Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 45: Morning Meeting

Just like any other week at Hendrick Motorsports, Alex made his way into the shop early on Monday morning, knowing it was time for the usual series of meetings. It would begin with the four drivers and their crew chiefs, followed by a session with just his team. Some weeks it just felt like following routine. Other weeks it felt more interesting in knowing there was something good to talk about. 

Considering the race he had in Miami, he was not too keen on having these conversations. Maybe they could spin it around with the focus on Martinsville. Alex knew what he had done there just a year ago. Perhaps he could do it once again. 

"If you want another cup of coffee or need to use the bathroom, don't be shy as you know where both of those are," Alex states as he leads Hailey up to his office prior to the start of the first meeting in the board room. He had debated letting her stay alone at home for the day. Truth be told, that would not present any issues in giving Finn some company and allowing her to maximize relaxing, which is what she should be doing. However, he was a bit of selfish in wanting to take advantage of whatever time they could get together and accepted her following him when he got ready and headed out the door that morning. Perhaps it could work to their advantage in doing something when he was done work together. "If you want to go on the computer and check your e-mail or whatever, go ahead." 

"I spy a blond in someone's office," Kyle comments as he walks by, peaking his inside as he does so with a smirk on his face. The comment resulted in an eye roll from Hailey in having expected something before the end of the day - but she would take whatever Kyle had to dish in knowing she was getting extra time with Alex. Alex, on the other hand, could only smirk back at his teammate in remembering the conversation they had last week about the little teases. 

"I better go to the meeting before someone starts singing another song about our love. That, or he will tell the boss that I was late for the meeting because I was spreading you across my desk." Hailey looks at Alex with pure shock in hearing him say those words out loud, actually really scared if those were words that would actually slip from Kyle's mouth down the hall. Those were details she did not need everyone knowing. However, she couldn't help but smirk in thinking just how lovely that would be once again for the second week in a row. It had been easy to clear off enough space last time.

"That's certainly a mental image that I did not need. Remind me to never touch your desk ever again, and have all conversations together in my office so I don't need to be even near it." Alex couldn't help but smirk in response, offering a wink towards Hailey as he headed for the doorway. Perhaps there was a reason for the comment. It was all about distracting everyone away so they could spend more time together. "And here I thought Chase was the naughty one of the four of us..." 

"If only you knew what Alex and I were up to," Hailey whispered to herself as she blew a kiss towards Alex as she watched the door to the office shut before her. 

She then puts her feet up on the desk, relaxing back in the chair as she glances at her phone. She wondered what was going on right now in Chicago. What case were they working on? Did they have any leads? It felt weird to not know a single detail and be hours away from them.

However, thinking back to last night and the strong arms wrapped around her body, she couldn't help but smile. It felt great to be right alongside him and spending more time with him. It felt great to hear his voice, feel his touch against her skin rather than just read a simple message. It felt great to know someone who truly put her first was right there should she need someone. The rest of those long nights beyond that? They were the best bonus in mind.

It was then she turned on the computer on the desk, letting it load before going to the Google search tool. Police and Detective jobs in North Carolina was the words she typed in the search bar. She knew she could easily speak to Trudy as her desk sergeant seemed to have the right connections to people all over the place it seemed. Probably a simple conversation of her intentions, and she would be in contact with someone could answer every question she had. That person could even give her a place of employment.

Employment. 

From the day she joined the 21st district, she never imagined working anywhere else. Being able to work for the elite unit within those four walls, with the woman she had looked up to since she was a little girl, it was what dreams were made of. It was the perfect culmination of everything coming together. It was why the FBI opportunity she was forced to take a couple years back felt so weird. 

Though as she thought about every reason to want to be in North Carolina - mainly because of a sweet man that was just down the hall in a meeting right now, she couldn't help but wonder what was out there. Sure, she wanted to spend time with him, but she was not about to give up her job yet. She absolutely enjoyed the thrill of chase in taking down the criminals, and doing something right in the world. It gave her a special sense of pride and satisfaction, and fed an adrenaline she needed to be filled with what she had watched in her younger days. 

It was why as she read through some of the employment opportunities, she could not help but ask herself - could she get the same satisfaction and pride working outside of those four familiar walls she knew well?