My Shifter Boss

Voting had begun at eight that morning. Weres were lined up outside to cast their votes for the new Head. Several called out to Nathan as they walked towards the voting area. He waved and slowed his pace though he didn’t stop. Security had been put on high alert to avoid any shenanigans caused by Marissa or her band of weres. Nathan and Lucy looked at each were as they passed, wondering if that man was on Marissa’s side, or if that woman had been at headquarters when she’d killed the Head.

They continued to the voting booths to cast their votes. Nathan had already decided to vote for Maryann and knew that Lucy would also vote for her mother. He squeezed her hand as she stepped into the voting booth. He voted as well, then they hopped on the elevator and rode it down to the offices.

The council members were in attendance. As soon as voting closed for the day, they were responsible for counting the votes as a group. Only the council members were allowed in the room during this process, and an announcement would be made as soon as they finished.

Lucy’s first task as media liaison was to write a statement announcing the new Head. She had several questions about what exactly to write: a news report for a news anchor? A newspaper? She wasn’t sure exactly how this worked yet.

“Don’t worry about all that just yet,” Nathan reassured her. “Once the Head is elected, he or she will tell you where to send the statement. I’m thinking, now that we’re public, so to speak, the statement will go to the news stations as well as newspapers.”

“I think it should. I mean, the mayor wants this integration to go through. The best way to begin is to give people information,” Lucy commented.

“I agree, but that will be up to the new Head,” Nathan said. “But I have a feeling the new Head will agree with us wholeheartedly.”

Lucy glanced at him, but his face was passive as he greeted the council members who waited in the conference room. Refreshments had been laid out for them since they would be there for most of the day. Nathan formally introduced Lucy to the council members as the new media liaison, and they were happy to meet her. They knew her as Maryann’s daughter, but no one commented on that.

Nathan turned to her after the chitchat had subsided. “Would you like to see your office?”

“I get an office?”

“Of course,” he laughed. “You’ll need one. Media liaison is a full time position, especially when the integration measures are put into place.”

*****

At precisely 5:00, the voting booths were closed. Anyone who hadn’t voted by that point wasn’t going to have the opportunity. No protesters, no violence, no shenanigans of any kind had taken place throughout the day to prevent voting. As far as anyone at headquarters knew, Marissa nor any of her associates had come to cast a vote for the new Head. However, they couldn’t be sure of that; no one knew exactly who made up Marissa’s ranks of rebels.

At 5:15, the council members began counting votes behind the closed, locked door of the conference room. The three candidates and their families and friends waited in the comfortable lobby for results. Everyone chatted amicably; no one harbored negative feelings. Whichever of the three won, it seemed like the other two would be fine with the results.

Lucy and Sarah sat with Maryann, idly chatting. Lucy asked her mother, “So you didn’t tell Dad about this at all?”

“Nope.” Maryann giggled like a teenager. “I wanted it to be a surprise. He thinks I’ve stayed this long because you and I are having so much fun.”

Lucy rolled her eyes at her mother. “Mom, are you sure he’s going to be happy about this? If you win, you’ll have to move back here. Is he willing to do that?”

 “Let me tell you a little secret,” Maryann said, leaning forward and whispering so only Lucy and Sarah could hear her. “I’ve always wanted to come back to be a member of the Guard. I was bitter at first about the banishment, but I understand now. Your father knows I miss being here, and I honestly believe he’ll be more than happy to come here with me.” Maryann hesitated, a smile playing on her lips. “Besides, if I win and he hates the idea, you and Nathan will be with me to convince him otherwise. If I don’t win, you’ll be there with me to console me.”