Chapter Twenty-Five
Twenty-Five
Shyriq had every intention of having a good week, and it was going good .
. . well, until Cara called his office phone.
He leaned back in his office chair, rubbing his temples as he listened to her on the other end of the phone.
It was late in the day, and he was swamped with deadlines for the upcoming holiday season.
The last thing he needed was more stress.
“I hate to drop this on you at the last minute, Shy,” Cara said with a tone filled with genuine concern.
“What is it?” he asked.
“So, you know Natalia had a health scare earlier this month?”
He nodded, though she couldn’t see him. “Yeah. What’s going on?”
Nhuri hadn’t told him anything, so he hoped everything was all good.
“Natalia called me earlier. Per doctor’s orders, she has to take a leave of absence,” Cara said.
Shyriq sat up, gripping the armrest of his chair. “Today? Is everything all right?”
He was about to head down the hall and check on Nhuri or see why she hadn’t approached him.
“She’s managing,” Cara assured him, though the worry in her voice was evident. “But you know how lupus is. Her flare-ups are getting worse, and she said she needs to focus on her health and Raniya.”
Shyriq exhaled sharply. He couldn’t even be mad. Natalia had been a rock in his business for years, pulling her weight and then some. She deserved the time to rest, but damn, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
“We’re about to enter the busiest season, Cara,” he muttered, staring at the half-empty glass of whiskey on his desk. “I can’t afford to lose her right now.”
“I know,” she said sympathetically. “That’s why I’m calling with a solution.”
Shyriq’s jaws tensed. He didn’t like surprises, and something about Cara’s tone told him she was about to hit him with one. “I’m listening.”
“Nhuri.”
He smiled at the mention of her name. Waking up to her this morning in his bed was how he wanted to wake up for as long as she’d let him.
“What about her?”
Cara sighed as if she knew she’d have to sell him on the idea.
“Natalia told me before that when she was too sick to handle things, Nhuri would step in and take care of everything. Reports, strategies, presentations. I’ve seen work come across my desk with Natalia’s name on it, but I know Nhuri did it. ”
Shyriq frowned. He wanted to act surprised by that revelation, but he wasn’t. Nhuri was intelligent and had made his workload a hell of a lot easier since she came on board. The way she’d been taking over meetings and getting this new campaign together was brilliant.
“Natalia never mentioned that, but I believe it.”
“She wouldn’t,” Cara said knowingly. “Nhuri probably wouldn’t have minded, but that’s their thing. She does some of the work behind the scenes when Natalia can’t, so she’s already invested. Then you made her your assistant, so . . .”
Shyriq chuckled. “So, what, Cara? Just promote her?”
“Like you don’t already want to?”
He smirked. What he wanted to do was move her to a different department so he wouldn’t be tempted to kiss, touch, and slide his dick in her all day.
Shyriq would call or stop by her office just to see what she was doing, somehow constantly interrupting her workflow.
It was cute. After their night together, things between them had become crystal clear.
They were dating and would only be seeing each other.
“I’m not saying that. I can see her moving into that position, but I don’t want to just spring this on her.”
Shyriq was being considerate, considering all the changes she had undergone over the months.
He didn’t doubt her capability at all and had all the faith in her, but first, he needed to see where her head was at.
He didn’t have a staff of messy employees, but he noticed the stares he and Nhuri got whenever a hug between them lingered too long or he was caught staring at her during a meeting.
As private as she wanted to keep them at work, Shyriq didn’t care who knew about them.
He was the boss, but he respected her.
Moving from an assistant position to the executive research marketing manager in less than three months would surely have folks questioning her skills and whether she was qualified .
. . or if she received the promotion because she was fucking the boss.
But that was the thing; Shyriq didn’t care what any of them thought.
Yes, she was fucking the boss and laying it on him quite nicely, but that had nothing to do with what Nhuri brought to the table workwise.
“You don’t have to. Just see what she says and get back to me. I’m sure you’ll hear from Natalia, but if you don’t, you’re hearing it from me. Which is just a courtesy call because you aren’t her boss,” Cara said, laughing.
“Right,” Shyriq chuckled. “Just her sister’s.”
“Speaking of Nhuri . . .”
“Nope. We’re not going there. We’re good, and that’s all you need to know.”
Cara laughed into the receiver. “Well, I’m glad. I love her, and it’s good to see you not being so damn . . . I don’t know. Stuck in your ways.”
