I don’t get the feeling that he will be of much importance to our main story. I think he’s a one episode device to give us some insight to what Emma’s been up to over the last year in NYC. love interest, boss, coworker, whatever, I doubt we’ll see him again unless Emma returns to NYC in another season.
I think we’re overthinking this guy. He’s only been in one episode. And so far his only connection to Emma, or possibly Neal, is NYC.