Kristoff had thanked him profusely.  “I see how determined you are.  I know you’ll get there.”

Kristoff nodded, feeling an odd lump forming in his throat.  Other than Anna, he’d never worked a job for someone so nice and understanding.  And he was truly grateful that Tony had made him a dinner he thought he’d be missing.

He followed Tony to the door to lock it when the older man paused and turned around. 

“You need a guy?  Even if he might have no idea what he’s doing?”

Kristoff nodded, perhaps a little eagerly.   “Yeah, I really need an extra pair of hands on this job.”

“I got a bum for a nephew, currently living on my couch.  He’s between jobs, he says.”  Tony scoffed.  “I’m going to drag his ass with me tomorrow morning if you can give him a job.  I’d like to see the kid do something.  Go to school, you know?”

Tony was talking about an apprenticeship, and while hiring an apprentice wasn’t on their outline that soon for growing the company, Kristoff could not deny that he needed some help.  Even if it was green.

-----

Kristoff’s tired legs carried him slowly up the steps to his front door.  He pulled his keys out of his pocket and was just about to put them in the lock when the door swung open.  Anna greeting him with a sympathetic smile. 

“Hey,” she said softly.  “Glad you’re finally home.”

Kristoff smiled, feeling better, and stepped in to take off his work boots while Anna shut the door and grabbed the work bag from off his shoulders.  It was nearly eleven.  In six short hours he’d be getting up for work. 

He followed her into the house and noticed the lights in the living room were on low and an ice-cold beer was waiting for him on the coffee table.  Next to it was a bowl of his favourite chips.

“Figured you wanted a drink and a snack before bed?” she asked, walking past him to grab the bottle.  She handed it to him.  “I’ll grab you another one after your shower if you want.”

Anna knew exactly what he needed after a long day and he was suddenly blindsided by the gratitude he felt that she was in his life.  He leaned over to kiss her quickly.  “I’d ask you to join me if I wasn’t so fucking tired.”

She giggled.  “Definitely another time when you don’t come home so late.”

He kissed her again for good measure and took a swig of the beer as he headed down the hall to the bathroom.  He showered quickly, taking the bottle straight into the shower with him and finishing it off, then joined Anna back in the living room to grab the snack she had out.  The sandwiches Tony gave him had been delicious, and he’d inhaled them… then he worked for five more hours and got an appetite back. 

Kristoff groaned when he sat – rather collapsed – onto the couch.  He sighed. “What a day.” 

“I’m so sorry that guy didn’t show up.”  Anna frowned, handing him another beer.  She sat next to him with her own. “He should have let you know he found somewhere else.”

“Well, he did.  At the end of his work day.”

“Jeez,” Anna muttered.  “You’d probably already written him off by then.”

“Did that about noon,” Kristoff agreed, grabbing a handful of chips and shoving them in his face.

“Well, I’m glad Tony has that nephew to give you a hand.  I hope Sven get’s a hit on the ad soon.”

Kristoff nodded slowly.  He’d called Anna while he ate his sandwiches and talked for a bit, filling her in on his day.  She’d filled him in on hers, and how as soon as she got home from work, she conferenced with Sven to see if there were any interviews to find out that no one had sent in a resume yet. 

It was hard not to feel discouraged.  They all knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but to have a setback on day one… it felt like a slap in the face.  And while he did need another pair of hands, once demo was done, he was going to be a teacher too, and he knew there was going to be fuck-ups that he was going to have to take time to fix. 

The only good part of his day was sitting right next to him.

He looked at her while she gazed thoughtfully back at him.  She’d asked if he wanted to bring him dinner and he’d told her about Tony’s generous sandwiches, and that she should not to wait up.  Somehow, he knew she would anyway.  And she’d clearly done some cleaning.  There were no more boxes in the living room waiting to be unpacked, and the bathroom was definitely cleaner than he’d left it.   Everything she did was so thoughtful, so appreciated.  He wondered idly of she knew how much he loved her.

“We should get you to bed.”  Her voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes looking into his soul.

He nodded and finished the last of his beer.  It was uncanny how she could read him.

They left the empties on the table and headed to the bedroom.  Kristoff stripped to his boxers while Anna changed into her pyjamas and they crawled into bed together.   He hugged her close and had just managed to get out the words ‘I love you’, then he was fast asleep. 

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

It had been one hell of a week.  The ups and downs Kristoff felt were intense. 

It began with Tony’s nephew, Enzo.  The kid appeared eager, but he was greener than green.  He’d graduated high school a couple of months prior and turned eighteen over the summer, flitting from fast food job to fast food job until he ended up on Tony’s couch when his parents kicked him out for not holding down a steady job.

Everything needed to be explained, and by quitting time on Tuesday, Kristoff felt panicky over how little they managed to get done.  He sent Enzo home with Tony and continued working, even though his body was bone weary.  At least Tony had left him with a couple more delicious sandwiches.

The next day was better, but not much.  Kristoff still had to explain what exactly the kid was to demo and what was to be left alone.  He watched him like a hawk to make sure he wasn’t going to have to fix something that was supposed to stay in place rather than be removed.   By the end of his day, Enzo seemed to have caught on a bit better, but he still had an abundance of questions.  Kristoff remained as patient as possible with the kid.  He remembered what it was like when he was coming up in construction, and how he’d get barked at for not knowing something that he was there to learn.  There truly were some asshole foremen out there. 

