Page 154 of Sinclair Duet
“You’re not killing the campaign.”
“I’m not. I’m concerned about Dwain Welsh. Despite what Mrs. Sherman said, he wasn’t happy.”
“Did you tell her that?” I asked.
Millie nodded. “She said she would take care of it.”
“I’m willing to step down and give the manager position to someone competent. I recommend Niles. I believe that the coalition will still require the representatives to work from Sinclair Corporate.” I shook my head. “Whomever is doing this campaign will have access to a slew of confidential information.”
“Mrs. Sherman wants you, Ella.” She paused. “I’m not forcing you. If you felt that way before, I apologize. It was my enthusiasm for the campaign that had me blinded. Do you want to maintain the campaign?”
“I do,” I replied, remembering what Damien had said on the phone. He’d said that the campaign was important, but not as important as me. “I believe I can make this work, for Beta Kappa Phi and for the coalition.”
“You’re walking a tightrope, Ella. If Dwain Welsh or any other CEO feels you’ve given preferential treatment to Sinclair or unwittingly shared with Mr. Sinclair, Beta Kappa Phi’s reputation is on the line.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me as manager?”
“No. I’m telling you to be careful. Maybe if Damien is replaced by his brother, it will be easier.”
I shook my head. “Nothing about Darius running Sinclair Pharmaceuticals would be easier. Damien has shown his competency over the last four and a half years.”
“I heard their father has taken ill.”
“As I said, there is a lot happening.”
Millie took a deep breath. “Tell me what you learned over the weekend.”
What I learned.
About the coalition.
Taking my notebook from my satchel, I gave her the structure of the coalition. By the time I left her office, I had Millie’s cautionary stamp of approval to keep working the campaign. As I gave that some thought, I decided it was similar to Damien’s probationary period. Millie was either giving me the chance to prove myself or enough rope to hang myself.
The jury was out.
Before texting Deidra, I stopped by Niles’s office.
After giving me a hug, he closed the door. “What in the world is going on?”
I scoffed. “Too much to say right now. Let me try with the abbreviated version.”
Damien
“Ms. Crystal is here,” Johnathon said, speaking through our intercom.
Before I could remind him that she didn’t need to be announced or tell him to send her in, the door to my office opened. Pushing back on my desk chair, I scanned from Ella’s beautiful hair to her shiny shoes, pausing on all the curves in between.
“You’re doing it again,” she said, coming around my desk and leaning down for a kiss.
After our kiss, I reached for her shoulders. “Don’t stand up. I like the view of your gorgeous breasts.”
“Inappropriate.” Despite my command, she stood and leaned her round ass against my desk.
“What am I doing?”
“Looking at me as if I’m not wearing clothes.”
I chuckled. “I’m seeing the clothes and imagining them falling to the floor.” Standing, I leaned close and whispered inher ear, purposely blowing warm air onto her slender neck. “Did you lock the door?”