And Eli Hart? He’s neatly labeled and wears matching socks.
I wiggle my toes inside my mismatched socks and laugh at how ridiculously different we are.
Yeah, we would never work.
Because chaos and order never do.
4
ELI
“I’m sorry to hear that, Janice. Please send my condolences to your family.” I pinch my nose and clench my eyes together. A death in the family is my worst nightmare brought to life.
“My father had been sick for a while. It wasn’t unexpected,” Janice says, sounding deflated.
The news of her father’s passing hits a little too close to home for me.
Since my father was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s he’s been in otherwise relatively good health, but I’m still waiting for that dreaded phone call to tell me that he’s passed away in the night. I hate myself for it, but I often think it would be better if he simply slipped away in his sleep. Watching my father, the man I idolize, suffer and fade into a shell of himself, while grieving the man he used to be is unbearable and is a kind of heartbreak I never knew existed.
It would be kinder to him and wouldn’t give the cruel disease that’s stealing his mind and body from us any more credit than it’s owed.
I can’t even imagine what life would be like without him in it. It wouldn’t just break my mom’s heart; it would hurt her even more than it already does. Every day I call her, and I can hear the longing to have him back the way he was. It’s eating away at her, and she’s lost a lot of weight from all the worry. My brothers might not notice the pain in her eyes or the tears that well up there, but I do because I try to visit Dad every day and also try to visit Mom every other day. She’s told me many times to stop, but I can’t because it helps to settle the worry inside of me, knowing that she’s keeping herself busy with the ranch she hires out for weddings.
My brothers, Mom, and I might say we’re okay, but deep down we’re not and we all dread a fated call from the facility that could change everything. It will happen one day. But hopefully not yet. It’s too soon.
With empathy, I tell Janice, “Regardless, it will still come as a shock to you. Take as much time off as you need.” Being the first to arrive this morning, Joseph, our receptionist, transferred Janice to me. My brothers and I understand how valuable Janice is, and if she needs to take a month off or more, I know my brothers won’t have any problem granting her that.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate that, Eli. And may I suggest we temporarily promote Samantha? She may seem skittish, but as my right-hand person, she knows every staff member, rule, regulation, and recruitment policy; she could recite them in her sleep. She’s more than capable of managing the team when I’m away.”
“That makes sense.” I’ll check the clock-in system to try and catch her before the rest of the team arrives, then inform her that she’s being promoted and will receive a pay increase, and finally notify the human resources team of who to report to.
Janice then suggests, “And regarding the annual staff conference, I would recommend someone from marketing because Samantha will have her hands full, maybe Calvin, he’s?—”
I cut her off. “I’ll do it.”
Shit.
What made me say that? I should have kept my mouth shut, but I absolutely do not want Calvin anywhere near Sapphire. The man practically has women falling at his feet because, according to my secretary, Tessa, he’s got the X factor, whatever the fuck that is.
What I do know is that he’s a smug bastard who seems to have a new girl on his arm every other week.
So no, he’s not going anywhere near Sapphire. She’s too wonderful for him, and she’s beautiful, funny, quirky, and those sapphire eyes of hers seem to invite trouble… ones I would love to stare deep into my soul as she sucks my?—
“Eli? Are you still there?”
Janice interrupts my sinful thoughts as I shift in my seat, my cock hardening at the most inopportune moment.
Pull yourself together, Elijah.
I clear my head and throat, then lie through my teeth. “Sorry, Tessa was asking if I wanted a cup of coffee,” I lie; she won’t be in until she drops off her kids at school. “What were you saying?”
Janice replies, sounding exhausted. No wonder, as she’s been at the hospice all night with her family. “That the folder for the staff event is in the human resources folder on the network. Everything is labeled, and inside the main folder, there is another one with every email between Sapphire and me. I’m sorry if this inconveniences you in any way, but like I said, Calvin could easily take ownership of the decisions.”
“It’s okay; there are a few things I want to change anyway.”
“Don’t tell me, you don’t like any of Sapphire’s ideas?”
I try to justify why and fail. “They’re all a bit too…”