Sven had expanded the ad to include workers for all positions, first year to journeyman, and there were four interviews set up for the week.  Of the four, two never showed, one came in with an arrogance and poor attitude that Sven knew would not mesh with Kristoff, and one was hired.  He was slotted to show up the following Monday and both Kristoff and Sven had their fingers crossed that he would.

When he wasn’t doing interviews, Sven went to look at jobs.  Three calls had come in and he took as many pictures as possible for Kristoff to help him do the quote.  It wasn’t that Sven didn’t know how to do it, he just didn’t have the same formula that Kristoff did, and his prices always came out too high.  So far, they’d never been in the red on any job Kristoff had priced, so they always went with his cost.  Only right now that was going to be Sven’s job, which was why he was coming to the job site over the weekend so Kristoff could talk him through it while he worked. 

At least Enzo had agreed to some overtime and would be there to help.  The kid proved to be a quick learner, and by the end of the week, he was mostly working independently. 

Having stayed very late every other day of the week, Kristoff was all too eager to knock off early on Friday afternoon, despite how far behind the job was.  He was in dire need of some rest. 

Kristoff tripped going up the stairs into the house, his legs were so tired.  He caught himself on the railing and hauled his weary body up to the door.  Inside, he kicked off his boots and wandered over to the couch, collapsing onto it face fist in his dirty clothes to catch his breath for five minutes before he jumped into the shower. Instead, he fell asleep, and Anna woke him up with a gentle shake when she got home. 

While he hadn’t intended to take a nap, he was glad he did, because he felt refreshed enough to do something he’d been too tired to do all week.  He pulled Anna with him into the bathroom, and they made love in the shower.

Afterward they shared a pizza and a couple of stiff rum and cokes while they looked over all the pictures and plans of the jobs Sven had looked at.  Kristoff felt an itch to start pricing them right then, but he knew he needed Sven to learn this.  Anna too perhaps someday.  But she was still working hard at setting up her replacement, and while she continuously offered to help him with anything, they would do just fine with Sven taking the reins. 

His bored ass needed more to do anyway.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Sven walked into the deli on Saturday morning and looked around, then his worried eyes met Kristoff’s.  He put the sledgehammer down and walked over to his friend while Enzo continued on his task.

“Fuck, man.  I thought you were further ahead than this.”

Kristoff let out a heavy sigh.  “I know.  We are behind.”

“Way behind,” Sven said pointedly. 

Feeling instantly frustrated, Kristoff lashed out.  “What the fuck do you want me to do, Sven?  I’m here all weekend, aren’t I?  You want me to sleep here too?”

Sven let out his own frustrated sigh.  “No, I’m sorry.  I know how hard you’re working.  And I feel bad for dumping all this on you.  I’m just worried.”

“You and me both.  That new hire better show up on Monday.”

His friend nodded.  “He will.  I have a good feeling about the guy.”

“He’s the third year?”  Sven nodded.  “Well, I guess he’ll know a thing or two,” he said quietly so that Enzo would not overhear.  The kid was trying really hard. 

“On the bright side, I have a half dozen interviews booked next week.”

“Yeah?  How many you thinking we need?”

“If they show up and aren’t jackasses, all of them.”

Kristoff’s brow furrowed.  “What?”

“I got three more jobs to look at on Monday.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, man.  The calls just keep coming in.  Anna definitely upped our visibility on google.”

Kristoff felt a little blindsided.  Neither one of them had mentioned anything about this to him.  He’d thought what was coming in was something that they could handle.

Apparently, Sven could read his expression.  He said, “Look, I know how much you have on your plate right now.  I want to step up and pull my weight by taking care of everything else.”

“And that includes all the business decisions now?” Kristoff snapped.  He was irrationally pissed. 

Sven looked like he was going to match Kristoff’s anger, then seemed to think better of it.  He took a calming breath.   “No, that’s not what I’m doing.  I’m trying to make the model that you and Anna gave me, work.  And don’t you think that you aren’t the forefront of my mind with every decision that I am making.”

Kristoff felt bad for getting angry.  He was stressed and way overtired.  And Sven knew that.  He nodded. “Yeah, okay.  I get it.”

“I’m not saying we are going to get all these jobs, but if we do, I want to have people in place.”

“And if we don’t get any of them?” Kristoff asked, supressing another heavy sigh.

Sven shrugged.  “We’re pretty fucked then, I guess.”

Kristoff groaned and sat right down on the dusty floor and put his face in his hands.  “Fuck, I am so stressed about all this.”

Sven sat across from him, getting his fanciest pair of jeans all dirty.  “I can tell.  We can all tell.  Why do you think I’ve been trying to do all this without burdening you more than I already have.  I mean, you have to work and talk me through how to price these jobs.  I feel kind of worthless right now.”

“You’re not,” Kristoff muttered, looking at his hands and digging out some dirt from under his nails.  “I know how hard you’re working too while you’re healing.”

A presence loomed over them.  “Coffee break?”

Both of them looked up at Enzo, smiling down at them.  Kristoff was telling Sven the night before how much potential the kid was showing.  They were going to get him in the apprentice program right away and Kristoff had a feeling that he was going to be one of the people still there at the end, whether they found the success they were looking for, or not.  As baffing as it was to Kristoff, the kid really looked up to him.

“Hey, kid.  Nice to finally meet you,” Sven said as he stood up to shake his hand.

Kristoff was happy to see the stiffness disappearing from Sven’s movements as he took to his own feet.

