Chapter 2
Early rising was his habit. Generally, he liked to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee in his hand.
While he didn't get the jolt that humans got from coffee, he liked the aroma and the taste.
Carlos would wait an hour before he gave Cally her wake-up call.
Cook would begin breakfast soon, and it would sit on the table in warmers until she joined him.
His mate had predicted an even busier day today, and if that was so, he would be hiring another office person.
Most of those who had submitted applications were female, but several were male, and one seemed almost overqualified.
It made him suspicious, but the male had checked out, so he was considering hiring him.
He'd applied for any position, which was also unusual.
The field personnel had already been hired and were experienced.
Tyne had sent them to train others. Carlos suspected he'd have to make a call for extra help by noon.
It wasn't something he minded because the call would only be made if business was good.
Yesterday, business was very good and very difficult to keep up with.
Maybe he should just make the call as soon as they get to the office.
The field teams would begin going out, and then the office personnel would have to keep up with them, too. Yes, that was what he would do.
One of the kitchen staff wheeled the meal out.
The cart was loaded with the two meals, silverware, glasses, OJ, and a carafe of coffee.
Her cap was already sitting across from him, where it had been when his coffee was brought to him.
His household ran like clockwork, and he looked forward to a time when his new business would run the same way.
It was time, and he gave Cally her wake-up call.
He really couldn't understand why she wouldn't move forward in the relationship.
If she did, he could give her that wakeup call in person.
Carlos could imagine how wonderful it would be if they were together.
His mate seemed to be looking for something that would help her decide to commit.
With no idea what it was, he could do nothing to move them forward.
He would watch and try to figure out what it was she was looking for.
It was amazing to him that her wolf wasn't pushing her to seal the deal.
Maybe it was because her wolf was young and didn't yet understand how important it was to find and mate with the who they were fated to be with.
It was time, and he gave her the wake-up call that he was sure she had gotten used to.
Carlos loved talking to her, even on the phone.
There was a connection deep in his soul that he could not deny and didn't understand why she could.
He knew his reputation hadn't helped endear him to her, but that was all in the past. That was where a lot of her doubts lay, and he knew no way to convince her that he wasn't that guy anymore.
Time was the only thing that would work, but he was impatient to claim his mate.
Every day had been busier than the previous day, and he had even hired an extra office worker who would start today.
He was considering hiring someone else to handle the online inquiries and sign-ups.
Those he'd not expected in the large number that he'd been getting.
Carlos had expected to eventually increase the area he covered, but right now, he was getting plenty just from the area he was in.
It was true that time had told him that there was little competition and people were hungry for security, but he'd not believed that the need had been this great.
The great deal they had offered for new signups had also encouraged many people who had never had security before to grab it.
He didn't know what he would have done had Cally not been here to assist. She seemed to be amazing at everything she did, and she was a hard worker who didn't complain.
Easy to get along with, she took everything in stride.
What a perfect mate she would be if he could only convince her that the two of them were made to be together forever.
That would happen no matter how hard he had to work at it.
The day was finally done, and the first work week was over.
No, today was not Friday. It was Saturday because the work week at the office was six days, not five.
Eventually, Saturday would be a half day, but right now they worked all day.
He planned to hire another office worker to fill in on the extra day, for vacations, and for emergency time off.
Carlos had a feeling that the worker would get a full week just like everyone else.
The new hire was doing a good job and had experience in office work.
She jumped right in and did a decent job, given that her experience was in a school job, not a commercial position.
He'd found out her job had paid a pittance, and it was no wonder she looked for a different one.
The young girl was married with two kids, and they barely scraped by.
She admitted that overtime would be a blessing.
That was a good thing because it looked like they would be getting a lot of overtime.
His heartbeat sped up the moment she stepped into the room.
Her wolf could sense it, but she never said anything, and she seemed equally excited to see him.
They kissed, and he held her, but nothing more.
It was true that only a few days had passed, but it seemed like forever when he was waiting to make his claim.
Breakfast was a nice time as usual, as they sat first eating, then sipping their coffee and juice.
They chatted like two old friends until it was time for them to leave.
Cally seemed to think they would have even more business today.
Business had been booming, and he wondered if that was even possible.
She said at some point, things would level off.
Carlos liked the thought of success, but keeping this level of business was a little overwhelming.
The new secretary had started and was doing well, but now he was considering the third hire, and he had let his pack know he was looking.
Jobs in his business had to be filled with people who were either paranormal or at least familiar with them.
The business could provide many in its pack with secure, well-paying jobs.
It was the job of a pack alpha. He gave his pack security, so they did not have to worry about their future.
The problem he had right now was that business was coming in faster than he expected, and many in his pack had no training for the kind of jobs he needed a well-trained person for.
A third secretary could be added, even if they needed some training, whatever the case might be.
He hoped to find someone in his own pack who could do this.
Carlos also suspected that a fourth one might have to be added to handle the online work.
One problem was that he was unsure whether the business would be strong enough to keep four secretaries working indefinitely.
“What are you worrying about?” Cally asked the moment she walked into the room.
“I want to put my people into the jobs that are coming up, but I'm not sure any of them are trained for it. I also worry that if I hire four secretaries for the overwhelming amount that is hitting right now, I will not be able to keep all positions available later.”
“Normally, I would say worry about that later because other things often come up.
I suspect you are intending to add more businesses once this one is running properly.
I also noticed that you do not have a PA, and you might want to add one.
That would be a good place to move your best secretary once the demand dies down a little bit.
I don't think the demand will be dying down anytime soon, and I also think you'll need a manager at some point.
You're spending a lot of time worrying about things that may never happen. Worry about what is happening now, and if that changes, that can be dealt with later.”
He knew she was right, but that didn't make it any easier for him to stop worrying about the things he had been considering.
The thought of a personal assistant would ease some of his work, and having a manager would be necessary when, not if, he added a few more businesses so that he could see to his people.
Carlos was surprised that he hadn't considered either possibility earlier, and that it would take care of two secretaries if they were no longer needed for daily work at his security business, and that they would also be available if something happened and they weren't needed there.
That showed him that Cally knew how to use her business degree.
She was perfect for him if she only realized it.
They headed to work, and the moment the clock hit eight, which was when they opened, the swarm hit both on the telephone and on the new website they had opened.
Maybe opening week wasn't the best time to offer a special deal to new customers.
It was overwhelming, but they managed to get through it.
At lunchtime, he got a call from his housekeeper, who asked if he would consider hiring her granddaughter, who had just graduated from a two-year college.
He suggested sending her to the office, where he would make the decision.