Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,67

Go ahead and field that out to the PR groups while I handle these phone calls.”

“Collin and Jake are meeting us at Kinder’s tonight. Nice job, man.” He looked at me. “Nice to see you again, Avery,” he said. “All right, my job here is done. I’m clocking out.”

“Okay, I’m leaving too,” I said.

Jim’s phones were going into ringing frenzies. “Tomorrow night sounds great, Avery,” he said, stopping me from following Alex out of his office. “So, I guess it will be a big mac for Addy and me, and I’m guessing three or four of them for you?” he teased, his phone still constantly ringing. “Dammit, I have to get this call. Your department might be insane, but just ignore it, and know that I’m going just as crazy up here.” He winked, and I could tell he was my Jim from England again.

I had a responsibility to myself, my daughter, and really, any man that I dated—in that order. If I was a mess, it filtered in and hurt Addy. I never brought men around her, but right now, she knew Jim as Mitch, her friend. So, a little fast food get together never hurt anything. Of course, I would ask Addy about Jim joining us first. She would have to be cool with the fact that we would have a new friend with us on her and mom’s mid-week date night.

Chapter Eighteen

Jim

I had no time to reflect on Avery being in my office, or exactly what I’d said to encourage her to allow me another opportunity with her. This day wasn’t any less busy than my usual routine in the office. Still, by pulling recordings on my employees and going over them with human resources, Alex, and the lawyers, it wasn’t necessarily an average day in the office either. It also wasn’t usual practice for an employee with multiple supervisors above them to end up in my office, but I had Alex’s intervention to thank for that.

Thank God Alex swiftly caught on to her being my Avery from England. Because of that, no one questioned Alex insisting that she was to report directly to me over her incident. In my opinion, Avery was justified in her actions toward the woman. How that old battle-ax made it through background was beyond me. Perhaps a psychiatric evaluation would have precluded her from even starting. There was no empathy or consideration for my employee’s children, that was obvious from observing the way she treated Avery when we brought Addison into the preschool. Then her behavior toward Avery this morning? How many parents and children had she treated so rudely? It was unacceptable, and it wouldn’t happen again.

I had Alex put together a strike force team that consisted of members that would begin internal investigations of all departments. This entire event with the Children’s Center prompted me to ensure that all departments at Mitchell and Associates were functioning at optimum levels. After putting this new plan of investigation in action, I was feeling slightly better knowing we were taking steps to improve the quality of employment here at my company.

This day certainly did not want to end. Even after I packed up and left the office, my email was exploding. Thank God I had my driver today, or I’d be stuck in the office finishing this shit up. With my driver, Blake, at the wheel, I was able to keep my laptop open and answer pressing emails while he drove me to meet up with the guys for dinner.

Even with traffic tagging on an extra fifty minutes to my commute, it felt like I’d just sat in the damn car when we pulled up in front of the restaurant. “Give me another second to send off this last email,” I announced to Blake.

“Not a problem, Mr. Mitchell,” he said, getting out of the car and advising the valets that we’d have the Bentley out of the way promptly.

I worked quickly and once all the necessary items were taken care of, I stepped out of the car and headed into the restaurant. My muscles were tense and I was ready for a drink now more than ever.

“So,” Jake said after I was seated at the table. “New rules for all of us, eh? No more fucking around in bars now that Collin has his docuseries out?” He shook his head at me. “Glad my documentary could be your test monkey to figure that out. You do realize that unexpected fame almost cost