“Nice to meet you too, sir.”  Enzo smiled.

“Sir?  Woah, Nelly!  That’s Boss Man to you, young lad.”

Enzo grinned wider, clearly clicking with Sven’s vibe.  “Anything you say, Boss Man.”

They all laughed.  Even Kristoff, and then they stepped outside to grab a steaming cup of joe from Tony’s food truck. 

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

By Sunday afternoon when they were done for the day, Kristoff was so spent, he had Enzo drive him home, then called the kid an Uber and invited him inside to wait for the car.  He was so damn tired he didn’t trust himself behind the wheel.

Sitting at their kitchen table with Anna, Enzo looked a little beside himself as Kristoff passed them each a bottle of beer.  The kid was nervous in one of those excited ways, like he thought it was the coolest thing in the world to be sitting at Kristoff’s table with a beer while worrying about not acting weird. 

A thought struck him and Kristoff raised an eyebrow at the kid.  “Surely this isn’t your first beer?”

“No, no.” Enzo shook his head quickly.  “Not at all.  Me and my buddy used to get his older brother to buy us beer in high school.”

Kristoff smiled, remembering back to his days.  It was the same.  Find someone with a fake ID, or find someone to buy them beer that they would take to ball diamond by the park and drink under the bleachers.  They sure thought they were cool as fuck back then.  Drinking cheap, bitter beer that everyone seemed to scrunch their nose at with every sip.  But damn if they didn’t tell themselves that it tasted great.

Him and Sven would walk home after their other friends had left, acting a little tipsier than either of them really were and arguing about who was more wasted off of two beers.  They were big guys, and while drinking was new to them, they were far from being drunk.

It was like that every weekend.  They either camped out at Sven’s place, or at Kristoff’s.  Living a block apart, they always seemed to be in each other’s houses, and their parents were happy that they got along so well.  They each became a second family to the boys.

They never argued.  Never had a disagreement that they couldn’t talk out before one of them said something they didn’t mean.  And it was like that forever, until that one job had them so overworked that they both snapped.  It was like everything they’d ever wanted to say to each other their entire lives came out in an explosive argument in front of the van, standing in the parking lot outside the place they were working on.

Sven ended up just walking away and Kristoff never waited for him to come back.  The guy knew his own way home. 

The entire drive home, he felt the burn of shame for what he’d said.  All the things he’d thrown in Sven’s face.  All the things that were thrown in his.  This was not them.  But fuck if he wasn’t still furious at it all.

The next day, Kristoff went to pick Sven up and waited in front of his apartment complex for ten minutes with his texts going unanswered before he gave up and drove to work.  There was Sven, working away and looked pissed off about it.  He’d driving himself in his own car.  Kristoff got to work beside him, neither of them saying a word the entire day.  They worked into the night and Sven was the one to leave first, peeling his tires out of the parking lot while Kristoff packed up his tools. 

He was more enraged than ever that Sven wouldn’t even be civil enough to let him know he was driving himself.  The next morning, he never went by Sven’s place at all.  He was just pulling up in his car while Kristoff was unpacking his tools from the van.  Another day of not talking except to grunt out an answer to a work question, and Kristoff started to feel a deep sense of melancholy at realization that the friendship, and their business, was likely over. 

They’d both said so many things.  It was hard to come back from speaking so vehemently. 

They finished the job completely the next day and it was as chilly as ever between them.  When they both drove home separately, the only thing on Kristoff’s mind was where they would find themselves on Monday morning.  They were slotted to be at their next job after the weekend.  Would the two days off be enough to cool the minds that had been so in sync since they met that they truly felt like brothers.

His weekend was miserable, thinking about what had happened with Sven, which was severely fucking with his ability to catch up on his sleep.  By Sunday morning, he knew he needed an answer, or he was going to lose his damn mind. 

He picked up his phone and started to type a text, asking if Sven would be up to talk.  Just as he pressed send, a message from Sven popped up on his screen, saying more or less the same thing.  Kristoff grinned, and called Sven right away.  How uncanny they sent the same thought at virtually the same time.

After laughing about that, they both apologized.  And while there was still going to be some hurt that they carried for a while because of it, both of them agreed that their friendship was stronger than an argument, even if it was a vicious one. 

“Kristoff?”

He looked at Anna, pulled from memory.  “Yeah?”

“Enzo asked you how you got into construction.”

Kristoff looked at the kid.  “Shit.  Sorry.  Kind of zoned out there.”

Anna giggled.  “We could tell.”

“How I got into it, huh?” Kristoff said, rubbing his fingers down his chin.  “Well, I guess it had a lot to do with my Pop.  He built houses.  I went to work with him quite a few times over the summers when I was out of school, Sven did too actually, and I just really liked it.  You know, seeing everything take shape.  Start from a hole in the ground to a finished house that will be someone’s home someday.”

Enzo was nodding enthusiastically.  “Yeah.  Like, I can’t wait to see how the deli turns out.”

Kristoff smiled at the kid.  He’d had the same look on his face when he was hanging out with the guys after work for a beer when he was old enough to drink.  It was the camaraderie and a feeling of finally finding something that you know you can be happy doing for the rest of your life, even if it was hard work. 

He said, “I can tell your uncle has been thinking about the reno for a long time.  It’s definitely going to look awesome.”

