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“Relax, I won’t come in. I’m just saying you can run in and meet me back outside.”
She nods, liking that idea.
We arrive at her place shortly after, and she runs inside and grabs her coat before we walk to the cafe.
“I’m sorry I’m jumpy, but I feel like I can’t make a decision and that I’m taking a while.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
A frown sits on my face as to why she’s beating herself up. Did she think I was angry at her for some reason?
I run my hand down the back of her coat. “Hey.” Her eyes slowly hold mine. “You take all the time you need. This is a big decision. I will wait for you as long as you need, and if you decide you can’t do it, as much as it pains me, I’ll accept it.” I reluctantly pull my hand away from her back, instantly missing the contact with her.
“Thanks, Marc, I appreciate that. I would love nothing more than to jump right back to how we were in Chicago, but I’d be doing us both an injustice if I’m not 100 percent sure.”
“No, I get that, and I want you to be 100 percent sure. I hope you getting that off your chest will help you will sleep better.”
“Yeah, it will, and exercise is not for me, sorry.” She gives me a cheeky grin, and I chuckle.
“At least you tried it.” My heart thunders in my chest at the fact she tried something I suggested, as well as us getting to spend time together in the quiet early morning.
The next day, I’m standing at the front of the boardroom. I run my gaze over my managers. I want an update on all the projects we have open. The only way to keep the staff performing well is to regularly check up on them and make sure they get rewards for any outstanding work.
You win big jobs the bigger your reward, and if you’re underperforming, I’ll step in and see if I can help provide education or hire someone to work with the employee that’s struggling. But the bottom line is that these meetings need to happen to keep this business as successful as it is. I didn’t miss out on so much of my life for twenty years to have a sinking ship.
I take a quick scan across the room to make sure there is one person from each team, and when I’m happy, we start.
During the meeting, I find out one of the managers is working on a contract which would make the business a nice 110k in profit.
But unfortunately, one of my other managers is struggling on a project. After the meeting ends, I go back to my office and get Cassie to retrieve the file, and when she returns, I go through it with a fine-tooth comb. Once I’m satisfied, I’ve pulled it apart, I call down and get the manager to come up, then spend time working through the file and discussing how to turn it around.
When I’m alone again, I lean back and check my watch.Shit.
Because I spent so much time helping sort out that file, I’m running behind on my own work. I begin replying to emails and working on my back log and before I know it, it’s seven-thirty.
I rub the back of my neck, trying to ease the knot that’s formed there from staying in the same position for too long and pack up for the day. My stomach grumbles, and I’m too tired to cook myself any dinner tonight. Aria isn’t coming over, so it’s just me. I decide to go to the local Japanese place to pick up some sushi that’s around the corner from here.
When I leave, Cassie has turned everything else off, so I don’t have anything to do. She is seriously a lifesaver.
I move to her desk and write her a note for the morning, instructing her to scan and fix a file tomorrow. When I’m finished, I head for the elevator. And I’m interrupted when Mat calls me.
“Hey, Mat.”
“Are you free to go to a gala?” Mat asks.
“When?” I grumble in response and hold the phone to my ear. I don’t enjoy going to them, but for him, I’d make an exception because he doesn’t enjoy them either. However, Romeo and Lorenzo love to dress up and mingle. They know how to schmooze people. Mat and I prefer to talk to the bare minimum and only for work purposes.
“It’s Friday night.”
“I can’t. I have Aria this whole weekend.”
“That’s cool. And how is my niece doing?”
I smile. “Come over and find out.”
“I might stop in. I haven’t been around in a while.”
“No, you haven’t, but you’ve been busy.” I don’t want him to feel guilty when he works so much. Even though I’d love for him to see her more.
“I know, but she’s getting so big. I need to make the most of it.”
