How Are The Applications Going?

I sat behind my desk looking at the applications that had come in. It was time to search for the manager for the store in Atlanta. I didn't want just anyone though. I needed someone who stood out. Someone who made me feel like I could trust them with the brand. Amethyst was my baby after all.

I clicked to the next applicant. They all had the credentials to be a manager. They wouldn't have been emailed to me if they didn't. Damon made sure when the ad was put out that it was clear to our team that the manager experience was a must.

"Hey." Damon spoke as he came into the backroom.

"Well this is a surprise." I smiled.

I could see the smirk grow on his lips. "Just don't punch me in the face this time." He chuckled.

"I said I was sorry for that." I groaned as he reminded me of the last surprise he had tried to pull on me.

He closed the door of the backroom behind him and came over to the desk. He grabbed the open chair and pulled it up next to me. He then proceeded to sit down and place a kiss on my cheek. "How are the applications going?" He asked.

I let out a low sigh. "Fine I guess."

He studied me for a moment. "What's wrong?"

"I just haven't found any that I actually like so far." I was honest with my answer.

"Love, business is not necessarily about who you like. It's who's going to be the most competent at getting the job done." He responded.

"I'm just not a fan of the hiring part that comes with the business ownership I guess." I spoke as I clicked over to the next applicant.

"I can help if you want." Damon offered. "That way it may be a little easier."

"I would love that." I smiled.

We reviewed a few of the applicants that I had skipped over in the beginning. Damon had picked out ones he felt were his top five. To him they had the best references and the best qualifications. We then looked over them together. The five applicants were good but they still just didn't feel right to me.

"None of these?" Damon raised a brow as he spoke. "You don't like any of these?"

"No. I just don't feel like they'll be good fits. It doesn't help that this is being done here and they're all in another state. It's not like I can call them down to come meet me face to face." Another sigh escaped my lips. "It's just hard to know if they'll actually fit well with what I want."

"Love-" Damon began but I cut him off.

"I know, I know. I'm just being picky I guess. I'm sorry." There was a hint of frustration in my voice. "I'll try to force myself to pick out of these ones."

He took my chin in between his fingers and thumb. He then forced me to look at him. "There's nothing wrong with being picky. This is your store and this is all your decision."

"All mine?" I questioned. "You won't question who I might choose?"

He moved his fingers from my chin up to my cheek where he caressed it gently. "I trust your judgement Love."

I stood up from the chair and headed for the front of the store. Damon followed behind me. I looked around the store at my staff members. The ones who had originally been hired when we were preparing for the opening of this store.

"What are you thinking?" Damon asked as he watched me.

"Why not give one of them a chance?" I asked.

"Because they don't have the management experience that is needed." Damon responded.

I turned to face him. "Neither did I. I may have had your help but I've gotten confident enough that I could run this all by myself if I needed to. I can help whoever I choose just like you helped me."

Damon nodded. "I see your point."

"Plus there's one here in particular that has helped tremendously when I haven't been around." I added.

"And which one would that be?" Damon questioned.

"Come here." I walked back into the backroom.

Damon followed me again. He closed the door of the backroom behind us. Once we had our privacy I continued on with our conversation.

"When I was in the coma, after I had Scarlett, every time I needed to leave early for us to take care of something there was one person who helped Julie out every single time. She knows the store like the back of her hand and has taken on some things to help make my life easier." I explained my reasoning for why I wanted this individual.

"Okay. Again this decision is all you, so you tell me who you want to help run Amethyst in Atlanta." Damon responded.

"Samantha." I answered.

Samantha was the first one I had hired as a staff member. The boutique she worked at closed down but she was dedicated to them while they were opened. She proved how dedicated she was here. I may not be around a whole lot but I noticed when I did see her. Julie noticed it as well and told me about the things she's helped with.

Damon nodded. "You're confident this is the choice you want to go with?"

"Yes. I'm a thousand percent sure this is the route I want to go." I was confident with my decision.

"She has no experience, what if she declines?" Damon questioned further. It was a valid point he had.

"Then I'll see if one of the others would like the opportunity. But I feel like Sam will accept. And I even thought of a bonus for her doing it." He may have said it was my decision but I still felt like I had to sell him on it.

"What's that?" He had a curious look on his face as he waited for me to answer.

"I can train her from here." I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist and looked up at him. "That means I don't have to go anywhere until we get closer to the opening. I like that option better, considering everything that's going on."

He brushed some hair out of my face. "If you're confident that she can do it then I think it's a great idea. You have to get her to accept the offer though. If none of them want it I need enough notice so we can still hire one of these applicants you're so bored of."

I could help but chuckle at his last sentence. "I know."