They chatted for a few more minutes until the Uber arrived and Enzo thanked them for the beer with a wave as he went down the walkway to the street.  Kristoff shut the door and leaned over to rest his forehead against it.  He couldn’t remember a time he’d ever been this tired, and that included the fatigue that led to the fight between him and Sven.   Perhaps it was because he was getting older.

Small hands, gentle but firm, worked their way up his shoulder blades and onto his shoulders, massaging the muscles there.

“Fuck that feels good,” he muttered, head still pressed against the door.

“Go have a shower and then I’ll give you a full body,” Anna said behind him, voice low and sultry. 

He smiled and turned around in her arms.  She clasped her hands behind his neck as he bent down to kiss her.  “Only if you join me,” he said, and picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bathroom. 

*****

In reality, showering with someone wasn’t always the best.  It meant that someone was always out of the hot stream of water at some point.  There was logistics involved that proved it to be more trouble than it was worth.  Except, Kristoff had somehow cracked that code, and showering with him was an intensely gratifying experience. 

Perhaps it was the design of his shower.  The fact that it was a walk in with a glass door, a big rainfall showerhead, and jets set underneath along the wall that could be adjusted to shoot the water in any desired direction.  Her back braced in the corner, Kristoff pressed against her and holding her up with him, she was warm, very comfortable and being given unspeakable pleasure by the man that she was madly in love with. 

Afterward, as they toweled off and dressed, Anna pondered her life before Kristoff was in it and found it was a little hard to remember.  The job sure, her family, friends, that wasn’t what was hazy… it was what she did with her time without him.  It was what was on her mind before she met him.  It was knowing that she had felt lonely before, only it was hard to imagine that now, even if Kristoff was working some seriously long hours. 

He had become her entire world and there was nothing that she would not do for him. 

Luckily, her protégé at work was picking up on the role that Anna had held very well, and that meant that she only had one more week and then she’d be packing up her office.  Already she’d been bringing things home every day, plucking them off the bookshelves they all built and feeling a sort of regret that she didn’t get to enjoy them for very long. 

With Kristoff working so late, Anna went about completely setting up and stocking the home office that her and Sven would be working in.  The furniture had been delivered the week before and Anna had unpacked, assembled, and moved everything into place herself.   Kristoff, of course, had noticed and showed her his gratitude in his affections.  It was amazing being with a man and not having to fear missing out on an orgasm when they had sex.  He always left her satisfied, and more often than not, more than once.

Even when she wanted to selflessly pleasure him by taking him into her mouth, he flipped her onto her back afterward and returned the favour, not taking Anna’s – admittedly, rather insincere – protests for an answer.  Truth was she would never turn down such affections.  Anna had never been so horny in her entire life and Kristoff was feeding her hunger very well. 

---

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

[romance-club-daily]

New Narrative Designer Vacancy~

April/2023

Friends, we have a new vacancy. We take into account your wishes and your requests. Thanks for sharing with us. 🙏

We are looking for talented people who want to realize their potential as narrative designers and scriptwriters.🧑🏻‍💻Our company offers a unique opportunity to participate in the development of excellent games and to work with experienced colleagues in an informal and inspiring environment.

In this position, you will be working on a spin-off/sequel to an existing story (scenario, dialogue, characters) under the supervision of a lead writer.

Requirements:

-Impeccable Russian language.

-Experience creating narrative content (prose, short stories, short novels, poems).

-Experience playing Romance Club stories and a detailed acquaintance with its universes.

-Ability to work in a team and to write based on other people’s concepts.

-Love for books, movies, and games.

-Knowledge of English is a big plus.

-An existing portfolio is welcomed.

Working conditions:

-Freelance (the ability to work from anywhere in the world).

-Great young team.

-Interesting long-term projects.

-Decent salary + bonuses.

-Opportunity for career growth.

Making games is cool! For us to consider your candidacy, please send your CV and portfolio to jobs@yourstoryinteractive.com. Applications are accepted until April 19 inclusive. 💫💫

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[faxocjobs]

Remote Work Revolution: Job Vacancies in the Virtual Office

The way we work has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, and it's not just a passing trend. The Remote Work Revolution is here to stay, and it's transforming the job market as we know it. In this blog post, we'll explore the opportunities presented by this revolution and the myriad job vacancies that have emerged in the realm of the virtual office. 

1. Remote Project Manager 

Project management remains a vital function, even in a virtual office setting. Remote project managers oversee teams, set goals, and ensure that projects are completed efficiently and on time. 

2. Virtual Administrative Assistant 

Administrative assistants continue to play a crucial role in remote work. They manage calendars, coordinate meetings, and handle a wide range of administrative tasks that keep virtual offices running smoothly. 

3. Digital Marketing Specialist 

In a world where online presence is everything, digital marketing specialists are in high demand. They create and execute online marketing strategies, optimizing a company's visibility and reach in the digital landscape. 

4. Software Developer 

Remote software developers design, build, and maintain the software that powers the virtual office. They collaborate with global teams to develop applications, websites, and other digital solutions. 

5. Customer Support Representative 

The need for excellent customer support remains unchanged. Remote customer support representatives address customer inquiries and issues via email, chat, or phone, providing top-notch service from anywhere in the world. 

6. Virtual Sales Representative 

Sales teams have adapted to remote work, and virtual sales representatives connect with clients and prospects through virtual meetings and online communication channels. 

7. Data Analyst 

Data analysts gather and interpret data to provide insights that guide business decisions. Their work helps companies make data-driven choices, leading to improved efficiency and profitability. 

