[Jason hopefully wouldn't notice the way Edward's hold on him tightened at the mention of a wipeout - multiples, in fact. Maybe he would splurge on something after all. Even if he only rode with Jason a few more times till the younger man tired of the act, it would be worth it not to be plagued by visions of road rash. He could always give it to Jason when it was no longer needed to pass along to whatever friend the helmet was for.

Still holding tight as they left the garage, he huffed at the question.]

Hardly. He's gotten worse since then, but he disliked me from the moment I was hired over a barely-competent friend of his. [He shrugged.] He might have gotten over that if I hadn't immediately pointed out the idiocy of certain ideas he was pushing in front of most of upper management.

[With exactly that degree of tact.] Add in the fact I'm not willing to compromise the quality of my work to allow him to boast about reduced spending on the project, and he's taken to exerting petty authority wherever possible.

[Getting to vent his frustration served as a good distraction from any concerns over a potential fall at least, and Edward's grip around Jason had settled down into merely snug as he talked.] Once he's gone, I'll only have to deal with the idiots who want to pester me about socialising and 'team-building' at those things.

[His tone made it clear how distasteful that prospect still was.]