No Longer Alone

Chapter Twenty-Five

*Alex's POV*

    I watched the sparks flying around the room as the two site leaders sat confused about everything that was occurring while trying to contain my laughter at everything.  Nicole looked like she was doing her best to hide all emotions, but a flicker of her old fire showed through and I knew Damian was lucky looks alone couldn't wound.  The toe-rag admin was alternating through trying to glare at Nicole and trying to suck up to everyone in the room, I had to admit that prior to Damian opening his mouth and putting him in his place, I wasn't certain how anyone could suck up that much and not have an entirely brown face from how far up management's rear he seemed to be.  Learn something new every day I guess.  Damian had a hint of humor in his eyes, even with maintaining the same bored professional tone that he had used when putting the toe-rag in his place.

    "That is a request I am sure we could easily accommodate." Laura looked to Nicole's boss for a moment.  "It wouldn't be too much of a problem to re-arrange things so Nicole is free to spend more time with covering this with them and how your team works, right?"

    "She isn't on an active group right now, she has been support for the leads and has been onboarding and working with the new supervisors since we found that they perform better and onboard faster with her being the sole person teaching them the ropes.  Shouldn't be too much of a problem for us to clear some time for this."  Stone says with a smirk as she eyes Nicole shifting a little in her seat.

    "Nicole trains new supervisors in your department as well as helping leads and training classes?"  My turn to stir the pot a little more, seems someone is a busy lady at work.  "Sounds like she has a lot on her plate already."

    "Actually she is running a little lighter than she normally does." Stone jumps in seeing that Nicole was about to open her mouth,"  Nicole isn't a normal supervisor in our department.  She helps keep the whole area running smooth since she helps agents and peers with not only learning and their questions, but she also keeps the moral up, has been known to fill in for Andrew and do his work, and she still finds time to help me with any other side work I ask her help in." 

    "Boss, I really don't do that much, I just try to help where I can, and I'm certain almost anyone else in our department could and would do it to."  Nicole ducks her head a little, not enough to hide the blush on her cheeks though.

    "I wonder if it might not be better for us to see how she handles all her jobs and follow her for a bit to see how things work for training like this.  I'm certain you are aware that we are looking for the best in all regards and nothing less will work for us."  I smirk a little waiting to see what she will do with this, Damian simply raises a brow watching and waiting, this is an old game for us.  People tend to believe that I am the one in charge and that Damian is my right hand based on how we both interact with people on the first few meetings, that tends to make them loosen up more for him and allows him to see what is below the surface, while they continue to try and get on my good side little knowing it will do them no good.

    "I can't work with two of them following me.  They would be too much of a distraction and I couldn't do my job right.  Our agents don't know them to be able to relax and talk to me normally."  Nicole cut in before anyone could say anything else, and I contained my grin glancing at Damian who flicked a glance at me before looking focusing on the others again.

    "You said both, so does that mean one of us would be fine?" 

    "I..." Nicole glances at her bosses before looking back at the two of us, a moment of hesitation in her behaviors," One would be alright I suppose.  I could explain that so the agents and my team don't get as nervous."  I let out a full fledged grin as I see a hint of a smirk appear on Damian's face.  She walked right into that one.

    "Fantastic, Damian expressed the interest in how you teach your classes, so I am certain it will be most beneficial for him to follow you around then."

    Well, looks like now I am the one who should be glad it takes more than a look to wound someone.