8. Telemedicine Practitioner 

The healthcare industry has embraced telemedicine, leading to job vacancies for remote doctors, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals who provide medical consultations and care remotely. 

9. Online Education Instructor 

Online education has witnessed exponential growth, creating opportunities for online instructors who conduct virtual classes and offer remote support to students worldwide. 

10. Content Creator 

Content creators generate written, visual, or audio content for websites, blogs, social media, and other digital platforms. They play a critical role in engaging and informing virtual audiences. 

11. Human Resources Manager 

HR managers are responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and managing remote employees, ensuring a smooth and positive experience for all. 

12. Cybersecurity Specialist 

With the increased reliance on digital technologies, cybersecurity specialists are in high demand to protect company data and systems from cyber threats. 

13. Virtual Event Planner 

Virtual event planners design and coordinate virtual conferences, webinars, and other online gatherings, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for attendees. 

14. Remote Financial Analyst 

Financial analysts analyze financial data to provide insights that drive business decisions, even from remote locations. 

15. Online Psychologist or Counselor 

Remote psychologists and counselors provide mental health support to clients through virtual sessions, expanding access to mental health services. 

The Remote Work Revolution has unlocked a world of possibilities, allowing individuals to pursue meaningful careers while maintaining flexibility and work-life balance. The virtual office is no longer just a temporary solution; it's a fundamental shift in how we work, and it's opening up a wealth of job vacancies for those ready to embrace this new way of working. As remote work continues to evolve, these job vacancies will continue to adapt and expand, creating exciting opportunities for job seekers in the virtual office of the future. 

[injureguard]

Employment Agency in Toronto: Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Job or Candidate

The job market in Toronto is vibrant yet competitive, offering opportunities across various industries. Navigating this dynamic landscape can be challenging for both employers and job seekers. That’s where an employment agency in Toronto like TDS Personnel steps in to simplify the process and ensure optimal matches between candidates and companies.

As one of the leading employment agencies in Toronto, TDS Personnel specializes in connecting talented professionals with businesses that need their skills and expertise. Whether you're looking to hire top talent or searching for your next career move, TDS Personnel is your trusted partner.

What Is an Employment Agency?

An employment agency acts as an intermediary between job seekers and employers, helping businesses fill their vacancies while assisting candidates in finding roles that align with their skills and career aspirations. Employment agencies like TDS Personnel offer a range of services, including:

Permanent staffing

Temporary and contract staffing

Executive search and recruitment

Job placement services

With a focus on Toronto’s unique job market, TDS Personnel has established itself as a go-to resource for both employers and professionals across a wide range of industries.

Benefits of Partnering with an Employment Agency in Toronto

Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, working with an employment agency offers numerous benefits:

For Employers:

Access to Top Talent Employment agencies maintain extensive networks of highly qualified candidates, giving employers access to a broader talent pool.

Streamlined Hiring Process From posting job ads to screening resumes and conducting initial interviews, employment agencies handle the most time-consuming aspects of recruitment.

Industry Expertise Specialized employment agencies, such as TDS Personnel, have in-depth knowledge of Toronto’s job market trends and industry-specific requirements.

Cost-Effective Solutions Hiring mistakes can be costly. Employment agencies ensure a better fit between candidates and roles, reducing turnover rates and saving resources.

For Job Seekers:

Exclusive Opportunities Many companies partner exclusively with employment agencies to fill roles, giving candidates access to job openings that are not advertised publicly.

Personalized Career Guidance Agencies like TDS Personnel provide tailored advice on resume writing, interview preparation, and career planning.

Efficient Job Search An employment agency matches candidates with roles that align with their skills, qualifications, and long-term career goals, saving time and effort.

TDS Personnel: A Premier Employment Agency in Toronto

TDS Personnel is a trusted name in Toronto's employment industry. With decades of experience, we are dedicated to providing customized recruitment solutions that meet the unique needs of employers and job seekers.

For Employers:

Our team works closely with businesses to understand their hiring requirements, company culture, and long-term goals. Our services include:

Permanent Staffing Solutions: We find candidates who are a perfect match for your organization’s needs.

Temporary and Contract Staffing: Whether you need seasonal staff or project-based support, we provide skilled professionals ready to step in and deliver results.

Executive Recruitment: Finding the right leadership is critical for success. We specialize in identifying and recruiting top-level executives for key roles.

For Job Seekers:

At TDS Personnel, we prioritize helping candidates find fulfilling roles that match their aspirations. From entry-level positions to executive roles, our experienced team offers guidance and support every step of the way.

Industries We Serve

Toronto is a hub for diverse industries, and TDS Personnel is well-equipped to cater to them. Some of the sectors we specialize in include:

Finance and Accounting: Matching skilled accountants, analysts, and financial professionals with leading companies.

Marketing and Communications: Helping businesses find creative talent for marketing, PR, and communication roles.

Sales and Business Development: Connecting sales professionals with organizations looking to expand their market reach.

Human Resources: Recruiting HR specialists who can support and enhance company operations.

Administrative Support: Providing skilled administrative staff to keep businesses running smoothly.

Why TDS Personnel Stands Out

Decades of Experience With years of experience in Toronto’s employment market, TDS Personnel has built a reputation for excellence and reliability.

Tailored Solutions We understand that no two businesses or candidates are the same. Our customized approach ensures the best possible outcomes.

Commitment to Success We are invested in the long-term success of both employers and job seekers, striving to build lasting relationships.