Shyriq shook his head. “Thanks, Cara. Nice of you to approve and tell me about myself. I’ll let you know what I decide once we talk.”
She chuckled. “No problem, and okay. Talk to you later,” she said before hanging up.
Shyriq wasn’t expecting an email from Natalia so soon, but like her sister, she was professional and handled business respectfully.
She attached the letter from her doctor and let him know she and Cara would discuss her return dates.
It was straight to the point, with no mention of Nhuri.
Natalia wasn’t asking for time off; she was taking it regardless of whether they approved it.
Shyriq couldn’t do anything but respect it, and now, he had to see how Nhuri felt about everything.
He reached for the phone, dialing her office number. A few seconds later, Nhuri’s voice filled the line, sounding smooth and professional as if she didn’t know it was him.
“This is Nhuri Coleman. How can I help you?”
Shyriq couldn’t help but grin at her tone, knowing she was probably neck-deep in work, just like him. “You’re a busy woman, huh?” he teased, leaning back and making himself comfortable.
Nhuri let out a soft sigh, and the sound of papers rustled in the background. “You could say that. How can I help you, sir?”
His smile grew as he lowered his voice. “Just checking in. Did you enjoy your late lunch?”
It was well past four o’clock, and neither had stepped foot outside of their office since midmorning. So, Shyriq ordered her favorite from The Spot and had it delivered.
“I did, thank you. What are you over there doing?” she asked.
“Thinking about you and the way you felt this morning.”
Nhuri’s face heated, and she squeezed her thighs together tightly. “Shy, stop,” she whined, only making him want to press her buttons again.
“Why? You asked me what I was doing, and I told you.”
“But we’re on company time and company phones.”
“It’s a good thing I own the company then, huh?”
Chuckling, Nhuri shook her head. “You’re too much. But seriously, what do you need? You know, when you call, I get distracted.”
“You’re right. I do need something. Can you come to my office when you get a chance? It’ll only take a minute.”
There was a slight pause at the other end of the line. He could almost hear her considering his request, trying to figure out his true motives.
“And it can’t be discussed over the phone?” she asked curiously.
Shyriq chuckled. “No, baby. It can’t. Just come here real quick.”
“Fine,” she said and sighed. “I’ll be there in a second.”
He grinned. “Thank you.”
Before she could respond, he hung up, setting the phone down with a soft click.
He leaned back in his chair again, staring out the window, trying to calm the flurry of anticipation building inside him.
Shyriq had never been the one to get nervous when it came to anything business related, but this wasn’t just business.
It was personal, and he had to handle the situation with care.
Nhuri knocked on his door three minutes later and entered. “You requested my presence?” she asked, grinning.
Shyriq stood from his chair, rounded his desk, and embraced her. Feeling safe in his arms, Nhuri exhaled and let him hold her. She’d been swamped with work, and it felt good just to unwind, even if for only a few seconds.
“You good?” he asked, holding her at arm’s length.
Shyriq examined her as if he hadn’t seen her in days when it’d only been a few hours. Nhuri loved it. Today, she wore a black blouse tucked into a pencil skirt, her hair falling in perfect waves that framed her face. Shyriq couldn’t help but peck her lips.
“Yes, I’m good. Are you?” she asked.
Shyriq nodded and sat on the edge of his desk. He pulled her into his spread legs, holding her around the waist.
“How are your sister and niece?”
Nhuri’s brow dipped. “They’re fine. Why’d you ask that?”
“I was just wondering.”
“Oh. Okay,” she mumbled, her mind trying to piece together what he might possibly say next.
Like always, Shyriq was unpredictable.
“Where can you see yourself with this company in a few years?” he asked.
“Um,” Nhuri chuckled. “I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t mind being more hands-on with the branding aspect. I loved working with Tyreek—”
“I bet,” he groaned, cutting her off.
Nhuri slapped his arm and giggled. “Don’t be that way. Had you claimed me early on and made me your woman, he wouldn’t have had the chance to flirt with me.”
Shyriq squeezed her ass cheek. “You’re right. Continue.”
“So, yeah. I loved working with him and everyone involved in the tasting. Why? Where can you see me at in a few years?”
“Exactly where you want to be. Honestly, I see it much sooner.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really? You’re getting a new assistant?”
“Possibly. That’s why I called you in here,” he said and sighed. “I want to offer you the executive research marketing position.”
“My sister’s position?” Nhuri asked.