Chapter 13
I don’t know what happened when Ellis when home the night before, but the next morning, he was bright, breezy, and back to being his usual self.
I had to admit I was more than a little relieved and a lot happier to see it.
Selfishly, I needed him to be the same around me that he had always been.
I wanted it that way. Even if it was torturous to not have him the way I wanted.
I convinced myself that I would be happy just having him around, smiling and joking and flirting just like he had been.
The acquisition of the JLC properties was eating up almost all of our day, and the back and forth between their people and ours was getting ridiculous.
“This is never-ending.” He sighed in frustration at the end of the day.
I puffed out my cheeks, exasperated. “I swear, had I known it was going to be this much of a headache, I don’t think I would have bothered my arse.”
Ellis smiled.
“Honestly. I’ve dealt with them before, and yes, they are wankers, and they are difficult, but nothing has ever been like this.
I know the company, and I know these properties.
They didn’t have them for very long. They bought them on a whim in an auction that happened about a year ago.
I saw them myself, but they were in such a state that I was never going to waste money on them by getting them back up to scratch.
They’ve tried to paper over the cracks and do it all on the cheap, and it’s showing on the surveys that have been done. ”
“Are they being cowboys?”
I shook my head. “Not intentionally. They just bit off more than they could chew on these properties. Easy enough done when you keep trying to outdo your partner. Alan bought them, and then Everett hasn’t been interested in fixing them up.
Now, Everett is pushing for them to be sold on.
Alan thinks he’s got to prove a profit can be made, and Everett just doesn’t give a fuck as long as they’re ditched. ”
He nodded. I smiled. I liked his interest in the dealings of the company, but more so I liked that he never hesitated to ask me, and was more than happy to sit listening to me ramble on about the business.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to be more than an assistant in a company like this?” I offered. “We have an entry program. I’m sure I could talk nicely to the boss for you and pull a few strings if you wanted in?”
He shook his head. “I like this work, but I also like the freedom of temping. Gives me time to myself when I need it. It’s been invaluable in the past.” The smile faded from his face and I wondered what it was that made him sad.
I wondered what it was that had taken up his time so completely that temping was a consideration for him.
I glanced over at the clock. “Shit. It’s past six-thirty. You can head on if you like. I think we’ve wrestled with the JLC mess for long enough today. I need a drink, and dinner with my sister.”
“Thanks. I could do with a soak in the bath.” He smiled. I tried not to think of him in the bath and nodded with a stifled smile in reply.
“See you tomorrow, Ellis.”
“Night, Aiden.” He got up and walked out of the conference room. I waited before I moved. I texted my sister and got up to leave myself.
Don’t hate me, but I need a rain check. I’ve been dealing with Alan and Everett’s shit in work, and I am fucked.
It wasn’t long before my phone pinged in reply.
As long as you promise to update me on operation getting to know Ellis.
I winced. I hadn’t told her what had happened. I didn’t know where to start. I had been such an idiot.