No Longer Alone

Chapter Twenty-Eight

       *Nicole's POV*

       It was damned hard to concentrate or focus on anything at all with him following me, and knew that I was being paid back ten fold for all the times I had been thankful that it wasn't happening to me.  After finishing helping Bob, talking with some agents, and assisting David, it was finally time to take my last break of the day.  I headed towards one of the many timeclocks to scan out, sighing internally as I hear him following me.

    "I'm just taking my last break of the day, I'm sure there is nothing interesting to learn following me on break."

    "How are you so certain that I won't learn anything interesting following you to break?"  his response was what I expected from this game of his and Alex's, I still couldn't figure out why they were so intent on messing with me.

    "Whatever you say.  I'm sure you and Alex will continue to do whatever regardless of what I say or do.  Enjoy your little game while you can, I'm not playing."  With that I started to walk off, but before I could get too far my arm was grabbed, not hard enough to hurt or bruise, but I wouldn't be moving without a fight.  I felt the warmth of his body right behind me as he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

    "I don't play games with business, Nicole, I only accept the best, and in my personal life, be aware I play for keeps, and you have now given me permission to try."  My whole body felt like it was going up in flames from his body, yet his voice sent pleasurable chills down my spine.   His hand released my arm, but trailed down before letting go, and I released a shaky breath, desperately craving a cigarette, or him.  Between the two though, I was more likely to get the cigarette, and it was less likely to break me than he was.

    "Funny how often people claim to play for keeps, and yet none of them ever seem to want to really keep what they win," I steeled my spine and responded, "people seem to like things when they are shiny and new, and take the best care, but after a while, their true colors show and that shiny prize gets damaged, and discarded.  I'm not impressed with people who play for keeps."  With that I walked towards the patio where the smokers went, trying hard to not show the trembling weakness that was still lingering in my knees.

    Once outside I gravitated towards my friends, still trying to ignore Damian, which was getting harder and harder as he had practically glued himself to my side now.  Bob and David had gotten used to him by now, as they had worked with visitors before, but Nick was still in awe and still so new to the department you could almost see the shine on him and sparkles floating around.    Lighting my cigarette I nodded a hello to everyone.

    "Can I borrow a lighter, I seem to have misplaced mine?"  I heard Damian from beside me and glanced at him.  Like hell he misplaced it.  Before I could reach into my pocket though, I was saved by Nick in over eager puppy mode.  Normally I teased him about that, but today I could have kissed him for it.

    "Here, I have one!  So you are one of the visitor's here looking at working with us maybe?"  Nick starts up and I can see how this is going to go, he is almost up there with Marie when she gets wound up. "What do you think of the area so far?  I thought the people here have been so great, and while my family may be in Washington still, I love the people here and my wife and I have met some of the greatest people here."

    "Yes, if we find that your staff can do the kind of work we request, we were looking to potentially offer a contract.  So far we what we have seen through most of this has been looking like what we are looking for, however we are also quiet aware that what we see at them moment could just be a well coached act.  Most of the people we have met here have been wonderful, with few exceptions."

    "Well if you are following Nicole, she doesn't really change too much, but she may be a bit grumpy if she didn't get her second cup of coffee, the manager's had her make coffee for our visitors but she might not have had a chance to get a refill and most of us know not to talk to her until she has her second cup."  I start glaring at Nick while Damian starts to chuckle.

    "Shut it Princess, before I shut it for you."  Yes, Nick got the nickname of Princess due to his unicorn addiction.  "I did get my second cup of coffee thank you very much."

    "So Mr.....I'm sorry I didn't get your name?"  David starts, trying to be the peacemaker and distraction.

    "Just call me Damian, I'd rather you didn't have to feel so formal with me on your break." David nodds.

    "Thank you Damian.  So I understand that you guys are interested in particular with our department as we would most likely be working with trainers and what not from your company to help with getting new agents trained for whatever it is we would be doing for your company, but why would you come looking in our neck of the woods for anything like that.  I mean most people tend to forget that Montana is even in the US."

    "Well, there is a long story to that, and there are a few other things to finish working out.  Short version is Alex, who is here as well, grew up in this area and really wanted to see the company branch out here."  Everyone nods accepting the answer, Damian pulls out his phone to check it, then huffs a breath.  "Seems I am needed again.  Thank you all for the conversation, and I look forward to the rest of my time here."  

    My peers say a round of goodbyes to him, and I nod.  The boys start talking trying to figure out what kind of a contract it might be, or what we would be training, while I am just fighting between the feelings of relief that he is gone and a sense of loss that shouldn't even be there.  Suddenly most of our phones go off at the same time, which only happens if there was a mass communication in the work messaging system that we could choose, mostly, to download on our phones. 

    -All members of the OJT and Training teams, and their families are being invited to a catered dinner meeting tonight starting at 7 PM.   Our Guests would like to meet with our team in a more casual environment as well as talk with the families of our team for their input on things.  I know this is not at all standard, even for us, but I ask that as many of you as possible show up with family to help show support for our team, and the request of this potential client.  Dining and dress code will be casual.  Thank you! Stone -

    All of us looked at each other, except Bob that was still reading, with the same confused look on our faces.  Did we really just read that?