Page 77 of With Wine Comes War

He looked a little nervous, so I assured him, “There’s nothing to worry about. These two men are the nicest and smartest people you will meet in this business.”

“This is just the first real job I’ve had, and I’ve never had to dress this nice. I don’t want to mess it up.”

“Well, I think that you’ll fit in perfectly.” He smiled and turned his head to look out the window.

“Miss Alex?”

I know it’s a respect thing, but I felt like that’s what little kids call their teacher, not their colleagues.

“Alex will be fine, Darius.” I wanted him to feel like an equal with me. He had a lot to learn but I never wanted him to feel dumb or less than.

“Alex, I’m sorry for the way I treated you the first time I met you.” I had a feeling we’d be discussing this at some point.

“Let’s just move forward from there. What was happening to your neighborhood was probably an instigator of that behavior. We know each other now, so it’s a moot point.” I probably would’ve lashed out at a stranger on my grandma's porch too if they had randomly been there.

“I know, but everything you’ve done for me and my family, I just want you to know that I’m sorry and I’ll try to do better when I meet new people.” Wow, that was such a mature outlook. I’m impressed.

“Darius, you’re going to go far in life with an attitude like that. You have no idea how long it takes people to figure that out.”

He smiled and I said, “I look forward to working with you.”

We got out on the fifteenth floor, and to Amelia’s desk. She was all smiles, but she was on the phone, so we waited. She came around and gave both Shay and I a hug, and she shook Darius’s hand. “Nice to meet you Mr. Jackson.”

“You, too.” He stood eye to eye with her as he shook her hand.

“Amelia, where should we have Darius fill out his paperwork?” He was still staring at her.

“How about in the conference room? We don’t have any meetings in there today.”

“Are Roman and Harrison here?”

She grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.

“Yes, they’re both here. Roman looks like he saw a ghost or something so Harrison is in there with him, right now,” shewhispered.

“Is he okay? Did something happen? He hasn’t reached out to me or anything.” I flipped my phone over to see if I’d missed a message from him. There was nothing.

“Not that I know of. He just got back from lunch.”

He was worried about something this morning. I wonder if that’s what this is.

“Well, I guess I’ll talk to him first before we have this meeting. I’ll get Darius started on his paperwork and have Shay help him if he needs it.” I took Darius and Shay into the conference room.

“Miss, I mean, Alex?” Darius’ eyes were following Amelia all the way back to her desk.

“Yes?” I rolled my lips trying not to giggle.

“Does everyone here look like her?” Oh, he’s either intimidated or in love.

“No, thankfully. We’d never get any work done around here, would we?”

He laughed nervously and shook his head.

“I was just thinking I may not be dressed up enough for work. Do all the men dress that way, too?”

“They do but you fit right in, I promise.”

I tapped on Roman’s door and Harrison opened it with a smile. “Well, speak of the devil.”

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