MAX
“I’m going to fucking kill him!” Cane bellowed, slamming his fist on the top of his desk. “You better handle this shit because we’ll have a lawsuit if I do.”
“Settle down. I’m in just the mood to take care of this,” I said.
Kari had been quiet the evening before. I had given her space, let her work her shit out in her mind. She got into these funks sometimes, just really introverted. I didn’t know what to do or what caused it to happen, so I did nothing except let her know I was there if she needed me.
We went to bed late and got little sleep because she had a nightmare, which happened every-so-often. She woke up in the middle of the night, tears falling down her cheeks. I hated seeing her so upset, especially not knowing why, but it was in those moments that she let herself need me.
If only I can make her see that she needs me in the daylight, too.
I wished, more than anything, that I knew what the cause of it all was so I could fix it. I wanted to make her troubles go away. I wanted to protect her from the world, to keep a smile on her face, and that would be easier if I could get to the root of the problem.
“He didn’t have the fucking bid bond with the bid? Who the fuck does that? He just cost us a five million dollar job!” Cane roared.
“I’m fixin’ to fire him when he gets here. Hilah is getting his check ready now.”
“Where is he?”
“Dan is picking up plans and specs for another job this morning. Just let me handle this. You flyin’ off the handle isn’t going to help anything.”
“We needed that job, Max. We had that fucking job, that’s the worst part about it.”
“I know and they aren’t going to let us just send the bond now. We’re fucked. But there’s a job next week in Chandler that I have an ‘in’ on. It’ll probably end up being 5 or 6 million before it’s over. I’ll work on that today.”
“After you fire Dan.”
“Yeah.”
A knock sounded through the office. “Mr. Alexander?” Lucy popped her head around the corner. “Oh, Mr. Quinn! I’m sorry to interrupt.” She smiled and looked to the floor before looking back up to Cane.
“No, you’re fine. What’s up?” Cane asked her.
“I know this is bad timing and I’m really sorry,” she said, stepping through the doorway. “But is there any way I can take some time off? My dad’s test came back and my mom called this morning. It’s cancer. I need to go be with her for a while. I’m not sure how long. Could be a day, could be—”
“Yes. Family first. We’ll make it work,” Cane said without hesitation.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Mr. Alexander, thank you so much. I don’t know what to say. Do you want me to call a temp agency?”
“No, temps never work. We’ll figure it out. I’ll talk to Hilah later.”
Lucy had worked for us since we took over Alexander Industries after his father was killed. She was the first person Cane actually hired and he always seemed to have an affinity for her.
“Just let me know if you need anything, okay? I’ll finish out the day today.” She flashed me a quick grin before shutting the door behind her.
“It’s so weird seeing you be nice to someone other than Jada,” I said to Cane, once the door was closed.
“I’ve always liked Lucy.”
“I always figured you’d marry her,” I chuckled.
Cane snorted. “She’s like a little sister or something. Not fuckable. Well, not to me,” he said pointedly.
“I didn’t fuck her.”
“Sure you didn’t,” he taunted.
“Whatever. I’m going to go fire Dan and work on the Chandler job. Some of us have real shit to do.”
“I’m going to the doctor with Jada this afternoon. She hasn’t been feeling good.”
I paused in my tracks. “She’s alright though?”
“I think so. It’s the normal appointment, but I’m going to be there.”
“Yeah, ya should be. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?”
We exchanged a nod. We’d been friends for so long that a nod was enough most times.
I left his office and made my way down the hallway towards mine. Our offices were at opposite corners of the building at Cane’s insistence. He said that it helped “balance our power,” whatever in the hell that was supposed to mean.
I passed by the break room and Lucy was making coffee.
“Lucy, can you ask Dan to come see me when he gets in, please?”
Her cheeks turned a bright pink. “Sure, Mr. Quinn. Anything else?” The hope in her voice was thick and it made me want to laugh. She was a beauty for sure, just not my type. Even though it had been very clearly laid out for me in the most literal way after the Christmas party when I took her home after too many Patron shots.
“No, that’s it. Thanks.” I felt her eyes on me as I made my way out of sight.
My office was bright and I wasn’t in the mood. I rolled my blinds down and sat in my chair. I checked my email before anything else.
I couldn’t help the grin on my face as I clicked the top message.