Work Wife

Chai

I knew the day before Chase and I left for Mexico would be a complete shit show.

Chase is absolutely terrible at trusting Kate, our newest event planner, despite Eloise and me hand-picking her from dozens of applicants. She joined us during the chaos of holiday party season and handled some of our most demanding clients without breaking a sweat. That's why I assigned her the one event happening while we're gone- a Denver realtors convention with half the guests attending virtually. It's a straightforward job: overseeing caterers, swag distribution, and rentals. If anyone could handle it, it's Kate.

But Chase clearly wasn't convinced. The tension was written all over him as he strode into my office at precisely nine a.m., looking like a storm cloud in navy slacks and a crisp white button-down. His hair, usually styled to perfection, had a rogue strand flopped across his forehead, clearly having evaded the gel. He'd skipped the suit jacket too, understandably, given the ninety-degree heat. 

"Did you get those contracts signed for the software convention I sent you?" Chase asked, handing me a coffee before dropping heavily into the leather chair across from my desk.

I nodded with a smile, trying to waft some calmness his way. 

"I emailed those to you before I left last night remember?" I remind him and shakes his head at himself. He rubs the side of his hand across his forehead as I add, "I also verified Kate's checklist and made sure she's all set for Saturday. Eloise is handling my client meetings until Friday and I set my out-of-office to let clients know I was off, but still checking emails sporadically. The office will not burn down while we are gone, Chase. I promise."

He nods while downing more of his coffee, "I know. It's just usually you're here and I am gone or vice versa. Having us both gone and leaving the office to Eloise stresses me out."

"Honestly, I doubt Gunner, Henry, Brooke or Paola will put a full eight hours in as soon as we are gone. Eloise is just as capable as I am at running the office for four days and Kate will be great this weekend."

"No one is as capable as you are at running this office. Monday just makes me a little nervous."

I lean back in my computer chair and it wheels a few inches from my desk as I reply, "You're the one who decided to get married on a Sunday and invite half the office."

"I couldn't invite you and Eloise and not accounting or design," he answers and we both take a sip of our coffee. I taste a weird spice instead of my caramel macchiato and turn the cup around to read the label.

"What?" Chase asks as he watches me wince and I shake my head.

"You got me a soy chai?" I ask him, confused as he knows soy is a no-go for me. I flit my eyes up to him and he palms his forehead.

"Oh my god, Stel. I'm sorry. It was my coffee run day and I got you Ainslee's go-to." 

I try and act like this doesn't completely rub me the wrong way and give him a no-biggie shrug.

"No worries. I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment."

"You can't drink soy," he says, but I wave a hand at him.

"Eloise will love it. I'll grab coffee from the kitchen," I tell him, trying to keep it light. He gives me a small smile and I laugh, "Chase, it's fine."

"I'll get us boba at lunch. Make up for it," he says while giving me a wider smile that shows off his dimple.

"Boba and those caramel brownies they have," I reply and he nods while pushing himself out of the chair. He's about to cross the threshold when he stops and looks back at me, "Oh, Susan sent us a glowing review." My eyebrows shoot up and he nods and adds, "Gave you a shout-out by name."