“What is it?”
“Can you pick up Jasmine tonight and get her ready for the pageant?”
“I can. I need to get Sabrina ready for it, too.” He said quickly.
“You don’t mind helping both girls?”
“You know, I would be insulted that you asked that question, if I didn’t realize that you were under stress right now,” he said with a chuckle. “I talked with Beenie this morning about what she needed for the pageant. I can get them both ready. What’s going on with you?”
“Our network went down over here. Someone clicked a link they weren’t supposed to and now we’re fighting off a virus and getting things back up and running. We should be able to resolve everything in about an hour or two, but with the board meeting tomorrow and the rest of the set up needed for that, it may take longer. I’ll probably be late to the pageant.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll explain everything to Jasmine. You focus on that and we’ll see you when you make it to the pageant.” He sounded so confident, which was both reassuring to her and a turn on. Before she’d always tried to rearrange her schedule or work things out on her end to accommodate him, but rarely asked him to do the same. She still didn’t like havingto ask last minute, but knowing that he was there and willing to help made her feel like they were truly in a partnership with the girls.
“Are you sure? I know you’re busy at work, too.”
“I’m sure. Get back to getting your network up. Call or text when you’re on the way to the pageant.”
She sighed in both relief and desire. “You are the best.”
“I’d say I know, but that would be too cocky,” he sounded just as cocky and unbothered by that.
Layla laughed, letting some of the tension in her shoulders ease. “I’ll let you have it this time. I’ll see you later tonight.”
“See you later. Be careful.”
“I will.” She ended the call and smiled down at her phone. She couldn’t wait to get this man back between her thighs.
*
Elijah ended the call and looked at Adam sitting in the chair across from him in the conference room. They were reviewing all of the personnel requests in budget submissions before they would be presented at the next meeting of the town commissioners. He had planned to leave work on time to get Sabrina to the pageant, but if he had to also get Jasmine ready then he needed to leave immediately.
Adam sat forward in his chair. “I heard your end. You’ve got to go.”
Elijah looked at the spreadsheet shared on the flat screen television in the conference room. “I do.”
“It’s okay. We’ve gone through the numbers and I can get the rest of the team to update this.”
Elijah drummed his fingers on the desk. “Will you be able to have it on my desk first thing in the morning.”
“If you go ahead and leave, I’ll probably have this on your desk in the next two hours.”
Elijah raised a brow. “You’re that confident?”
Adam cocked one shoulder before lifting his chin. “I am. You forget that you trained us to be ready to step in if you’re unavailable. Family is the most important thing. Trust us to handle this for you.”
Elijah opened his mouth to list all of the things that needed to be checked, then stopped. Adam already knew what needed to happen. They’d gone over what was needed at length. He’d met not just with Adam but the entire team the day before and got updates on everyone’s progress. To get more of a work life balance he’d decided to let go of some of the reigns at work. He’d given more tasks to Adam and members of his staff, and followed up with them on the deadlines. They’d asked for clarification when needed, but overall they’d risen to the challenge. Proving that delegating to a team of individuals who wanted to succeed just as much as he wanted to succeed meant they all thrived. Adam’s previous advice had been right. Elijah didn’t have to constantly be there and oversee the project. He’d been micromanaging his team, which in turn only hindered their growth. They’d proven they could be trusted and that they could meet the challenges facing them.
“I do trust you, Adam. I trust you and the rest of the team.”
Adam blinked rapidly before he sat up straight and his chest swelled. “Oh…good.”
Elijah gathered the papers in front of him. “Text me when you get the report submitted so I can review it.” He stood and headed toward the door.
“Will do. And, Elijah.”
Elijah stopped on his way out and looked over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for trusting us. I know when you first started, the team wasn’t moving as fast as you were used to. But, you taught us some things and you’ve pushed us to be better. We didn’t have that before in a director. I want you to know that we appreciate that.”
