Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
KAI
Those green eyes bore into me as I turn around, the sun making them more gold, but still beautiful, nonetheless.
His hair is still kept longer, just as black as I remember.
He’s lean—not in a straggly type of way, but more muscular.
Honestly, not much has changed except instead of him wearing a crop top and jeans, he’s wearing a suit and sitting in my office.
Yes, I’m now considering this office space my own.
The prognosis for my dad isn’t looking good after the stroke; even if he makes it out of this alive, I don’t see him coming back to work.
He’s currently into a medically-induced coma, but I’m just being realistic.
As much as I hate to admit it, he’d also want me to step up and look to the future of the company.
This just so happens to be the best way that I can see to do that.
It’s also a not-so-healthy distraction from the entire ordeal that I’ll happily take.
Jax is leaning forward slightly, hands resting on his legs, worrying that lip like he always has, but his eyes stay glued on me.
It’s as if he’s seen a ghost, clearly shocked to see me.
Did he not do any research about this company or who he was applying to work for?
Dad has always had a picture of everyone on the front of the website talking about how it’s family run.
This shouldn’t be that much of a surprise.
I cross the distance to my desk, his eyes following me as if I’m about to jump over the wood that separates us and bite him, but his attention feels good, even if it’s just for work.
He was always the one who got away.
Dad knew things were becoming too much, which is why he hired Jax.
I didn’t even know Jax was Jax when he told me about it.
I was just happy he was getting some help.
He’d always been too hard-headed to get it; the old man didn’t want to listen.
And as soon as he did? Well, he didn’t even get the chance to use it.
When I was offered the interim position, there was no way in fuck I was not going to keep the PA.
The hard work of finding someone was already done, and I knew for sure I was going to want the extra hand.
Taking over a company while learning a new position, keeping aspects of my old one and everything with the family means that I am well out of my league.
Clearly, unlike my assistant, I do the research about who I’m working with, so I’ve been playing out how this interaction could go for the last two weeks.
“Jax, right? I’m Kai.”
I take in his reaction, his head cocking to the side like I just sprouted a new one. His ass shuffles back into his seat, his elbows find purchase on his knees, and he rests his chin in his hands.
“This is how we’re gonna play it, huh?”
This brat. I can’t help the bark of a laugh that escapes me before I try to smooth my features by wiping a hand down my face.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Okay, sir. Quit the crap.”
“Well, I just figured you wanted to be professional. And there’s no need to call me sir.” God, what him calling me sir does to me, though.
“Okay then, Mr. Williams.”
Does he know what he’s doing to me?
I have to hold in a groan and turn my chair around to look back out at the city to help myself in check.
By the time I turn back around, Jax is showcasing a smirk. Of course he is.
“Kai will be just fine, and if you wish to get straight to the point, we can. Obviously, you’re here to be my assistant, so your tasks will vary day to day.
You’ll need to make sure your passport is up to date, and you will be given a work phone with numbers pre-installed for you.
That is your life-line; you’re not to go anywhere without it.
If I need you, you better be ready. With that being said, I will only contact you during non-typical work hours if it truly is an emergency.
I don’t expect that to be often, but it may happen. Do you have any questions?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Okay, then we’re done for the day. Our first trip is to Brazil in two weeks. I guess we should have asked beforehand, but is your passport ready to go? Or do we need to go ahead and hope for the best with a last minute thing?”
He bites at his lower lip again before finally answering. “No, it’s good to go. I just got back from two weeks in Asia. So, we’re traveling in this position? That wasn’t discussed beforehand."
“Yes, well, I’m not my father. He was much more stationary. I’ll be doing some things differently and that’s one of the requirements. Is that a problem?”
“No, not a problem. Just wondering.”
“Good. So, Asia? Are you big into traveling?”
“That was my first big trip, actually. But yeah, I think it’s going to be something I really enjoy.”
“Good to hear. I really do enjoy it myself, so I try to get out and about whenever I can. So, why this job?”
“Yeah, well, I needed something new, something unlike anything I’m used to, and this was the definition of that.”
“And what were you doing before?” I really should just be sending him on his way, but he’s an open book right now, and I want to know it all. As much as he’ll give me, at least; I’m sure this will have to be baby steps, but it’s definitely a start.
“Uh,” he chuckles, “well, I was using my engineering degree. I was a project engineer, to be specific.”
“Wow.” I sit back in my chair, steepling my hands. “Is that what you were going for at SSU?”
“Yep, and then I stayed for another two years and got my MBA.”
The tension leaves him as we talk, his body relaxing as he leans back into the chair. He still chews on his lip while he thinks about his response, and I wish I could just pull it from between his teeth and get him to quit hurting himself.
“Oh, shit. So yeah, this is completely different for you.”
“Yep, and that’s exactly what I want, so,” he shrugs, “I guess I’m here and ready to report for duty.”
“Well, okay then. Is there anything else I should know?”
“Uh, no. I don’t think so.”
“Okay, then you can go see Becca, and she’ll get you set up for the rest of the day. If you have any random questions, either one of us can help you out, but she’s honestly probably better than I am. I’m still learning this shit too, and she’s been here forever.”
“Ask Becca, not you. Got it, boss.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
“Yep, you don’t know shit yet. I got it.”
“No—Jax.”
He stands and puts his hands up in surrender. “I get it. It’s okay. We’re all learning. No worries, boss man.”
“Fuckin’ a.”
We’re both smiling at one another as my face heats and he continues to back away.
“See you tomorrow, boss man.”
I’ll see you tomorrow.