Daddy’s Little Assistant by Lila Fox
Chapter Two
Eli closed the conference room door. “Where do these need to go?”
“No, really, I can take them. I’ll just order new ones.”
He slid his hand under her hair and cupped the back of her neck to get her full attention. “Listen. This isn’t a big deal. I don’t like how upset you are over this.”
She wiped the tears from her cheek, looked down, and bit her lip. “I just started a few weeks ago, and I’m still trying to figure everything out.”
“What do you do here?”
She shrugged. “I’m not quite sure. My cousin in the computer room got me a job because I just moved here, but I think they made one up for me.”
“Why would they do that, baby?” Eli asked.
“Because they feel sorry for me.”
He could see the embarrassment she tried to hide.
“Show me where we can get rid of these, and then we’ll talk.”
“Really, you don’t have to…”
“Stop arguing.”
She instantly stiffened at the dominance in his tone and nodded. “Okay. This way, sir.”
He followed her down a few hallways until they got to a lounge. Several refrigerators, cabinets, and machines carried different food, from sandwiches, fruit, junk food, and drinks. The counters held expensive-looking coffee makers, microwaves, and other small appliances.
There were about ten tables spaced around the area.
The woman stood by the garbage can with a sad look on her face.
“What’s your name, honey?”
“Kinley.”
“My name is Eli.”
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“Baby, it’s just a few donuts. I want you to stop worrying about it right now.”
The look she gave him made his heart pound. It was such an innocent, trusting expression, and it made him feel ten feet tall.
She nodded.
“Good girl.” He dumped the donuts in the garbage and put the tray in the sink. “What do you have to do now?”
She looked around in confusion. “I’m not sure. I can go ask Mrs. Bennet.”
“Who’s that?”
“She sits at the desk as you’re coming out of the elevator. She helps me with all my questions.”
“That’s good. We all need help, right?”
Kinley nodded. “What are you doing here?” She exhaled. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m talking with the partners about buying into the business.”
“So, you’d be a partner, too?”
“Yes.”
“You’d be here all the time then?”
“Yeah.” He liked the hopeful look on her face.
“Are you going to do it?”
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t had the time to ask questions, but I tell you what. I’ll come to look for you after the meeting, and I’ll tell you then.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? You’d do that?”
“Sure. And if I take the position, I’m going to need help. Do you think you’d want to do that?”
She practically bounced onto her toes in excitement, making him grin. “I would love that.”
“Good. Where will you be?”
“I … I’m not quite sure. Ask Mrs. Bennet when you get done, and she’ll know.”
“I’ll do that.” Eli set his hand on her lower back and felt her shiver, which pleased him tremendously.
He stopped them at the receptionist’s desk. “I’ll come to find you, Kinley.”
“Okay, Eli.”
He grinned at the blush that covered her face. His grin broadened when he walked back into the conference room to see several of the guys throwing paper balls at each other and two others arguing.
The man, Caleb, and the woman who had been there before were gone, and he wondered how he could ask the questions he had about her calling him daddy when they were clearly in a relationship.
A shrill whistle sounded. “All right, children, let’s try to act like adults.”
Eli chuckled with the rest of the men when a paper ball hit Travis on the forehead. He could see himself here very easily. It was easygoing, and they didn’t take themselves too seriously.
Where he’d come from, everything was serious and by the book. There were always documents and red tape to lug through. If he were out in the field, he was fine, but if he’d had to stay in the office, he always went home with a headache.
Travis grunted and faced Eli. “So, here is what we are telling the potential new partners. Of course, we’ve done a background check on all of you and want you here, so it’s up to you if you’re going to stay. Ask any questions you have.”
Eli nodded. “I read the email about what the pay-in would be.”
“Will that work for you?” Travis asked.
“Yes, it’s fine. Do you have enough space for six more offices? And you talked about the condos in the building?”
“There are twelve floors altogether. The top seven are each a condo. They are spacious, and you can do whatever you want to them. There are three open right now. Me and Nia, my little, bought a house…”
“Little?” Eli asked.
“Oh, you weren’t in here when we explained. Three of us”—he pointed to Kane—“and you met Caleb. The other partners, Jesse, Dravin, and Cesar, haven’t found their women yet, but we are in relationships with women that aren’t… How do I say it? By today’s standards, they are not considered normal.”
