Stronger With Her (6 page)

I
managed to finish out the day without doing anything naughty. After I had hung up with Kate, I abandoned the idea of fucking with Lindsey and worked on making a list of potential clients. I need to get started right away. Thankfully I don’t have a non-compete clause with Soklov, so I can do whatever I want when I quit. Idiots. They really should change that policy.

With my list in hand, I walk into the law offices of Morris, Morris, and Dean. Kate is a partner in this firm with her father and sister. They specialize in corporate and tax law and are the go-to lawyers for anyone in the area who has a business. I was really lucky to be accepted as a client because they don’t take on new cases very often. Their offices are located in the heart of downtown, across from a newer building that houses some corporate headquarters and small manufacturing companies. I did some work with a corporation on the first floor last year, beefing up their firewalls. Anyone could have done it, but they hired Soklov instead.

The receptionist calls me by name and tells me that Kate is on the phone but will be with me shortly. I sit down in the plush lobby and look around. The walls are a dark wood paneling, very traditional but elegant. The furnishings are leather, tufted, and sturdy looking. Everything in this room screams confidence, class, and business. I think someday I’d like to have a setup similar to this. Even though I could run my entire enterprise from my home, sometimes it makes clients feel better when there’s a physical location they can visit.

My thoughts are interrupted when Kate opens the door from the hallway. She smiles and asks me to follow her back.

Kate’s office is a juxtaposition of modern meets traditional. She has the wood paneled walls, but her desk is brushed nickel and glass. It’s an interesting combination that works quite well.

“I’m dying here, Kate. Tell me what you’ve got in mind.” When I’m nervous, I’m more blunt than usual.

“It’s all good, Steph. One of my other clients contacted me this morning about needing a computer security specialist. Obviously you were my first thought, and since we were already working on this, I thought we’d get it done now and then I can give my other client your information. What do you think?” She smiles like the cat that ate the canary.

“Well, I think you’re insane. I’m not taking on a new client the first week. Seriously, what were you thinking?” I say sarcastically. Kate isn’t phased one bit, and she laughs along with me.

“That’s what I thought. Okay, there are a lot of papers to sign but once we’re done, you will be the proud owner of Erin’s Peace of Mind, LLC.” I look up at her with tears in my eyes knowing that my sister would be so proud of me.

“Let’s get going so I can get started,” I say through the lump in my throat. It’s turned out to be a pretty good Tuesday.

24 days ago

I
t’s Wednesday morning, and I get to spend my time in my lawyer’s office. There is so much shit that needs to be done to get ready for this contract, but I know that nothing will happen until we get this lined out.

“James, it’s so good to see you again,” Kate says as she walks into the lobby. I stand and shake her hand. She’s stunning with her long dark hair and brown eyes. She’s nearly my height in her heels, which is saying something. She exudes confidence, and you know that she is not to be fucked with. Joe made the mistake of asking her out once, and it took him weeks to recover from the rejection. Men don’t chase Kate; she takes what she wants when she wants it.

“Thanks for seeing me today,” I reply as I follow her down the hall. We bypass her office and enter the conference room where her father is sitting at the head of the table.

“Mr. Morris,” I say as I shake his hand before sitting down.

“Glad to see that things are going so well for you, Jimmy. Your father would be very proud to know all that you’ve accomplished.” Mr. Morris was my dad’s best friend through college up until the day he died. He’s been a mentor to me and my brothers since that day, and I couldn’t imagine a better man to have on my side.

“Thank you, sir. That’s kind of you to say.”

“Well, I understand you’ve got a doozy of a contract pending. Kate tells me it’s the biggest and most complicated one yet,” he says while flipping through the papers in the file.

“Yes, it’s going to be a tough order to fill. I know we can do it right and on time. It’s all this pre-planning stuff that drives me crazy. I just want to get started, but the paperwork gets in the way.” I’ve never been patient, and it’s gotten me in trouble in the past. Something I’m trying to work on.

“Son, I know you’re like a bull in a china shop when it comes to a new project. I’ve looked over all the specs in this contract and the only thing I can see that may pose a problem for you is the clause related to computer and internet security. Kate mentioned that you did an upgrade not too long ago, but it may not be enough. What do you have planned for this?” The man misses nothing, I swear he’s psychic or something.

“Dad, I told you that I have another client that I’m going to recommend for James to contact. She’s really good and I think they’ll be a great fit. She can design a system that exceeds the minimum requirements of this contract and keep Owens Ammunition safe for quite a long time.” Kate smiles like she’s won the prize.

