23. Back to the Grind
Back to the Grind
Victoria
I loudly huffed for the umpteenth time, trying to grab Knox’s attention, but he was lost in his own world.
While in California, he’d gotten his hands on a new cell phone, tablet, and laptop and had been making business calls after business calls and answering emails left and right.
He’d reverted to Knox Ramsey—the workaholic—as soon as electrical currents penetrated his brainwaves via his ears and fingertips.
I repeatedly tapped my foot against his knee, attempting to distract him from his call.
“Mhm…yes, that sounds doable. Mhm.” He grabbed my stockinged foot and massaged it, shooting me an apologetic smile. “Okay, yes. Randy, something came up, and I have to go. Very well. My calendar is open—send me an invite.”
He disconnected the call. “You’re scowling. Why are you scowling?”
“I’m not scowling. I’m pouting,” I corrected.
“Self-awareness is a beautiful thing, darling.”
“You’re working,” I accused.
“Don’t be unreasonable, Victoria. I’m trying to get our lives back on track.”
I pulled my foot out of his lap and stared at the unique cane he had acquired from an antique shop in California. It was hand-carved with intricate designs and was fitted with a brass snake handle. Knox appreciated the irony and said it was only fitting that he got it.
“And I can appreciate that, Knox, but right now, I need you.”
He swiveled his head to the bedroom at the back of the jet, and I rolled my eyes.
That’s my bad. I should’ve been more specific.
“No strenuous activities,” I reminded him.
“There’s nothing strenuous about using my tongue.”
“As wonderful as that sounds, I need you in a different way.”
“How can I be of service?” he asked. I could tell he was trying to keep the concern out of his voice, but he couldn’t hide it on his face.
“I’m scared shitless right now, and I don’t know how you’re not. I never thought I’d be on a plane again.”
“You’re nervous about flying, of course. I’m nervous, too.”
“You don’t seem like it. You’re business as usual.”
“Honestly, I was using business as a distraction. I don’t want to be on this metal bird as much as you. The only thing that’s keeping me from shitting a brick is knowing you’re near. Actually, you’re too far away. Come sit with me.”
I smiled wryly. “You’re clingy.”
“Says the woman who climbed into the hospital bed with me and wouldn’t leave my side.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. The bed was comfy,” I replied, sitting beside him.
“Oh,” he chuckled. “That’s what it was. How silly of me.”
“Mhm,” I answered, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“If I haven’t said it enough today, I’ll say it again. I love your hair.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, running my fingers through the short curls. “It’ll take some getting used to, but I’m enjoying the low maintenance.” I smoothed the back of my hand across his cheek. “I’m glad you got rid of that beard.”
“Really? I kind of miss it,” he said, scrubbing his jawline. “I was thinking about growing it out again.”
“Don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because then I couldn’t do this.”
I kissed along his smooth jawline until his lips met mine. He deepened the kiss briefly, blessing me with a few flicks of his tongue before pulling away.
“A beard was a terrible idea. What was I thinking?”
“You weren’t. How are things on the business front?”
He tutted under his breath. “I go on a three-month vacation and Blakenship slid in and ran the company as if I never left.”
“Vacation?” I said, giggling at his optimism.
“It was paradise. I’m already considering going back. I miss my caftan already.”
“ My caftan,” I reminded him.
“In my absence, the company’s stock dipped slightly but is expected to bounce back. Global Solutions pulled out.”
“Screw them. They were predatory at best.”
“Amen to that,” Knox agreed. “A few staff members had resigned. According to their exit surveys, they felt a little squirrelly about the management change, but who could blame them?”
I rubbed his chest, trying to soothe him. I didn’t want him to work himself back up. “Why don’t you retire?”
“Retire?” he asked incredulously. “It’s too soon.”
“It isn’t.”
“I have at least another decade in me.”
“You don’t need to work another decade.”
He closed his eyes and massaged his lids with his thumb and forefinger before sighing. “Here is how it will go if I retire soon. Are you listening?”
“I am.”
“I will annoy the absolute fuck out of you because I’ll want to spend every waking moment with you and monopolize your time. I’ll find new hobbies like ghost-hunting or something similar and try to rope you into joining me.”
Ghost-hunting? Who does this man think I am? A Ghostbuster? Fuck that shit. My black ass doesn’t mess with ghosts.
“Cue the part where you tell me you’re not a Ghostbuster.”
He gets stranded on an island with me for a few months and thinks he knows me.
“I—see—you’re doing too much. The thought never even crossed my mind.”
“Right,” he remarked, failing to hide the smirk in his tone. “Whatever the case, retiring now is not an option, but you’re free to enjoy your early retirement.”
“I’m not retiring. I have to be there to keep you in line.”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Tori.”
“I beg to differ. Plus, you’re not replacing me with some slutty assistant.”
“Why would I do that when I have one at home already?” he drawled, tapping away on his phone again.
“Call me Bernadine.”
“Bernadine? Who’s that?” he asked curiously.
“You haven’t seen Waiting to Exhale ?”
“No, I can’t say that I have.”
“You’re so uncultured,” I mumbled, wondering if I had the DVD lying around somewhere. “But can we be serious?”
“Being serious.”
“I don’t want you to turn into a workaholic again, where we’re working into the night. We deserve a healthy work-life balance—arrive at 7:00, leave at 4:00.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed my engagement ring. It was stunning, and I grew breathless every time the sun caught the magnificent oval diamond.
“I’m all for a healthy work-life balance; however, I can’t make you any promises, at least not for the first couple of months while I try to get everything up and running again. I’m afraid the long nights are unavoidable.”
“Is there any room for compromise?”
“We can leave early after lunch on Fridays.”
I nodded as I considered his proposal. “Okay. I can get down with that,” I agreed, smiling softly.
See? We can work together without cussing each other out.
“When are you returning to work?”
My slight smile quickly turned upside down when Knox checked his watch.
“Well…let’s see. Our plane lands in two hours. We should finish the day at the office. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like you’ll be upgraded from the stapler to a keyboard.”
“I think it’s a fantastic idea for us to return to the office today,” Knox replied without skipping a beat. “I’m sure there is an HR module regarding workplace violence you need to catch up on.”
“And you’re gonna be the star of the show.”
“Victoria Lereaux,” he muttered under his breath.
“I’m not going to the office. I need to see my mother. Which facility did you say she was transferred to again?”
“Only the best facility in Staten Island,” he boasted before taking what I assumed was another work call.
Annoyed, I twisted my engagement ring around my finger as I stared out of the jet window.
I wasn’t an idiot. I knew Knox had a business to run, but was it selfish for me to want the man to myself for a few more weeks?
I wasn’t even sure I wanted my position back, but the thought of Knox finding another assistant was bothersome.
At work, we ran like a well-oiled toxic machine, and we fit together like that stubborn puzzle piece you had to bang into the puzzle with your fist to make it fit.
It wasn’t easy to imagine someone filling into my role and establishing the same rhythm we had.
No onboarding packet or training manual could teach that because Knox and I ran on chemistry, trust, and respect that couldn’t be replicated.
Knox didn’t need someone efficient. He needed someone who could survive him.
And I had.