Page 49 of Elliot

“Right?” Maya chuckled. “Elliot took care of Olivia and me.”

“Of course, he did. Wait, did you say Ms. Solomon?”

“Yes, she was with us.”

“Well, that’s a surprise. I’m so glad everything worked out for you.” Jessica took out her tablet. “Do you want to go over the schedule for next week?”

“Sure.” She pulled her tablet toward her. “What do we have?”

They ran down the schedule for Monday. “Tuesday, we have a visit to the new factory.” Maya nodded. “I’ll take care of transportation and set up the meet and greets,” Jessica said as she tapped away on her wireless keyboard.

“No. Elliot will take care of transportation,” Maya automatically corrected her.

“Did I do something wrong?” Jessica snapped.

Maya glanced at her assistant. “No, why?”

“You won’t let me do anything for you anymore. Not the food, the transportation, and the apartment key. I hope you’re not considering replacing me.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, no. I’m not going to replace you.” Maya chuckled. “Elliot is here to take care of things like transportation. The food is just a logistic nightmare getting through security, so it's better if they take care of it. The key is useless now, anyway. I’ll get you a new one.”

“Okay. Hey, where’s Elliot?” Jessica looked around. “He’s really handsome. It kind of looks like the two of you are interested in each other.”

Maya felt her face heat. “He’s doing something with a friend. Everyone gets time off, right?”

Jessica huffed out a laugh. “Except me. Normal people don’t work for you.”

Maya cocked her head. “That’s true. You don’t work with a normal person.”

“But he’s really cute, isn’t he? In a rugged, I want to throw you down and have sex with you type of way.”

Maya lowered her eyes. “He is handsome, but my focus is on this business and getting us in a position to have the best offering possible.”

“So, nothing’s going on between the two of you?” Jessica teased her.

“Nothing.” Maya chuckled. She didn’t know why, but she wanted what was between them to remain private as long as possible. She wasn’t willing to share the newness and intensity with employees, even long-time employees like Jessica.

“So, if someone else were to say ask him out for drinks, you wouldn’t mind?” Jessica looked down as she spoke.

“Jessica, do you have a crush on Elliot?”

“What, me? No! I’m asking for the ladies in the breakroom. They’re all swooning over him. I’m actually in a serious relationship.”

Maya’s mouth dropped open. “What? Since when?”

Jessica shrugged. “It’ll be six years soon.”

“Why haven’t you ever told me?” Maya reeled at that revelation.

“We’re not exactly friends,” Jessica said. “Why? Would you care?”

“Of course, I’d care. You could have left earlier at night. And the times when you come back in the middle of the night? What does your boyfriend or girlfriend think of that?”

Jessica stared at her. “He knows what I have to do and encourages me to do it to the best of my ability. Just like I support what he’s doing and why he’s doing it.”

“Well, he’s a very understanding man, but from now on, you leave at a respectable hour.” Maya pointed at her. “I wish you would have told me before.”

Jessica shrugged. “Water under the bridge.”

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