“I have no doubt you’ve thought of everything, pumpkin, but I want to know what Jimmy wants to do. It’s his company, after all.” He winks at her and turns to me for an answer.

“I’m going to follow the advice of my legal counsel, sir. I’ve found that in the past I tend to jump the gun and she’s never steered me wrong.”

“Glad to hear that. I’m going to leave the two of you to iron out any remaining details,” he says as he stands. I follow his lead and shake the hand he offers. He takes my hand but pulls me in for a man hug.

“I meant what I said. Your dad would be so proud,” he chokes out the last word and leaves without looking at me. I take a deep breath before I sit down again and deal with all the paperwork.

“He also means that he’s proud, too, you know,” Kate says smiling softly.

“Yeah, I know. He’s so good to my family.”

“All right, enough of this mushy shit, let’s get down to business,” Kate says as she picks up her pen and passes it to me.

We spend the next hour going through every last detail of the contract which I sign in at least thirty different places. Once everything is checked over and notarized, she has her paralegal make a copy for me and hands me a sticky note.

“This is the name of the person I mentioned to you. She’s just started her own LLC, but she’s very experienced. I think she can do great things for you. I told her that I would be passing her info to a client but I didn’t tell her anything else. I’m sure she’s looking forward to your call.”

I look down at the piece of yellow paper and see Stephanie, EPOM and a phone number there.

“What is EPOM?” I ask. It’s a strange name.

“That’s the name of her company, Erin’s Peace of Mind. Just call her, James. Let me know if you need anything else.” She shakes my hand and opens the door for me to exit the building.

I cross the street and enter my office complex. Owens Ammunition is located on the third and fourth floors. Once I get to Simone’s desk I ask her to get Joe and Jason to come up so we can discuss everything.

“What’s up, bro?” Jason is the first to arrive, not a surprise. I look out my door and see Joe hanging around Simone’s desk again.

“Damn it, Joe, get the fuck in here. I don’t have time for your shit today.” If those two don’t get together soon I’m going to kill them both.

“For fuck’s sake, Runt, calm down. I’m coming,” he says without looking at me. I start to walk out to get him as he winks at Simone and saunters in, taking his sweet time most likely to piss me off more.

“I don’t know why I don’t fire your ass.” I threaten enough I should probably follow through one of these days.

“You couldn’t run this place without me, that’s why. Now what’s so fucking important that you have to interrupt my day?”

I fall into the club chair and sigh. Joe and Jason sit on the couch and look at me, waiting for me to answer.

“I just came from Kate’s. The contract is signed and on its way to the DOD. Now we have to get a computer expert in here to fulfill that requirement so we can be ready for inspection in two weeks. She gave me the name of a woman who has just started her own company. This makes me very nervous. I think it would be better to go with someone who’s more established in the field. I was thinking about contacting Soklov for a quote, but I want to know what you two guys think before I do anything.” Both brothers look at each other before looking back at me.

“I think you should do what Kate says,” Jason replies. “She’s always been right and when you don’t follow her advice you regret it.”

“I agree, Kate has been the one to fix any bad decisions you’ve made in the past. Trust her with this too. She knows her shit,” Joe adds.

“Really, go with an unknown? Are you sure?” Part of me knows they’re right, but I don’t like things that are out of my control.

“Yes, I’m sure. Give me the info and I’ll take care of it. I’ll do a background check and everything before we sign anything. Trust me, James.” Joe only uses my real name when he wants to get my attention.

“Okay, we’ll go with the woman Kate recommended.” I go to my desk and get the sticky note to give to Joe. “Just be thorough, please.”

“You got it. Is that all or do you still need us? I’ve gotta go drain the monster,” Joe laughs as he leaves with Jason trailing behind him.

I settle back at my desk and begin the process of putting an order together for all the supplies we will need to fulfill this contract. My cell pings with a message, interrupting my thought process.

We’re going to the Sprocket again on Saturday. You in?

Fucking Paul and his insatiable dick. I start to decline when I remember the hottie from last week.

Do you know if Vixen is working? If so, then I’m in. If not, then no.

Nobody knows when she works. You can check the website and see. Sometimes they put it on there.

I don’t want to go back to the Sprocket, but I also really want to see her again. She’s been in the back of my mind and I’ve had to work hard to keep her there.

I doubt it. I’ll let you know if I change my mind.

10-4. We’ll be there at 8.

I go back to my supply list, but all I can see is the piercing blue eyes and perfect curves of my little Vixen. My cock starts to stir, which startles me a bit. I haven’t had any desire for sex since Danielle and Madison. Of course, that thought sends it back to its flaccid state. Fuck, I don’t have time for this shit in my life right now.