As the intern and therefore glorified 'gopher' of the agency—quite honestly because I believe my supervisor Laurel hates me—I'm passing out coffees to everyone who wants one as we are all gathered around the conference table. Those who don't fit around the long table are gathered close anyway, standing to hear what this important news is. Usually when there is an important meeting, it's announced well in advance. With this being so sudden, everyone is a little tense.
"Thanks, Auraya," Cricket smiles when I hand her the cup. She is my other favorite person here at Möbius other than Jay. And other than Lawson of course.
The 'conference room' that we are all gathered in is open and airy—not the typical stuffy room you would imagine in an office building. Being a modern and progressive ad agency, all of the interior spaces are modern to reflect this style, which is more than a style—it's a philosophy. Möbius is not just any ad agency. Its clients are some of the most interesting, forward-thinking, and cutting edge in the business world, which makes it all the more important to me to have landed this job—even if it is a starting level position.
Just being in the atmosphere here is exciting. There are areas in the building devoted to relaxing and having fun. Because sometimes coming up with the next great idea happens when you're playing pickle ball or shooting hoops or playing a video game rather than spinning around in your desk chair for hours on end.
There are always fun incentives for employees of every level to come up with new ideas for the company, too—whether they're ideas for how to increase company morale, new clients to pursue, or new creative ideas to implement. In some ways, it actually feels like all of us working here all equals. Because as Mr. Möbius has famously said, we all have that spark of genius that could grow into something phenomenal.
It's that care and open-mindedness that has made Möbius Media so successful, in my opinion. Mr. Möbius listens. He weighs everything. He realizes that he doesn't have all of the ideas or all of the answers and neither does his staff. And there are often fresh new ideas that come walking through these doors everyday. Crowdsourcing like that is genius. And that's why, even being here as an intern is an honor. It means that they saw something promising in me from the beginning. I don't intend to waste that opportunity.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why I have called this meeting on such short notice, and I appreciate you all joining me. My father has fallen ill." His hands are folded in front of him very formally, and I wonder if it isn't also because he is trying to keep it together emotionally. There are visible lines of tension cleaving his brow as his gaze passes above the crowd, mindful not to really meet anyone's sympathetic eyes.
A series of gasps echo around the room, and I quickly step back from where I was leaning over everyone delivering coffee to take it in. Poor Lawson.
"He is being flown for some tests and observations. We don't know a lot right now other than it seems to be serious. Obviously, the rest of us can handle the day-to-day business here. That won't be a problem. I do want to advise you that my brother will be arriving tomorrow to help manage some of the executive tasks in the office."
"Brother?" I whisper.
"Yes, Mr. Lawson has a brother," Jay whispers back. "He is technically one of the Creative Directors, though he never steps foot in the building if he can help it."
"Why not?" I glance at him while Lawson continues speaking solemnly at the front of the room.
"He prefers working off site. Some say he is only a Creative Director in name since he's rarely here. I know he travels a lot. He has a pretty lavish lifestyle."
"Lavish?" Cricket whispers on the other side of me. "You mean a pretty wild and crazy lifestyle."
My supervisor Laurel turns from her seat at the table, glaring at the three of us since she can obviously hear us whispering. So we stop and face the front again. I don't want to be seen as a gossiper here, that's for sure. Or a troublemaker. Or disrespectful.
"Not all of you have met Alexander. He is technically a Creative Director here, and he will lead some of the ongoing projects once he is acclimated. It may take a few weeks, but I'm sure he will pick everything up quickly."
"Alexander?" Cricket whispers. "I thought his name was Dex?"
"Yes, he goes by Dex," Jay whispers back.
Laurel's hand clenches the pen in front of her on the table, and for a second I imagine her throwing it at us to get us to stop talking, so I don't respond to Cricket or Jay. But I can't help but get caught on that nickname: Dex. It's cute. It also sounds like he could be one of those bad boy types who spends all of his time having fun rather than making an honest living at his father's amazing company. Ugh. I hate guys like that.