Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
The inside isn’t much better. Cubicles with movable walls, cheap carpet, and stark white walls make the space feel temporary and almost scammy. For someone so concerned with appearances, it’d seemed odd that Jed didn’t do more with the office, but when I asked him about it once, he said that he wasn’t putting money into a space no one sees.
Realistically, I decided he was putting the money into his own pocket.
At the front desk, Maggie looks grumpier than a mama bear chasing her cubs out of the water for the tenth time this morning. “Uh, hey, Maggie! I brought goodies,” I tease, holding up the box and hoping it’ll gain me entrance without getting my head bitten off. “Mom put in two Buttery Nipples for you. A matching pair.”
I wiggle the box in front of my chest, shimmying my shoulders a bit. Thankfully, it pulls a small smile from the woman who’s put up with more of Jed’s shit than anyone else, probably including Chrissy herself.
“Thanks, Jesse. I need these,” Maggie says, sounding exasperated and not waiting a second to dig into the box. She pulls out a cupcake with a tan caramel areola on butterscotch-schnapps frosting and takes a big bite. Moaning, she mumbles, “Gah, these are sooo gud.”
I grin, glad that I could bring a little bit of joy to her day. I lean on the counter to whisper, “What’s going on? I got a call to do The Bitch’s bidding today?”
Maggie giggles, sounding much younger than her fiftysomething years. “She’s got ants in her pants, probably realizing that she doesn’t have a clue.”
She gives me a knowing look as she takes another bite. I think she’s thinking like Wren, that I could have the run of the place if I play my cards right. But I shrug noncommittally. “Jed didn’t either. We all know you run the office and I run the job site. Who needs ’em?”
“Ain’t that the truth?” she agrees wholeheartedly.
Once upon a time, I think Jed hired Maggie to answer the phones or something equally low-key. But over the years, she’s become the true star of the show behind the scenes. You need to know the budget? Ask Maggie. Want to order materials? Maggie. Got an issue with your paycheck? Maggie . . . well, she has a payroll company that does most of the work now, but for a lot of years, she was the one printing every check. Just about anything that actually makes the company function? Maggie does it or oversees the person who does.
I didn’t even realize how much she does until Winston was singing her praises one night after he started his own firm. He needed to hire help and couldn’t figure out how to post a job for “Maggie.”
“She driving you crazy yet?” I guess.
“A little, but I can understand it. Taking over operations of this scale isn’t for the faint of heart, and she’s got not a lick of business sense in her head. Add on that she’s got trust issues and it’s a recipe for disaster. I’m doing my best to show her a little at a time so she doesn’t get overwhelmed, while trying to keep things going.” Maggie takes another bite of her cupcake, and I wish I’d brought her a coffee too. It sounds like she needs it.
“Are you telling me that’s what I need to do too?” I hope that’s not the case. I’m not gonna hold Chrissy’s hand while she figures out the difference between a two-by-four and a two-by-six. And if she wants to be on a job site, she’ll have to recognize that I’m in charge there, for everyone’s safety.
“You’ll figure out what works for you and her. You did with Jed, and I know the two of you were like piss and vinegar.” Maggie’s being kind. Jed and I nearly had some rip-roaring battles back when I first got promoted to job-site manager. He had other guys who’d give in to his blustering and bellowing. I was not one of them. But he learned that his reputation went up when I was the man on the job because I don’t do shit work. It’s done right or not at all.
Chrissy opens a door at the back of the space. “Jesse?”
I flash a charming smile to Maggie and remind her, “Make sure you get that other Buttery Nipple. You know you need a pair.”
“Already got that set,” she assures me as she laughingly shimmies her shoulders, “but you know I’ll get my cupcakes too.”
Walking to Jed’s . . . no, Chrissy’s office . . . feels weird. There’s a knife dangling over all of our heads, and while what Maggie said is true about giving Chrissy a little grace, Township doesn’t have time for that. We have materials en route right now, and we’re not ready for them.