Advanced Recruitment Technology By leveraging the latest recruitment tools and technology, we streamline the hiring process and deliver exceptional results.

Employment Trends in Toronto

As one of Canada’s most dynamic cities, Toronto offers opportunities across multiple industries. However, staying ahead in such a competitive job market requires strategic planning and expert guidance. Employment agencies like TDS Personnel are well-versed in local trends, helping businesses secure the talent they need while enabling professionals to achieve their career goals.

Choose TDS Personnel for Employment Success

Whether you’re a business looking for the right candidate or a job seeker exploring new opportunities, partnering with an experienced employment agency in Toronto is key to achieving your goals. TDS Personnel is committed to making the process seamless, efficient, and successful.

Visit tdspersonnel.com to learn more about our services and take the first step toward employment success today.

[executivesearchconsultingfirm]

The Future of Executive Recruitment Trends and Predictions for Top-Level Hires

Another significant advantage of partnering with executive recruitment consulting firms is saving valuable time and resources for your business Finding top talent for senior-level positions can be incredibly time-consuming and resource-intensive when done internally by HR teams or managers with expert assistance from an experienced executive search firm, this process becomes significantly more efficient while still maintaining high-quality standards.

In conclusion, when striving towards maximizing results in your business endeavours, it’s crucial not only to focus on operational aspects but also on building strong leadership teams through strategic hiring practices Partnering with reputable executive recruitment consulting firms allows organizations to tap into a vast pool of top talent, access highly specialized services, and save time and resources in the process This winning combination can have a significant impact on an organization's success and help them stay ahead in today’s competitive business landscape.

Executive Search consulting firms is a crucial part of any organization's success, and as we move into the future, it is becoming even more important With advancements in technology and changes in the job market, executive recruitment trends are constantly evolving As top-level hires play a vital role in driving an organization's growth and success, it is essential to stay updated on the latest developments in this field In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the future of executive recruitment and make predictions for top-level hires.

One major trend that has been emerging in recent years is the increasing use of executive recruitment consulting services by organizations These firms provide specialized expertise in identifying and recruiting top talent for high-level positions with their extensive networks and deep knowledge of various industries, they can help organizations find senior executives who are not actively seeking new opportunities but may be open to the right offer.

Another key aspect that will shape Executive Search consulting firms Mumbai in the future is technology as artificial intelligence continues to advance at a rapid pace, it will significantly impact how companies search for and select candidates for top-level roles Digital platforms such as online assessments and video interviews are already being widely used by recruiters to assess candidates' skills remotely before scheduling face-to-face interviews.

In addition to technological advancements, there will also be a shift towards more strategic approaches to executive search from leading firms These strategic executive search services involve understanding an organization's long-term goals and finding leaders who align with its vision rather than just filling immediate vacancies It involves analysing an organization's culture, values, and goals to find candidates who can contribute effectively towards its growth over time. In conclusion, staying up-to-date on executive recruitment trends and predictions is crucial for organizations to attract top-level talent in an increasingly competitive job market With the use of consulting services, advancements in technology, and a more strategic approach, companies will be able to identify and hire leaders who can drive their organizations towards success in the future As we continue to navigate through these changes, it is essential for both recruiters and candidates alike to stay informed about these evolving trends.

[sudheervanguri]

Drug Regulatory Affairs Job Vacancies at Allkind Healthcare, Baddi Allkind Healthcare, a leading pharmaceutical company in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, is hiring skilled professionals for its Drug Regulatory Affairs team. This opportunity is ideal for candidates with expertise in regulatory submissions, compliance, and documentation, looking to thrive in a dynamic work environment. About Allkind Healthcare Allkind Healthcare is a renowned name in the pharmaceutical industry, committed to providing high-quality healthcare solutions. Located in the thriving industrial hub of Baddi, the company is known for its robust portfolio of medicines and its dedication to adhering to global regulatory standards. Key Role Details Job Title: Drug Regulatory Affairs Professional Job Location: Baddi, Himachal Pradesh Employment Type: Full-time, On-site Department: Drug Regulatory Affairs As a Drug Regulatory Affairs Professional, you will play a crucial role in managing the regulatory lifecycle of the company’s pharmaceutical products, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and contributing to the company’s reputation as a trusted healthcare provider. Responsibilities As part of the Regulatory Affairs team at Allkind Healthcare, you will be responsible for: Regulatory Documentation, Regulatory Submissions, and Regulatory Compliance skills Knowledge of Regulatory Requirements and Regulatory Affairs Attention to detail and strong organizational skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work effectively in a team setting Experience in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry [caption id="attachment_111358" align="aligncenter" width="930"] Allkind Healthcare Career Recruitment - Job vacancies[/caption] Qualifications and Skills The ideal candidate should possess the following: Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Regulatory Affairs, or related fields. Experience: Prior experience in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry is preferred. Technical Skills: Proficiency in Regulatory Documentation, Submissions, and Compliance. Sound knowledge of Regulatory Requirements and Global Regulatory Policies. How to Apply Ready to advance your career in Drug Regulatory Affairs? Apply now for this exciting opportunity at Allkind Healthcare by visiting the link below: Apply on LinkedIn

[inspirehub]

Trends in IT staffing: How technology is changing recruitment

Today, companies need IT labour more urgently than ever before as a result of rapid changes in technology. IT recruitment firms have been forced to keep up with change and have since employed new tools while shifting their mechanisms of operation. For Awign, which is an outstanding work-as-a-service platform amongst others, the introduction of tech in hiring has not only led to a complete overhaul but has also played to the benefit of its clients all over the country.

