Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JAX
It should be criminal to be awake at six in the morning.
I’ve never been a morning person, and truthfully I never will be.
Despite how many people say that you can change your sleeping habits or train your body, it’s just not a me thing.
Thankfully, just down the street from my apartment is the best coffee shop.
I’m not even joking—this place could rival an orgasm.
It's that good. Okay, maybe not that good, but it’s my absolute favorite.
Coffee and matcha alike, it’s all fresh and yummy.
My choice today is an ube matcha with a shot of espresso, the perfect combination of sweet and creamy with that hint of earthiness and bitterness.
My favorite, especially when I really need a pick me up.
The extra shot of espresso really does the trick, and there’s an extra pep in my step as I enter the building.
“Good morning,” I say to the door attendant as I scan my badge in.
“Good morning. I’m afraid we haven’t formally met yet. I’m Chris.”
“Hey, Chris,” I say with my hand outstretched. He takes it, and we shake hands before I continue. “I’m Jax. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing plenty of you?”
“Well,” a laugh escapes me, “I hope not too much. A respectable two times a day will do, maybe four if I go to lunch.”
“Well,” he laughs too, “good luck with that idea. You have a good day, Mr. Jax.”
I take what he says into consideration as I get into the elevator, taking another sip of my matcha-coffee combination.
As the doors ding open, I’m met with his cologne filling the office. People are already at desks, their keyboards clicking away as they stare at their computer screens. It gives me flashbacks of my last job, and I hold back the shiver.
“Is he in yet?” I ask Becca as I pass her desk.
“No, not yet. He probably won’t be in for another thirty minutes or so. At least, that’s about what time he’s been arriving lately.”
I look at my watch, noting that I’m right on time at eight o’clock—we don’t work for free around here—and then head into his office.
It’s weird being in his space without him here. His scent still lingers, that fresh, masculine, just mmm scent I’d like to roll in.
His desk is littered with papers, an old coffee mug at the corner, but I feel weird? Like, do I just take care of this shit? What if it’s like an organized chaos thing, and as soon as I move one paper, his whole life will be thrown off?
I take the easier route, instead choosing to throw away the nasty paper cup of coffee, and then get my own life together.
With the calendar pulled out, I look over his schedule and then put a mint in my mouth.
I’m trying to work out the anxious energy somewhere.
There are meetings with the board—the head of the football portion of the magazine, dedicated time to meet with the editor, and more.
I’m not sure how he finds the time to write his own pieces between all this, but I guess that’s probably part of my job now too.
This quiet me-time is nice; if I get it every morning, it would be a miracle. Especially today, these thirty minutes are especially helpful: a moment to get my head on straight, figure out what needs to happen, and formulate a plan of action.
As soon as the clock hits 8:30, he walks inside.
It’s like he feels my presence, as his eyes immediately snap up and find me.
Today’s outfit consists of navy blue slacks that once again hug his ass in a way I wish I could, a navy blue fitted jacket that comes off as soon as he rounds his desk, and a white button up.
When the jacket comes off, he also rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, and gah damn.
The veins are basically popping out of his forearms, the ink that marred his skin now covering even more.
His arms are covered in a thick dusting of black hair, giving him an even more manly look in my eyes.
I never thought I could think forearms are so fucking attractive, but here I am.
“Hope you don’t mind. The only reason I wore it so long yesterday was because I knew I was meeting you for our first formal sit down—first impressions and all.
To be honest, though, it gets really fucking stuffy.
I need room to move my shoulders and shit without feeling like I’m suffocating.
Don’t feel like you need to be all suit-and-tie all the time either.
I trust you’ll know the best times to dress up and when you’re able to wear slacks and a button up without the whole thing. Cool?”
He doesn’t even have to think about telling me twice, choosing to shrug out of my own jacket and roll my sleeves up.
It’s May and sunny, perfect for me to be able to repeat his actions.
It’ll also be nice for me to not have to drag my shirt along my skin every time I want to write something down.
Weird little ticks like that will make my day that much longer.
“What’s up first for me?”
“Oh, right. It seems your first meeting is at 9:30 with the board, followed by a meeting with the editor at 11.”
“Got it. For future reference, please have all my notes sorted for me and ready to go so I know what each meeting is about specifically.”
“Yes, si— I mean Kai.”
I look up again, and he has these thin wire frames on. Those damn slutty little glasses.
“Oh? You wear glasses now?”
“Quite observant, are we, Jax?”
“No, I just mean…I didn’t see them yesterday, and before—” Fuck, why did I bring that night up?
“You’re correct. I do wear glasses now. Just these readers, and, honestly, they don’t come out all that often.
Mostly when I’m staring at my computer or some sort of text.
” He chuckles, “I guess that’s what I get for getting older.
Now, I’m going to spend the next little bit of time before my meeting trying to get something written in regards to my own article.
If you don’t mind, please go see Becca regarding what the first meeting is about and what I need to know going into it. ”
He shifts slightly in his seat, directing his attention away from me, and I take it as my cue to leave, off on my first real task as his personal assistant.
Today was even more exhausting than yesterday, something I could’ve assumed was a given, but I was on my feet basically all fucking day.
We were both borderline running from one meeting to another.
We had about thirty minutes to shovel food down our gullets before it was off to the races again.
I’m surprised we were actually able to finish everything by the close of business.
This explains the copious amount of papers strewn about his desk in no particular order.
This definitely isn’t an ADHD thing; instead, it’s a lack of time and resources thing.
“You did good today,” Kai says as we enter the elevator together.
My body heats at his praise, something that should definitely not be happening with not only my boss, but the one I swore I wouldn’t think about like that again. “I tried. I promise I’ll get better. Just learning it all.”
“Honestly, I have no doubts you’ll be amazing.
No worries from me. If we’re struggling in a few months, then we’ll talk about additional ways to support you, but you’re okay.
Give yourself some grace. I told you yesterday, we’re both learning.
Who knows how this is going to go, but the best way is up. ”
The doors ding open, and we walk next to each other until we reach his car and it’s time to split ways.
“Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yep, see you tomorrow,” I say as I throw a wave over my shoulder and keep walking.
I barely even process getting into my car, driving back to my apartment, and getting in the door.
All I know is that I’m sitting naked, hair dripping wet, a towel around my waist as I eat the takeout from last night.
Is this my life now? Just endless nights of exhaustion?
I try to remind myself it’s literally only day two of this job.
I can do hard things; this is what I wanted—but it’s really hard to see the light when my mind is telling me all I did today was fuck up.
There were no papers ready, no knowledge about what the meetings were about or why we needed them.
We both looked like fish out of water, and that’s not how I like to be perceived.
I’d rather be the one with a good head on their shoulders than the clear newbie at the ripe old age of thirty-five.
Regardless, I made my bed, so now I guess I get to lie in it.
I finish my leftovers and throw the box away before I curl into a ball in the middle of my bed, ensuring my comforter is pulled all the way to my chin. What the fuck did I do?