crave | 16+

XI

ELIJAH

"HELLO?" I ASK INTO the phone.

"Elijah wallah I can't deal with this type of stupidity anymore! I am at my limit!" Malik roars into the phone and I can't help but let a laugh out.

"Being the boss isn't how you imagined huh?" I taunt him, and I hear him take a deep breath.

"Devon isn't giving me any sex because she's mad at me, and Zakaria is driving all the cars acting like some sixteen-year-old idiot! " 

I shake my head, "Tell Zakaria if he breaks it; he buys it."

Malik scoffs into the phone, telling me it isn't as easy as it sounds. "Where are you?"

"At the office," I reply, leaning back into my chair. I hear my older brother sigh into the phone and a smile comes onto my lips. It's so humorous when he's distressed. 

"Stop protecting white girl with your life and Come. Down. Here."

"It's Josie," I correct and Malik laughs into the phone.

"Have fun explaining that to mama."

I hang up the phone before I say something to him that'll definitely give him a reason to kill me. I sigh tugging at the end of my beard. Fucking Zakaria. "Kristen!" I yell. She scurries into my office, closing the door behind her. I smile. Bless her soul. "Cancel any meetings I have today, along with any phone calls. If Mr. Ross calls tell him I had a family emergency." 

Her mouth falls open. "Y-you're leaving?" she asks. I close my MacBook, grabbing my suit jacket. 

"Why else would I cancel my plans for today?" I retort back, finishing up the last before I walk toward her. I cup her cheek and she almost melts into my hand. I feel like crying for her. "Oh, and Kristen?" I ask. 

Her eyes flutter open as she looks up at me. "Yes, Elijah?"

"Wouldn't you be a darling and take Miss Moore under your wing?"

Shock flashes in her face. "For what?" she questions, clearly confused. 

I flash her my whites. "My new secretary. You're fired. When I come in tomorrow, I expect to see Miss Moore sitting at your desk and you, long gone." 

I walk out of my office before she tries begging me to let her stay or even worse; kiss me. Truth be told; Kristen has been on my people-to-fire list for a long time. She was good at first – did her job with precise concentration. But then she got comfortable and messed up half of meetings. Then the other day she kissed me. That's all I needed to finally rid her from my vision. 

I make my way toward the elevator smiling to some of my employees. I see a certain brunette standing at the front-desk, chitchatting with the new worker there. I'll admit, firing Nate out of spite was an idiotic move and I did help him find another job at another firm which he seemed to appreciate. Though, Josephine didn't know this and I'd rather if she didn't. 

When I walk past the front desk the new worker—Sabrina—greets me with a nod. Josephine and I's eyes meet and I nod at her. "Mr. Christ," she says. The sound makes the hairs on my neck rise. The electricity bounces all the way down my spine toward my toes. I shake it off, though and stand still waiting for the elevator. 

All the while Kristen makes her way toward Josephine. I can't see her facial expression due to her back being turned to me, but I do see the shake of her head and a glimpse of her terrified face as she turns around toward the elevator. I wave at her as the doors close.