This post shall delve into the recent trends in information technology staff acquisition, how technology has influenced recruitment methods, and its future impact on employment.

The Transformation from Conventional to Modernised Techniques

From its past practices, Information Technology (IT) staffing has undergone tremendous changes over time. Initially, recruitment processes were based on manual CV perusal and face-to-face interviews of candidates which was not only time-intensive but also labour-intensive. But today’s world is characterised by computer-mediated communication using AI for recruitment automation forces that are still uncared for by people.

At present, this shift goes beyond convenience — rather a fundamental shift in how recruitment is done involving technology acting as an intermediary between recruitment firms in IT and top-notch talents in this industry.

Today’s IT staffing is similar to a quick sprint race with companies like Awign leading the pack. Awign provides smooth communication and efficient workflow by using its own no-code tech platform & real-time tracking features. This isn’t just about filling positions – it’s about promoting quality, managing costs and precisely scaling large volumes of staff into jobs.

The Key IT Talent Acquisition Trends are shaped by Technology

The role of technology in IT staffing is immense because it has changed every phase of the recruitment process. Here are some of the major developments that are now affecting the information technology staffing industry:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: 

AI affords the possibility for IT recruiting agencies to screen and match candidates with unprecedented swiftness and precision. AI can also scan resumes for keywords, skills, or patterns of work leading to lesser initial screening time. For instance, fast candidate-matching ensures that companies get a correct fit while, at the same time, raising the bar for talent.

Blockchain for Verification:

Blockchain technology is mainly concerned with securing data through its storage and verification which have become part of hiring too, focusing on background checks. This aids recruiters to confirm quickly and reliably a candidate’s credentials as well as his/her previous job records hence averting discrepancies that could arise due to fake job descriptions found on Curriculum Vitaes (CVs).

Video Interviewing and Remote Hiring:

In a world where the dimension of working remotely is gaining popularity, video interviews provide a shortcut process for IT recruitment firms. They enable IT talent acquisition teams to meet job candidates from anywhere in the world without caring about geographical borders. They, thus, broaden the candidate pool and allow an organisation like Awign to achieve its clients’ needs over 19,000+ pin codes of India.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: 

Analytics have been revolutionising the recruitment sector since they help IT recruitment agencies forecast trends, understand skill demands, and adjust their hiring practices using data. Companies use metrics like time-to-fill vacancies, cost-per-hire per position filled, and how satisfied candidate who went through the recruitment process are, to tune up their recruitment strategies for better results.

Moreover, Awign’s no-code platform allows for tech-driven staffing that can be deployed and scaled in just 2 days, enabling organisations facing urgent hiring requirements to meet them with efficiency.

A Digital-First Workforce Requires IT Staffing

As the tech industry leans further into digitalisation, IT staffing no longer involves putting warm bodies in chairs but rather building a resilient workforce that can adapt to any future change. In addition to possessing the right technical abilities, today’s IT talent acquisition is more concerned with how adaptable a person is besides his/her learning agility. Such a move towards digitisation at work has seen platforms like the work-as-a-service concept being adopted by firms whose core value proposition is about employing skilled temporary workers who are good at execution so that they remain competitive and responsive enough amid growing uncertainty across industries.

For instance, remote positions are increasingly gaining popularity while project-based flexible staff leasing is another popular trend that Awign can handle through its gig staffing platforms and telecalling services. Addressing these needs effectively with high-quality support for companies’ IT staffing demands relies on Awign keeping pace with the digital transformation occurring now.

The Advantages of Technology in IT Staffing

Several benefits result from the integration of technology into IT Staffing including;

Improved Candidate Experience

Time and Cost Savings

Greater Precision in Matching Candidates

Awign: Redefining India’s IT Staffing landscape

More than just a staffing company, Awign has been a partner in strategic decision-making related to human resources-related concerns within the IT sector. By providing nationwide services as well as cutting-edge solutions, it supports enterprises in meeting the ever-evolving demands of the tech world today. These services like merchant onboarding promoter deployment content moderation help businesses grow while maintaining quality and operational efficiency through staff leasing.

The Bottom Line

As technology continues to reshape recruitment, IT staffing will keep evolving, offering businesses and candidates alike a more dynamic and responsive experience. For companies looking to build robust tech teams and stay ahead in a competitive market, partnering with a forward-thinking platform like Awign can make all the difference.

Ready to streamline your recruitment? Awign’s team is just a click away—explore their services today and take the next step toward a technology-driven staffing solution.

[engineersacademyblog]

PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024 Recruitment: Eligibility, Selection Process & Complete Guidance.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a central public sector enterprise, has announced an exciting opportunity for aspiring candidates through the PGCIL Diploma Trainee Recruitment 2024. This recruitment drive aims to fill multiple vacancies, offering a promising career in one of India’s leading power transmission companies.

If you are preparing for this opportunity, Engineers Academy is here to guide you at every step. Located at 100-101-102 Ram Nagar, Bambala Pulia, Tonk Road, Pratap Nagar, Jaipur 302033, Engineers Academy provides top-notch coaching to help candidates achieve their goals. You can contact us at 7374000888 or 7374000999 for more details.

