It was almost eerie how much they were alike, and yet they thought they were so different from one another.
Jamie checked her messages quickly and made some notes before walking back up to talk with Justin for a minute. Alex wasn't anywhere to be seen, and his office door was shut, so she had to assume he was preparing for his long day of talking to the top shareholders, and then presenting to the group at large later that afternoon.
“Here's a list of people we need to call to confirm their lunch order. I had a few messages this morning, and there were some concerns on dietary restrictions and such.” She put the paper down in front of him. “And good morning. Sorry. I swear when Alex gets in business-mode, we all do.”
“It's all good.” He glanced down at his watch. “I'm a little surprised to see you here so early. Is it because of the meetings today?”
“Pretty much. I haven't been able to sleep past six the last few days.” She shrugged.
“My sister starting waking up really early, like five every morning when she was pregnant with her kids. Might be your hormones or something.” He stood up and twisted, popping his back.
“Really? That's horrible. I don't want to start getting up early. Sleep is heavenly. It's almost better than—” She stopped before she blurted out that sex was at the top of her list to Alex's new male secretary.
“Than chocolate?” He saved her, but the smirk on his face said he knew he'd done so.
“Yep. Chocolate.” She turned on her heel and walked away to the sound of him laughing softly. He was a good guy, and would be great for the firm. Now they just had to make sure that he stayed with them and didn't get the bright idea to move back home or take a position somewhere else.
Jamie stopped by Paul's office and let out a short sigh. He'd been gone for a few weeks, and already the office felt different. Something about his excitement to be there and his respect for Alex make her like him all the more as a person. Gina was gone, Kristen, and now Paul.
r />
“And soon Mark will be gone.” She tried to hide her depressing thoughts, but obviously didn't do a good job of it.
“What's on your mind?” Mark's voice caught her off guard.
“Just being depressing. This is what happens when I get up too early. The positive, happy side of my personality is still asleep at home.” She shrugged and moved around the room, placing an agenda in front of each seat.
“Okay, so what are you depressed about; something to do with your family per usual?” He moved up to the front and turned on the laptop that they would be using for the presentation.
“I just enjoy working with everyone here. I hate that people keep leaving. It's not the same, you know?” She finished up her task and moved up beside him. “Am I flipping slides for the big guy, or are you?”
“You can. I'll dick it up and then have to hear about it for the next year. He's not going to say anything to you other than thanks.” Mark gave her a smile and moved back. “I'm not leaving just yet either. I know Alex needs me right now, and I'm good with that. I just want to start dreaming about next steps, you know?”
“I get that.” Jamie glanced up to see Candace stop in the open door.
“Morning guys. There's a guy out front with lots of bagels and coffee. You want him to bring everything in here or the conference room across the way?” She glanced from Jamie to Mark, and her expression softened just a little. It wasn't something Jamie would have noticed unless she was staring at the girl, but she was.
Was something going on between Mark and Candace? Mark was a great-looking guy, and Candace seemed to be a lot of fun. Definitely cute, but not really the type of girl Jamie would have assumed Mark would have been attracted to. Kristen? Yes. Candace... not really.
“Across the room is good. Thanks for the help.” Jamie waited until the girl was out of the room to turn her attention onto Mark. “What's going on between the two of you?”
He looked up from reading through an agenda. “Huh? Oh, Candace? Nothing. Why?”
“Just curious. The way she looked at you said that maybe something was going on.” Jamie tried not to let the smirk that tugged at her lips rise up her face, but she lost the battle.
“I don't kiss and tell. You know that.” He shrugged. “I'm one of the good guys.”
“I'd almost pay to hear that story.” She walked toward him and reached up, wiping something off his jacket. “You need to find a good woman.”
“Yes, Mother.” He tugged at a strand of her hair and walked to the door. “I'm going to go help Candace with the heavy lifting. It impresses women when you can carry a bunch of bagels without breaking a sweat.”
Jamie laughed and shook her head, loving the guy like the brother she’d never had. The delight in getting to marry someone like Alex was only compounded when she thought about how great his brother was. Now if only he were happy working with them. There wasn't anyone that Alex would trust more to help him run his company.
No one but her.
*
“And that's one of the main points I want you to take from here today. We're not for sale. We'll never be for sale, and if you're approached by anyone at any time and they request that you sell your shares to them... walk away. Unless it’s an insane amount of money”,” Alex added as a joke. “But seriously, we've increased the stock in this company a hundred-fold since we opened. A lot of you are rich, and you're rich because I'm a strong business man without the willingness to back down. We are going to continue to grow, but not if you start siphoning off shares.” Alex glanced around the packed room as Jamie stood at the back with Mark.