Page 71 of I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker
How was I ever going to sleep comfortably again without him?
18
From across the room?
As expected, Natalie was all too eager to receive more training. Her eyes were so wide, they looked like they hurt when I presented the new manual and told her it had everything she would ever need outside of banking details. I didn’t expressly say I was going to be gone for a long time, just that I wanted to prepare her. She suspected nothing, considering how much she and Raymond had been on my case about letting her take on more work.
And the girl showed out. Honestly, by the end of the second day, I could have handed her the keys confidently. But also, by the end of the second day, I realized that meant I would then have to carry my ass off to hell, so I made the brilliant decision to stretch things out a bit. What would it hurt if I just took a couple more days to make sure she was truly going to be okay on her own?
The problem was, after the first day, Jackie started shadowing me. She watched everything I did with Natalie and could clearly see how competent the young woman really was. On the fifth day, Jackie called me out on my shit.
My head snapped up from the notes in my hand as Jackie, dressed like she was ready for the battlefield, burst into my office. I eyed the combat boots and wondered if she wore them to kick me in the ass.
“What are you doing?” She stood there, her expression twisted in judgment,arms crossed over her chest. Oh, she meant business.
“Going through paperwork. Is that hard to tell?” I gathered the files I had splayed out in front of me and held them up. “There are four more prospects I want to reach out to.”
“Jericha, you’re dragging this out and you know it.” She snapped her fingers at me. “Those dusty ass folders haven’t been touched in how long? Why is it so important for you to reach out to them now? You’re so worried about doing bad business, but you’re going to start new conversations before running off to hell?”
“Jackie,” I gasped and pulled the folders closer to my chest. “How could you say that? These clients are just as important as any of my other ones.”
“Look, I wouldn’t want to be in your position either, but you can’t keep running from this.” She grunted at me. “While you sit up in this office thinking of more ways to keep your ass here on Earth, we’re out there fighting off more attacks.”
“What attacks?” My breath caught in my chest. No one had mentioned anything about attacks to me.
“Girl, you have to know what’s going on.” Jackie leaned over and snapped her fingers in my face. “Wake the hell up! My people and your shadow man’s team have been keeping the threat at bay. I don’t care what Raymond or that other demon has to say about it anymore. I’m not going to keep coddling you, because the threat is only growing.”
“You’ve been hiding attacks from me?” I put the files down, standing from my seat. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? I thought everything was okay.”
“Raymond’s idea, not mine. I’m done with this. I broke two nails in that last fight!” She held up her hand, displaying her ruined manicure. “I can’t get them fixed until I go home, and I can't go home until you take your ass to the Bane and deal with this shit.”
“You’ve been really wanting to say that to me.” I pointed at her fingers. “And you held it back. That’s not like you.”
“No, it's not. I did it because he asked me nicely and promised me food.” Jackie sat in the guest chair next to my desk. “But this is getting ridiculous, and I can’t keep my team here forever. There are other assignments, other threats we’re supposed to be keeping the world safe from.”
“You’re right. I know it.”
“What’s the problem?” She pointed at the files in my hands. “This place and those crusty old files will be fine. I already agreed to hang around here and help Natalie, process payroll and manage the big contract issues, take care of your home and pets. What more do you need?”
“Jackie, we’re not just talking about a trip overseas or something. This is hell! I know I’m strong and typically not afraid of much, but come on. Even you would be afraid to do this, right? Don’t treat me like I’m crazy.” I took a deep breath, hoping to calm myself, but it didn’t work. “I’m terrified of what I’ll see when I get there and afraid I won’t make it back to tell you all about it.”
“Girl, I won’t sit here and lie to you. The idea is crazy, and there is no amount of money that would convince me to trade places with you, but the point has already been proven. Those things will come here to get to you and Raymond.” She softened as she continued. “The problem is, we’re not equipped to keep them at bay for much longer.”
“And if you were in my place?”I asked.
“I’d already be gone.” She shrugged. “Prolonging it changes nothing, but it puts everyone around you in more danger.”
“So what you’re saying is, I’m a selfish ho?”
“A ho, no. But selfish?” She pinched her fingers in front of her face. “Yeah, you are a little.”
“You always give it to me straight. Thank you for that.” I pushed the files away from me.
Jackie was right. There was nothing of use in them. They were prospects I had ruled out time and time again, the files I picked through whenever I felt desperate.
“Look, how about we have one more night out?” Jackie offered with a big grin on her face. “And then you pack your bags and take your ass to hell.”
“How do you possibly make that sound like more fun than it is?” I shook my head.
