Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(55)
Back at my apartment, Joe stays for a bit while I change and take Sadie out one last time for the night. Joe lingers a little longer, but knows he can’t stay for multiple reasons. He tucks Sadie and me in bed, sitting on top of the covers once I’m under and sitting up. We talk about a few incidentals, trying to make the moment last.
“Can I see you tomorrow?” Joe questions.
“Maybe,” I answer with a grin.
“Maybe it is,” Joe confirms with a kiss.
My mouth eagerly accepts his, not wanting to let go. After several minutes, Joe groans a little when he pulls away and my hands softly cup his face to keep him close.
“Sorry,” I say.
“Don’t be,” he sweetly replies. “I know I need to go, but I want to stay.”
I don’t confirm or deny my thoughts on the current situation and Joe doesn’t insist on finding out.
He snatches a few more kisses before pulling away. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
“Goodnight, Joe.”
When Joe rounds the corner of my bedroom doorway, Sadie starts whining. She jumps off the bed, following him to the front door.
“Sadie,” I call, chasing after her.
“What’s wrong, Sadie?” Joe asks, bending down to pet her.
Sadie nuzzles into his body, almost knocking him over.
“It’s better I’m up anyway,” I try to brush it off. “I should switch the security lock on.”
Joe doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t need to. He stands back up, sweeps me into him and delivers a sinfully delicious kiss. My body molds to his, enjoying every single touch.
Once Joe’s gone, I head back to bed while Sadie chooses to sit by the door, whimpering. Five minutes later, she gives up and comes to bed.
“You’ll see him soon enough,” I console, scratching her behind her ears.
Seventy
Sunday morning, Sadie and I meet up with Maggie and the family at her home. Jared and Pop-Pop join us as well, but Nathan stays behind to work since the premier with Chris is only eleven days away. Both Maggie and Henry appear to be themselves, even when I watch Maggie closely while she plays with Jet, Rey and Jade in the pool. Joe makes it to the house by lunch after seeing his parents off and my family, friends and I enjoy each other’s company into the evening, swimming, eating and laughing.
I stay with Maggie and Henry Sunday night to discuss business with Maggie the next day and to conduct some of our video interviews for additional staff. From eight in the morning until two, Maggie and I are on the computer conducting ten different interviews though video with candidates for management positions. Most of the interviews take only about twenty to thirty minutes, giving us a few minutes in between as a quick break. We finally have lunch once we’re finished, not talking as we stuff our faces. Once finished, the two of us move to the patio to relax and talk.
After discussing at length with Maggie the different candidates for the CEO and CFO positions, I pose a question to her. “What are your thoughts if I didn’t choose any of the candidates for either position?”
Maggie studies me for a minute. “Who would you suggest then? We need someone for each position.”
“You, at the helm,” I mention.
“Me?” she checks. The light bulb goes off above her head a few seconds later. “Me! You want me as CEO?”
“Only if you want it. I know you’d be great. You have the depth of vision, you know how I like things run and you know how to do it.” Pausing for a moment, I add, “And, I trust you completely and know you’re completely capable.”
Tears well up in her eyes. “I’d be honored! Thank you. Thank you, Emma.” Maggie rushes over to hug me.
Finally able to catch my breath after practically being squeezed to death, I comment, “Great. Well, your first order of business is to pick the CFO and hire someone to take over your job as COO.”
“What?” she states dumbfounded.
“If you feel the need, promote from within. I trust you and your judgment.”
“I was going to mention promoting some of the staff, they’ve been doing really well with the changes and some have taken the lead on a few things. I’d rather promote Ryan and Daphne than hire anyone we just spoke to the last few hours. They get the company and we won’t have a learning curve to deal with on many aspects. They’ll need a little training for their new roles, but they’ve always been able to learn quickly.”
“It’s done,” I confirm. “Let them know.”
With the facility underway and our team established, our next task is to take all of the comments and questions from the Covelli staff who have been using the Raven software and map out scripts for all instructional pieces we’ll need to provide for our current and future clients. Maggie sends off detailed instructions for our staff informing them of the promotions, changes and to start creating sales pieces, which include videos and other items, some of which will be used to market our product before we launch.
When dinner time finally arrives, Maggie insists on me staying when Henry’s parents, M?qīn, F?qīn and Nǎinai arrive. The family falls into its regular routine of eating and chatting into the evening. Seeing that Maggie won’t say anything, I raise my glass of tea to give a toast to our success for the day and that we have established our new staff, with Maggie at the helm as CEO. Everyone cheers and Henry requests one of the maids to open a bottle of champagne as the eight of us celebrate for the rest of the night.