2. You’re A Mean One
YOU’RE A MEAN ONE
K ayn
“No, I’m not interested in creating franchises under the Scenic Vista brand, Sheridan.
The result of that is people putting their spin on things.
Look at half the fast food places you eat at.
They started as top companies, providing excellent service and quality food expediently.
Now, the majority of them have become franchises, offering subpar service, crap they want to pass off as food, and the health inspectors will let them pass for a little greasing of the palms. Nah, I’m not trying to turn my business into that. I’ve worked too hard.”
“Emmanuel, your business is growing and quickly. You can’t possibly oversee everything,” Sheridan Parsley, my operations director, stated.
“Which is why we continue to hire excellent staff.”
“Speaking of which, you’ve gone through how many assistants in the last year?”
“That’s beside the point. I’ve got a half-decent one now.”
“Half-decent? You can’t even give the woman credit for turning your life around in the three days that she’s been working for you,” Adam Richardson, our marketing director, complained.
“She’s not been working long enough for me to give her credit for anything,” I muttered before I unscrewed the cap from the water bottle and took a swig.
“Either way, we need to figure out a way to get a hold on the growth and make sure that we’re managing it in a way that won’t undermine the mission, the strategic plan, or your brand.
You’re not a Fortune 500 company yet, but you’re damn sure on your way.
So we need to get a wrap on this thing and ensure we do everything possible to make that happen,” Adam replied.
“That’s what you gentlemen are for. Come up with something else. Franchising ain’t it.” I grumbled and stood from my chair in the conference room, signaling to everyone that the meeting was over.
I moved to the door, and Paige Knight, our chief human resources officer, quickly caught up with me. She had been quiet throughout most of our meeting.
“Emmanuel, may I speak with you for a minute?”
“Thirty seconds.”
“I need you to promise me that you’ll honestly give Miss Jolly a shot. She’s really good, she’s dedicated, and?—”
“All she has to do is prove herself, Paige.”
“Sir, if you don’t mind me speaking bluntly, several assistants have proved themselves. But you show them the door within a few weeks.”
“They should’ve done their job.” I jerked the door open. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have another meeting.”
I didn’t really look forward to the next meeting with my board, but it was necessary.
It was a virtual meeting, which was scheduled to start in fifteen minutes.
I made my way down the hallway back to my office, and my stomach rumbled.
It was a quarter after two, and I still had not had anything to eat all day other than the toast, boiled eggs, and coffee that I had before leaving the house at five this morning.
There was no time to slow down and eat. I planned to grab something on my way home from the office tonight.
I frowned when I arrived at my office door and did not see Miss Jolly at her desk.
I hoped that she wasn’t screwing up already.
I knew that she had left for lunch around one, so she should have been back by now.
A nagging pain started at my temples. The thought of having to get rid of her and find someone else was already starting a headache in my temples.
I didn’t tell anyone else, but so far, the woman was good at what she did.
She was just too damn happy all the time was all.
That shit could start getting on a man’s nerves after a while.
She smiled about everything, even when problems arose.
But on the other hand, she also tackled the problems and resolved them in no time like nobody’s business. All the snafus my last assistant had made with my itinerary, Miss Jolly had straightened them out and made room for me to breathe somehow.
My phone buzzed for the fifth time as I stepped inside my office. I glanced at it and saw that it was my uncle calling again. I didn’t want to be bothered, and I had no plans to answer his calls. I wished he would just stop calling altogether.
I sat down, dropped the phone on top of my desk, and rested my elbows on it. As I massaged my temples, the phone buzzed again, but this time, it alerted me that I had an incoming text message.
I picked it up and checked out the series of messages from my uncle. They pinged and arrived back to back.
UNCLE JR: It’s the holidays, Son. Your Aunt Frances and I were wondering if you would come home for a visit.
UNCLE JR: There’s no reason to be alone during the holidays when you have a family. We miss you, Son.
UNCLE JR: I know that you’re busy, but can you make time to see us at least two days out of the year?
I sighed loudly and slid my phone over on its face. A knock sounded at my door, and I dragged my hands down my face.
“Come in,” I grumbled. There was always something else, but I brought this on myself by starting my own company.
The door flung open, and my jolly assistant, Miss Kandi Jolly, stepped inside with a bright, beautiful smile and a small plate in one hand and a coffee mug in the other.
“What can I do for you, Miss Jolly?”
She was really in the Christmas mood, and as much as I hated the holiday season, I couldn’t dampen that smile on her beautiful face.
I’d been attracted to her since the first time I saw her months ago.
She was fine and beautiful, and she had the sultriest voice and the sexiest walk.
Anytime she spoke to me, I often had to tell my dick, “Down, boy.”
“I noticed that you’ve been in back-to-back meetings all morning, and I’m certain that you didn’t have time to eat.”
She lifted the platter a little and extended the coffee cup toward me as she made her way to my desk. The sound of jingle bells echoed through my office from the bells she wore on a necklace around her neck. A little Santa hat bobbed up and down on her head as she walked.
The ugly green, red, and silver Christmas sweater she wore needed to be burned. It hid the delicious outlines of her big, beautiful breasts. It was nothing like the formfitting red skirt that clung to her hips, thighs, and voluptuous ass.
“What’s this?”
“I brought you tuna on a blueberry bagel because I noticed that you love them. And I also have your chicory coffee.”
I tilted my head sideways because I didn’t realize she had paid so much attention to my likes and dislikes.
“Thank you.” I accepted the coffee and sandwich from her.
“You need to take more time out to eat.”
I glared at her, and she smiled brightly at me and turned to leave. I watched as she walked to the door. Her ass cheeks moved individually up and down, teasing the hell out of me.
“Miss Jolly?”
“Yes, Mr. Kayn?”
“I’ll need you to accompany me on a business trip.”
She turned around, wearing that same gorgeous smile. “Sure. Which trip?”
I could see her mentally going over my calendar.
“The one next week to Atlanta and then New York.”
Her smile dropped briefly but quickly returned. It was a forced smile, not genuine.
“The week before Christmas?”
Her voice sounded panicked, but I nodded. “Yes. Your presence is mandatory.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Kayn.”
She walked out of my office, and though I hadn’t meant to burst her bubble, I knew that I had.
I couldn’t imagine doing this trip without her though.
There was so much that I would need for her to help me with.
It would be easier if she could be in the car with me as I traveled, writing memos and amending contracts after one meeting ended and another began.
Then there were the reservations and errands, shit I wouldn’t have time to do.
In the past, I had taken assistants with me on business trips, but they had been more of a hindrance than a help.
Somehow, I doubted that would be the case with Miss Jolly.
The only problem I would have would be how to keep my thoughts, hands, and dick to myself.
Because damn, though she was a little too happy for my liking, she definitely got underneath a man’s skin.
I bit into my sandwich and realized that this wasn’t from the deli downstairs.
A small smile tilted my lips as I realized she had made this herself.
I tried to push her out of my thoughts and turn my focus to my next meeting, but it would be hard, much like my dick.