“How so?”
“Have you ever heard of Big/little relationships?”
Eli shook his head. “No.”
“We are the type of men who like our women to depend on us more than an average woman does. They are happy and thrive when they have a man who controls their world.”
Eli felt his heart jerk in his chest. That was exactly the type of woman he’d been looking for. He had just never heard a label put on it.
“Is that why Bella called Caleb her daddy?”
“Yes. I hope you aren’t offended. If you are, we understand and think you probably won’t be happy here. But remember, this is with women, not children. They feel comfortable calling us Daddy, and the three of us actually expect it when we’re not out in public. You’ll also see them around a lot since we don’t allow them to work outside of the building.”
“I can tell you I’m not at all offended. In fact, my father and grandfather had relationships like that, and I’ve been looking for that type of woman, but they are hard to find.”
Every man at the table nodded.
Dravin grunted. “Hell yes, they are. I’ve been looking for a while. They aren’t falling off trees.”
The other men chuckled.
Travis nodded. “Every man at this table feels the same way. I’m shocked that we seem to pick men that have the same interests.”
“I like knowing there are other men like me out there.” It was almost a relief knowing he wasn’t the only one who wanted a different type of relationship.
“We feel the same way,” Kane, another partner, said. “Also, by the way, I saw how you and Kinley connected, and I have to tell you she falls into the little category. She’s got a high IQ, probably higher than any of us, and is great at computers, but she’s the type of woman who needs guidance.”
Jesus, she got better and better.
“She said her cousin got her a job here?” Eli asked.
Kane nodded. “Yes. She went to a very strict all-girls college and graduated. The only relative she has left is Vic, so he moved her here. He asked us if she could work here until they found the right job for her, but I have to say, I’d like to keep her on. If the eggheads are busy, people in the building call her if they have a problem with their computers. But she also gets it done faster than them. She’s even helped me a few times.”
“She seems incredibly sweet. I told her if I take the partnership that I’d need her help.”
Travis chuckled. “I bet she was thrilled with that. Our littles are the same way. If they think they are helping people, they get excited.”
Eli grinned. “Yeah, she squealed and clapped her hands.”
The men at the table laughed.
“If things work out between you two, we’d still like to be able to use her.”
“Absolutely.”
“So, it sounds like you’re taking the partnership?” Jesse, another partner, asked.
“Yes.” Eli looked at the other new men at the table. “Are all of you getting involved?”
They all nodded.
Eli nodded. “Good to know. How quickly should I get moved here?”
“Whenever you want. Chase and Gavin are leaving this weekend to get their things, and Cain and Sean are taking their time. David already lives and works here.”
“I think I’ll set up my office and find a place to live before I move everything here.”
“I think a few of the condos might be open,” Draven told him.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Good enough.” Travis stood. “Let me show you your offices.”
Travis showed each one their office. When he opened the door to Eli’s, he was pleasantly surprised. The back wall was all windows, and the three other sides were painted a creamy beige. There was already a massive desk and shelving unit, but everything was empty, just waiting for him to put his stamp on it.
The office he’d had when he worked at Homeland Security had been small without windows, and it always smelled like stinky feet no matter what he did.
“Will this work?”
Eli nodded. “It’s great.”
“There’s a great furniture store in town that delivers. I got my sofa, desk chair, and art from there.”
Eli closed the door and faced Travis. “I have a quick question. You did background checks on all of us?”
“Yes.”
“So, I assume you know who my family is.”
Travis put his hands in his pockets. “Yes, but it doesn’t matter here.”
“I’m glad. Who all knows?”
“Just Kane and I, and we don’t talk. That’s your personal business.”
Eli shook his hand. “Thank you. Some people act differently when they know who I am. That’s why I’m using my mother’s maiden name Turner instead of Warner.”
“Well, here, you’re just another one of the assholes who run the place.”
Eli chuckled. “I think I’m really going to like working here.”
“We hope so. Your bosses gave you raving reviews.”
“That’s good to know. Now I have to find Kinley. I promised I’d tell her after I decided.”
“Just ask Mrs. Bennet. She’ll know.”
“Thank you, Travis.”
“Anytime.”
