The two slithered away, Lei whispering to Bernadette, “How come you never told me that story before?”
“Oh, I don’t like to mind people’s business, you know that.”
Ronnie trembled as she took a seat on her office chair. Instead of feeling excited like she had a moment ago, now she felt apprehensive.
“Dear Lord, you know how I feel about David Jones, but please help me to control those feelings and not make a fool of myself. Please guard my heart.”
After several minutes of praying, Ronnie began to feel better, although the two women had certainly dampened her mood. Was this how all the other employees felt about her move? It wasn’t the best feeling, being hated.
“How’re things going, Legal Assistant to the CEO? Need any help with your packing?”
Ronnie looked up at Anne who stood in the doorway grinning from ear to ear.
Ronnie smiled in relief at the pretty brunette with the trendy, short hair and humorous blue eyes. At last, a friendly face.
“Thanks. I’d love some help. And I’m not legal assistant to the CEO. I’m just assisting his assistant.”
“You’re assisting David Jones. It’s just that he’s got two assistants now.”
~*~*~*~
An hour later, Ronnie presented herself to Tracey who smiled wanly and welcomed her. Ronnie took to her on sight. She was a short, pleasant-looking woman with brown skin and a short, pixie haircut á la Halle Berry.
“I’m so happy to see you, girl. I hate to admit it, but I really do need help. I was the energizer bunny before, but now I can barely work a few hours without feeling drained.”
“Don’t worry. I’m a fast learner. Just show me what I have to do, and I’ll do it.”
Tracey smiled in gratitude and then let Ronnie in on some of what was involved in being an executive legal assistant to the high-powered CEO of Jones Law. Ronnie had been told by HR that the additional responsibility resulted in a fifty percent raise. By the time Tracey was through, she understood why.
According to Tracey, Ronnie would be required to provide David with administrative and logistical support as well as facilitate the installation of appropriate systems and tools to ensure the smooth running of operations at Jones Law.
“I thought I would be researching case law, drafting documents, reviewing agreements…more of what I was doing downstairs.”
“That will happen. There are certain clients David prefers to deal with himself. But generally, his role has less to do with practicing law than running the company. Your job is to assist him with that. And you know Jones Law has branches all over the country, so the pace is hectic. The work is frequently urgent, and it is of vital importance. And, yes, if you mess up the world will come to an end.”
The horror Ronnie felt must have been reflected on her face because Tracey took one look at her and began laughing.
“That was just a joke, honey. Relax. David’s not a slave driver. He’s actually a great employer. However, he expects a high standard of work, so you need to ensure you check and double check everything you do. He has little patience for careless errors and sloppiness.”
As casually as she could, Ronnie asked if he was in his office. Tracey explained that he was out attending an all-day business meeting. Ronnie felt that she did a good job in hiding her disappointment.
After a couple of hours of work, Tracey invited Ronnie to have a fifteen-minute coffee break with her in the lounge area reserved for the senior partners and their staff. As they sat sipping tea –Tracey, nettle tea to calm her stomach and Ronnie, a cup of green tea – Ronnie confided to Tracey that Lei had seemed very annoyed with her assignment.
Tracey shook her head. “She’s always trying to contrive ways to get up here. I don’t know why she bothers.”
“What do you mean?”
“David is not going to get involved with her or any other woman who works here. He even has a strict policy for his interactions with female clients. He’s very careful to keep his business and personal lives separate and distinct.”
“Of course. That certainly makes sense,” Ronnie said hurriedly. There! Further confirmation that she really needed to keep her heart under lock down around that man. There was no chance anything would ever develop between them.
Tracey spent the first half of the day taking Ronnie through her filing system, the cases David was currently working on, and some operational matters.
In the afternoon, though, Tracey began to feel tired. Ronnie suggested that she allow her to do the filing and resume their teaching session the next morning.
It was evening when Tracey came over to Ronnie’s desk.
“David is in now, and he’d like to see you before you leave.”
Ronnie stood and deliberately tried to steady her nerves. She followed Tracey who first greeted David’s secretary and then, after a quick knock at the door, entered his office.
Ronnie sighed deeply. For sitting there in a gray business suit, white shirt, and striped baby blue tie and looking utterly gorgeous, was David Jones.
“Come in and have a seat, Ronnie,” he said with a polite smile.
She walked further into the office as Tracey departed.
Just then his phone rang. He glanced at it and said, “Excuse me for just a minute.”
As David spoke quietly into the phone, Ronnie took the opportunity to glance around his office. It was the first time she had actually been in there since over a year ago on her first day at the firm. It was a spacious, airy office, with two doors leading away from it. She could only guess that one of those doors led to a bathroom.
Aside from his massive black desk, there was a conference room table which could seat six persons. There was also a three-seat sofa and two one-seat armchairs at the end of the room with a coffee table. Possibly for more intimate meetings, she thought.
