Today was Malvin's first day at Arko Industries. Having previously been extremely successful in other companies, he had applied here as deputy general manager and was already invited for first interviews after less than a day. After these were successful, it was up to him to prove himself today. The day went well and the snow leopardess who checked on him all day seemed satisfied with his work.
With the short comment that he should just sign his contract, she left him alone and left the office he was assigned to. It was already dark outside and all his new colleagues had gone home early for some reason when they learned that today was his first day here.

Sheepdog knocked tentatively on the heavy wooden door of his new employer.
"Yes, please?" came a voice from behind the door. Silently, the door swung open as Malvin opened it and entered the room. In contrast to the rest of the ultra-modern building, it looked as if one was traveling back in time. The walls of the office, except for the huge window front, were completely obscured by bookshelves and cabinets, filled with books that looked as if they had been old before civilization itself. Straight ahead in front of the shepherd was a massive desk made of dark wood, littered with paper, drawings and an open book. Behind this desk sat a wolf in a suit. His fur bore the colors of his company, purple, white and black.
Arko rose from his chair and made a welcoming motion.
"At last we meet in person. Please, sit down. I have already prepared the contract. All you have to do is sign it."

Slowly, Malvin walked across the sparsely lit room. With each step he became a little more unsure if he really wanted to be here. A thousand pairs of eyes seemed to follow his every move, but there was no one to be seen but him and the wolf. Although the light barely illuminated the desk, the glowing eyes of his new boss seemed to pierce the darkness.
He swallowed hard as he sat down and picked up a pen. For some reason, he didn't really dare lift his eyes. As if he could see something terrible when he looked at Arko. But the latter didn't seem to notice Malvin's restlessness or anything else strange. "Cigar?" the wolf asked in a warm tone, pointing to the box next to the lamp. Tentatively, Malvin shook his head. He didn't want to stay a moment longer than necessary. But he wanted this job. All the executives in the world wanted this job, and he certainly wouldn't let a queasy feeling stop him from getting it!

He mustered all his courage and set the pen to work. But before he could write the first letter, he felt a cool hand on his shoulder. It belonged to the snow leopardess who had been checking him all the time today. "Are you sure you are ready to do whatever is asked of you here? "
He shuddered and swallowed hard. "Yes... I am. I've earned this post."
The two predators' faces contorted into grins and Malvin had had enough. If this was a test, he would pass this one too. The pen in his paw scratched across the thick paper and he put his name on the marked line under the contract.
Before he had even set the pen aside, he tipped forward slightly and held onto the edge of the table. Dizzy was not at all an expression for how he felt. For the first time, he really looked into the face of his employer. He looked into the yellow eyes and had the feeling of losing himself in them. He could not look away. No. He didn't want to look away. As if the answers to all his questions lay in those eyes.
He reached out his paws to the yellow void, unable to say anything as he slumped further and further. For some reason, the wolf seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. Motionless, Malvin looked at him and also at the gigantic-looking paw that approached him and... lifted him up?

All at once the daze was over and Malvin found himself dangling high in the air between two soft white fingers.
"What the... What have you done!!! This isn't really happening... Did you drug me!!! Let me go! I want to quit! Now! "
"Quitting is out of the question. Didn't you read the contract?" the wolf asked, raising an eyebrow in pity.
"The... yes! Yes, I have read it! Or... is that...?"
He looked down at book he had signed in and couldn't believe his eyes when Arko flipped it shut. He read the two words over and over again but he had to accept it. This wolf was his god now and he would be for the rest of his life. He finally looked up again and saw the disgusting grinning face of his new owner. However, he couldn't look for long because a huge cloud of thick cigar smoke hit him. While he was still coughing and gasping for air, he heard the deep voice of the wolf again.
"Welcome to Arko Industries. We hope for a good cooperation... for you!"
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Thank you for having this pic with me   Malvin
This wonderful artwork was done by the amazing   Gimpis