Page 8 of Aydin

“I have a few calls to make, and then I’m leaving for the day.” I stood from the chair and headed toward the door.

“Excuse me, Mr. Reeve.” Amelia jumped up from her seat, and all eyes watched her run after me.

“Call me Aydin.”

“Uhmm, Aydin. Should we meet to talk about your schedule?” Amelia looked up at me. I felt like shit, because being in her presence for too long, and the perfume that lingered in the air, caused a reaction I didn’t want to surface.

“Molly knows what I need.”

I started to walk away, but she grasped my arm. I looked down, and she released me.

“Sorry, but Molly wanted me to check with you to get a firsthand account.”

“For now, check over emails, messages, and inventory orders.” I didn’t have time to babysit anyone, and Molly would hear about this when she got back.

“Okay, should I order your lunch, or will you handle that?”

My back was turned to her, and I smirked at her little feisty attitude. I wanted to teach her a lesson without my employees finding out.

I grunted. “I’ll handle that.” Continuing toward my office, my cell phone rang. I slipped it out of my pocket and saw Addison’s name pop up. Deciding to call her back after I was done with other clients, I let the call go to voicemail.

Later in the afternoon, I finished lunch with Nasir and Nicco, then decided to finish off the work day at home. After grabbing my keys, cell phone, and jacket to leave the office, I locked up my computer and headed to Amelia’s office to let her know.

I tapped on her door and waited for her to answer.

“Mr. Reeve,” she answered, stood at the door, and looked from behind her. I saw Molly sitting in the chair with food scattered about.

“I’m about to leave for the day.”

“Ohhh…” She sounded disappointed in the statement.

“Molly can help you with any other questions.”

Amelia looked back at Molly.

“Aydin’s not this grumpy all the time, Amelia,” Molly confessed, and I rolled my eyes at her statement.

“Thanks, Molly.” I slid my hands in my pockets.

“Well, I’d like to go over the budget with you sometime this week,” Amelia suggested, and I agreed.

“Tomorrow, I can set time to discuss the budget.” I lifted my watch to check the time.

“Thank you.”

“And call me Aydin.”

“Right, Aydin. Sorry, Mr. Reev… I mean Aydin,” she stuttered. Molly burst into laughter.

“Anyway, I’ll be on call if you have an emergency.”

“Sure. See you tomorrow.” Amelia and I stood for a moment before she cleared her throat and closed the door.

“Snap out of it,” I mumbled to myself and headed out of the office for the day. At my Ford truck, I hopped inside and released a breath.

“No dating rule.”

A policy was enforced right at the very start of TN Security to not date co-workers because it always ended badly and messed up business for everyone. Nasir thought I was crazy to try to tell adults what to do, but it was my business at the end of the day, and I’d like to avoid getting sued. I pulled out of the parking lot, turned into traffic, and headed to my parents’ house to check in since I’d missed a few dinners lately. As the oldest of three boys, I’d prided myself on setting an example for my brothers, and commitment to family was our biggest thing. After I served in the navy, I was away for years and only saw them through video calls or visits when I got approved time away. Overall, my parents were excited when I told them I’d be home for good and would open my own business with consistent hours that I could set for myself. I didn’t have a wife and wasn’t even in the process of wanting one. Women in general couldn’t handle my lifestyle in the security business. Sometimes we had long hours or had to leave the country in less than twenty-four-hours’ notice. I arrived at my parents’ home a few miles from my place and parked in the driveway. We didn’t grow up rich. Everything we had was from my parents’ work ethic and instilling in us that if we wanted something, we had to go out and get a job to have it rather than ask for a handout. As I walked up to the door, it came open and saw the family dog run toward me.

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