Ronnie took a seat in one of the chairs opposite David’s desk. It was the same one she had sat in on her first day there. She crossed her feet at the ankles, knowing that the skirt she wore would ride up and reveal too much if she crossed her legs. She wanted to be as circumspect as possible in her dealings with David Jones. She did not want to give him any reason to believe that she was after him.
“How has your orientation been going?” he asked after he finished his call.
“Very well, thank you.”
“Are you looking forward to working for me?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Ronnie’s mouth tugged upwards.
“And here I thought that was what I’ve been doing for the past thirteen months.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Touché. I meant directly reporting to me.”
“HR told me I’d be assisting Tracey with her duties. On that basis, I assumed I’d be reporting to her.”
“I suppose that’s true to a point, but I’ll also be monitoring your work.”
“Hmmm…I don’t know whether to take that as a threat or a promise. Anyway, I am looking forward to working for you. From what Tracey has told me it all seems very exciting. Thank you for the opportunity.”
He twirled his pen between his fingers.
“I hope you’ll still be thanking me after a week. There are tight deadlines and a heavy workload. The pace can be hectic, potentially stressful at times.”
Ronnie hesitated for a moment then decided to come right out with the question that had been playing on her mind since she’d been told of her new assignment.
“Why did you choose me?”
David’s eyes shifted for several beats. When he met her gaze again, it was with serious eyes.
“The most honest answer is that I wanted someone who would be a good fit for me. Someone I would enjoy working with. Tracey and I have a very good working relationship. I didn’t think I could achieve that with just anybody. Our previous interactions suggested a natural rapport between us. Does that sound like a good enough reason?”
She swallowed and shrugged casually, not letting on how his wor
ds had warmed her heart. He felt they had a natural rapport. Perhaps over the next few months, it could develop into more? Stop it, Ronnie. Don’t let your imagination run away with you.
She tried to focus on answering his question.
“It sounds quite reasonable. I won’t argue that the quality of my work should have been a priority because I know if my work weren’t at an acceptable standard I wouldn’t even be here. That was already a given. You were looking for something more. I’m glad you found it in me.”
He stared at her for a short while, and his eyes took on an intense look. Then he blinked and his face relaxed into a smile.
“Precisely. See what I mean? You get me. Now, don’t let me keep you from leaving. It’s going home time. Can’t have you burning the midnight oil with me so early in the game now, can I?
Chapter 7
Drawing her scarf a little closer around her neck, Ronnie continued to peer through the display windows of the shops along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile as she listened to her mother through the Bluetooth device attached to her right ear.
She took a sip of her cappuccino and gazed in at a newly opened photography studio along the Mile.
“How’s the book coming?” Erin asked.
“I’m still trying to select the photos I really want to be in there,” Ronnie said with her nose pressed against the glass.
“Your dad would have been so touched to know the daughter he never met was publishing a book of his life’s work. You’re so creative. I’m looking forward to seeing the final product.”
“Yeah. I’d originally planned on having it completed by the end of May to coincide with Dad’s birthday but with the work I’m doing with the youth program at Changing Lives, teaching Sunday School at church, and my work commitments, especially since my reassignment, it’s no longer going to be possible.”
“Sounds like your plate is pretty full. Met anybody yet?”
“I meet lots of people. Every day in my line of work actually.”
“You know what I mean, Ronnie.”
“Mom, God will send the right guy my way when he’s good and ready. As I’ve told you a thousand times.”
“Speaking of which, Roger Lancaster still asks for you every time I run into him at church.”
Ronnie rolled her eyes. Roger had been their next door neighbor in Long Island. Her mother couldn’t seem to get over the fact that lanky, nerdy Roger Lancaster was now tall and handsome and a medical intern at the hospital where she worked as a clinical dietician.
Erin had sent Ronnie a photo she had snapped of him months ago. While Ronnie acknowledged Roger had grown into his long limbs and was an attractive man, it didn’t matter. Next to David Jones, he came up short. In fact, few men had David Jones’ appeal as far as Ronnie was concerned. And it wasn’t just about looks either. The more she learned of David, the more time she spent getting to know the man behind the handsome façade, the more enthralled she became. Like when she’d learned he was a part-time lecturer at Chicago Law, she couldn’t help but be impressed. How did he do it? Run a multi-million dollar company, do his charity work, lecture at the university and still find time to run for office. Maybe she should follow him next time he left work to see if he disappeared into any phone booths because there must be an ‘S’ on that chest.
“Did I mention that he’s begun specialized training as a cardiologist?”
Ronnie grunted.
“He has. He asked me for your number the other day.”
“Don’t you dare give him my number, mom!”
“What do you take me for? Of course, I wouldn’t do that. Not without asking you first anyway. I’ll invite him over for Thanksgiving this year. You know his mother passed away in February. I think it would be a nice gesture. You two could chat then.”
“Mom, I’m sure Roger is a great guy. He’s just not my type.”
“How do you know, you haven’t seen him in years. Besides, what is your type?”
Ronnie sighed and made a mental note to skip Thanksgiving with mom this year.
“So…how’s work?” Ronnie asked her mother, deliberately changing the subject.