Engineers Academy provides expert coaching for competitive exams like GATE, IES/ESE, SSC JE (Junior Engineer), UPSSSC-JE, PGCIL, RPSC AEn, BPSC, RSEB, PHED AEn, and RRB Diploma. With a team of highly qualified and experienced faculty, the academy ensures in-depth preparation for these technical exams.

They offer comprehensive coaching across several cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Patna, Allahabad, Kanpur, and Lucknow, making quality education accessible for aspiring engineers. Engineers Academy also emphasizes practical learning and personalized guidance to enhance the success rate of its students.

Why Choose Engineers Academy for PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024?

Cracking the PGCIL Diploma Trainee Recruitment 2024 requires a strategic preparation plan. Engineers Academy, a leading coaching institute in Jaipur, offers comprehensive guidance for aspirants. Engineers Academy offers GATE, IES/ESE, SSC JE(Junior Engineer), UPSSSC-JE, RPSC AEn, BPSC, RSEB, PHED AEn & RRB Diploma Coaching by qualified experienced faculty. We have Institutes in Delhi, Jaipur, Patna, Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Patna. For more information, contact our branch today and visit our website.

Features of Engineers Academy

Experienced Faculty: Learn from subject matter experts with years of teaching experience.

Customized Study Material: Get access to specially curated materials that focus on the PGCIL syllabus.

Mock Tests: Practice with real-time mock tests to enhance speed and accuracy.

Personalized Attention: Small batch sizes ensure individual attention for every student.

Convenient Location: Our center is situated at 100-101-102 Ram Nagar, Bambala Pulia, Tonk Road, Pratap Nagar, Jaipur 302033.

PGCIL Diploma Trainee Vacancy 2024

The PGCIL Diploma Trainee Vacancy 2024 is a golden chance for diploma holders looking to enter a stable and prestigious organization. The vacancies are spread across various regions, offering opportunities in multiple disciplines such as Electrical, Civil, and Electronics Engineering. If you want to know What is the Latest Notification for PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024. So this year's latest notification is And here is some new information for you PGCIL has announced 795 vacancies for the total posts of Diploma Trainee. 

Key Highlights of PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024 Vacancy

Post Name: Diploma Trainee

Disciplines: Electrical, Civil, Electronics

Total Vacancies: Multiple (Exact number to be announced in the official notification)

Job Location: Across India

Pay Scale: Competitive salary package with additional benefits

This recruitment drive is open for candidates with a diploma in relevant fields. It is essential to meet the eligibility criteria specified in the official notification to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024 Vacancy, candidates must fulfill the following conditions:

Educational Qualification: Diploma in Electrical, Civil, or Electronics Engineering from a recognized institute with a minimum percentage as per the recruitment norms.

Age Limit: The upper age limit varies by category, with relaxations for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates.

Nationality: Indian

How to Apply for PGCIL Diploma Trainee Recruitment 2024

The application process for the PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024 Vacancy is conducted online. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth application:

Visit the Official Website: Go to the PGCIL career portal.

Registration: Complete the one-time registration using your email ID and mobile number.

Fill out the Application Form: Provide personal, educational, and professional details.

Upload Documents: Attach scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and required certificates.

Pay Application Fee: Use net banking, debit card, or other online payment options to pay the application fee.

Submit Application: Verify all details and submit the form.

Selection Process for PGCIL Diploma Trainee 2024

For the selection in PGCIL Diploma Trainee Recruitment 2024, a Written Test/Computer Test (CBT) is conducted. The pattern of the two parts is as follows:

Part 1: Technical Knowledge Test (TKT) with 120 questions for Diploma Trainee posts, and Professional Knowledge Test (PKT) for Junior Officer Trainee posts. These questions will assess candidates on their domain-specific knowledge.

Part 2: consists of an Aptitude Test with 50 questions covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, quantitative aptitude, and general awareness.

A negative mark of 1/4th mark applies for every incorrect answer.

Engineers Academy: Your Gateway to Success

At Engineers Academy, we believe in empowering students with the right tools and resources to succeed. Our state-of-the-art infrastructure and dedicated faculty ensure that every aspirant achieves their dream of cracking the PGCIL Diploma Trainee Recruitment 2024.

Contact Us

Address: 100-101-102 Ram Nagar, Bambala Pulia, Tonk Road, Pratap Nagar, Jaipur 302033

Phone Numbers: 7374000888, 7374000999

Prepare with the best and secure your future with Engineers Academy!

[mourjanemirates]

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Job Vacancies: Join a Leading Hospitality Team

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Job Vacancies 2024: Join a Leading Hospitality Team Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights offers a diverse range of career opportunities for professionals in the hospitality industry. Situated in the vibrant city of Dubai, this hotel blends modern luxury with unique opportunities for career growth in a dynamic environment. Position Available Action Director of…

[jobsatdubai]

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Job Vacancies: Join a Leading Hospitality Team

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Job Vacancies 2024: Join a Leading Hospitality Team Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights offers a diverse range of career opportunities for professionals in the hospitality industry. Situated in the vibrant city of Dubai, this hotel blends modern luxury with unique opportunities for career growth in a dynamic environment. Position Available Action Director of…

[hotelcareerworldwide]

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Job Vacancies: Join a Leading Hospitality Team

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Job Vacancies 2024: Join a Leading Hospitality Team Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights offers a diverse range of career opportunities for professionals in the hospitality industry. Situated in the vibrant city of Dubai, this hotel blends modern luxury with unique opportunities for career growth in a dynamic environment. Position Available Action Director of…