What's this?
A teaser?I'm gonna level with you guys: I haven't forgotten about The Guy in Charge, but life's really kicking my ass right now. Super-sorry about the incredi-long wait. I suppose you could consider this a... promissory note for the next installment ;P For those that need a refresher:The Guy in Charge: PrologueChapter I - An AgreementInside his private office, the maddening metronome of clock-hands throbbed in Casper's head with every passing second. He brooded over his desk, the squeak of his leather chair only heightening his anxiousness. He had shit to do.It was already 8:40, and Lucas was scheduled to be in at 8:00. Tardiness was, in his view, an unforgivable offense.Even more unforgivable, still, was Lucas's neglect for his sodden puppy. 'Don't change tonight,' Lucas said. 'I'll take care of it for you in the morning.'Well, here he was, feeling all the smaller (and perhaps a little foolish) in his office-throne. His eyes fell shamefully to his footpaws; he almost thought Lucas was the guy for him. His sassiness often got in the way of any meaningful relationships, but Lucas saw through that. At least, he thought he did. He felt stupid.His self-pity quickly turned to indignation.What was he, now? What kind of supervisor caves to his subordinate's advances like some cheap whore? How did he let him get to him like that?The corgi straightened his tie in a pitiful attempt to salvage his dignity when it dawned on him: Was this some elaborate ruse to get rid of him? Could Lucas have had some sort of recording device? Was the whole office in on this?Wood whispered against wood as he drew open a compartment of his desk. He eyed a
stack of papers--termination notices--with very real consideration. That German shepherd wasn't going to have the last laugh here. He would make sure of that.And then came a quiet knock that shuddered the door.The drawer snapped shut. "...Lucas?" The German shepherd, frosted over from the fur on his chin to the ears on his head, slipped into the room on the tips of his toes. He eased the door shut behind him with equal mindfulness, so as to avoid agitating the worn hinges. Nobody could know that he and Casper were in here--and by themselves, at that."Morning, pup! Sorry I'm late." He threw his green parka off and onto the floor, giving his fur a quick shake. "Car wouldn't start. You wouldn't imagine how useless hares are with vehicles."The corgi eyed the soggy coat with the same revulsion that one would a cockroach. "Were you raised in a--"The shepherd fanned a brown paw at his pup in disregard. "I don't wanna hear it from you, shorty. Not right now. 'T's too early for your ass." He adjusted the collar of his black polo and stretched lazily. "Aaalrighty. Let's see those potty-pants'a yours. Still haven't changed, I hope?"Casper's ears swooped back. "No, I haven't. I've actually had to bring an extra pair of pants--" He tapped his finger emphatically on the surface of his black suitcase, "--because I'm having a little bit of a problem with, uh...""...Leaking?" Lucas grinned, running his paws through his snow-plastered headfur. "Good thing I'm here, huh?"The corgi looked away and smiled to himself. He came back. "If you could just get this over with... I have a job to do." He began to unbutton his cardigan, shifting anxiously in his chair. "And, incidentally, so do you."