Fifteen minutes later, Ronnie disconnected the call and refocused on the reason for her foray into the city.
Ever since she had started assisting Tracey, she had wondered how she could express her gratitude to David without him thinking she was coming on to him. Then it hit her. He clearly enjoyed music. In particular soul R&B. The genre was fine. The lyrics were another story. She decided to be presumptuous and introduce him to a couple of Soul Gospel artists. She selected two of her favorites and left the store already excited about presenting the gifts on the coming Monday.
~*~*~*~
“I’ve always supported you, David. I believe you’re someone who can get things done. I’m not the only one who feels that way either. Four thousand signatures of support are nothing to sneeze at, especially for a first-time candidate,” said Rick Bridgeman, the president of the party’s Chicago branch.
It was now a few days after David had won the nominations unopposed. With David’s permission, Zach had filed objections to the legitimacy of the petitions of Senator Barnes, Patrick Astor, and Eric Germaine. Barnes announced two weeks later that he was withdrawing because he didn’t have the required number of signatures needed to earn a place on the ballot after half of his signatures were found invalid. The nominating petitions for Astor and Germaine were found to be invalid as well.
Rick clapped his hands and rubbed them together with obvious anticipation.
“Now the nomination, as you know, is just the beginning. Winning the seat is the most important aspect of this whole thing. I know Zach Buchanan assisted you with your campaign.”
David lightly massaged the ankle hooked over his left knee and nodded.
“Yes, Zach is a long-time friend. He volunteered to help.”
“That’s okay,” Rick agreed, “but he also has another job. So, has he taken a break to run your campaign full time?”
“Actually, he was just helping me out. I don’t believe he’d be interested in being a full-time campaign manager. I can ask him, though.”
“That’s not what I was suggesting. You’re in the big leagues now. You need to step up your game. You’re going to need a team. A dependable team. You need an experienced campaign manager who can successfully oversee all aspects of the campaign including hiring and managing staff and volunteers, coordinating and implementing fundraising activities, and creating and managing your campaign budget. You’ll need a press secretary to deal with your interactions with the media, draft your speeches, create copy for your website, someone to develop a plan on door-knocking and phoning to identify voters and persuade them to vote for you. Kind of what Buchanan has been doing for you but on a larger scale.”
“This is like a project,” David said, suddenly realizing what a big undertaking this really was.
Rick gave a short laugh. “David, this is a project. A major one.”
He stood and went over to a curio cabinet where he poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Do you want a cup?” he asked.
David shook his head as he made notes on his tablet.
Rick sat down and leaned back in his seat. He took a couple of sips of the coffee as he watched David for a few minutes.
“I honestly believe you have what it takes to win the seat. Cooper Hillman has his supporters, sure, but he doesn’t have your charisma, your way with people, or your connection with the grassroots. Still, we can’t afford to take any chances. This is a crucial seat for the party, and we cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in our quest to win. I promised your father I’d give you the benefit of my advice.”
“My father?” David said, his head coming up.
This was a major surprise. Why would Darrell Jones care about his campaign? It wasn’t really any of his business. David could feel resentment rising in his chest. Why was it that Darrell Jones had to have his paws on everything h
e did? Like he couldn’t make his own decisions.
Rick nodded and chuckled.
“Darrell said that you hate to take advice from him, but you’d take the same advice from a stranger. So here I am.”
David didn’t even crack a smile. Rick cleared his throat and continued.
“Jokes aside, though, if you’re serious about being state representative it means you have to dedicate yourself to this campaign from now until November. It will mean you have to delegate more responsibilities at Jones Law.”
“Does my father understand that part? Is he in agreement with it?”
“I mentioned it to him. He told me you’d delegate appropriately. That you were good at things like that.”
David raised his brows. A compliment from Darrell Jones? Wonders never ceased.
Rick took a gulp of his coffee. “I’ve got three pieces of advice to give you.”
To David’s chagrin, he began by pointing out the obvious – his bachelorhood.
“You need to get a wife,” Bridgeman said watching him with serious blue eyes.
“I’m actually doing alright. I won the nomination despite the fact that I’m single,” David said smugly, only because he was weary of people making reference to his marital status.
“That’s the party nomination, which is quite different from running for state representative. You’re what, thirty-five? That’s practically middle-aged. Time enough for you to start a family. Voters respect a man with a wife and kids. It suggests stability. Someone they can trust. Many things have changed over the years. But not that. Voters don’t seem to trust a bachelor as a candidate.”
“I think that matters less than it did before,” David said in a haughty tone, which suggested the man’s view were archaic.
“You’re going to be the one to buck a 130-year old tradition? American voters have not elected an unmarried president since 1885. Your opponent has a wife and kids. In a time when media coverage and candidate messaging relies heavily on visual images and perception, you can’t turn to a wife or children in campaigns the way your rival can. That could pose a hurdle. Remember, Americans elect not only a president but a first lady and a first family.”
A Case For Love (Royals Series Book 3) Page 6