Page 27 of Krash & Bern

I hummed. “You know I don’t like dealing with celebrities personally, but if the money is right, I’ll reach out. Go ahead and text me your cousin’s number.”

“Perfect! I will send it your way as soon as we hang up. Thank you, Bernie.”

“Anytime, my love.”

When the call ended, I wiped my hands with a napkin from my desk, before I attempted to shoot it into the trash bin in the corner of the room. It bounced off the rim and landed on the floor.

My office was huge. It had the perfect view of the Houston skyline as well as the optimal position to avoid traffic at the end of the day. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows provided natural light.

My phone buzzed to indicate a new text message from Lisa.

Lisa:

My cousin’s name is Camille. Her phone number is 832-222-5555.

I liked the message before I tapped the number and waited for Camille to answer.

“Hello?” a soft voice answered the call.

“Good morning. My name is Bernice James, founder of BerJam, Security. I was given your contact information from Lisa Stevens. She says you have a client in need of a new security system.”

“Hi! Yes! Thank you for contacting us so swiftly. I can’t disclose much information over the phone because the client is an A-list celebrity who doesn’t want people in his business.”

“Understandable. I can send one of my best technicians to install the equipment today.”

“Actually, would it be possible for you to install the equipment yourself? Again, we want to minimize the number of people who come to our client’s property. We trust you are thorough with your technicians, but even the best trained people can lose their morals when money and fame are involved.”

“I understand.”

“My client is willing to pay one hundred thousand dollars upfront for the installation of his security system,” Camille explained.

My eyes nearly bucked out of my head. I’d become a millionaire in the last two years, but I’d never been paid nearly that much for one install in one day. Whoever this guy was had to beloadedwith cash.

“Wow. I can do the install today. Please text me the location of the home and what package they are wanting,” I stated as I gathered my belongings.

“It’s a mansion that spans over fifteen thousand square feet. There are over ten bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and several other properties around the property.”

I whistled. “This sounds like it will be a large install, much larger than one technician can pull off on their own, even if I am doing the job. Can you please inform the client I will have to bring a second pair of hands, or this will extend over three or four days if I do this on my own.”

“I’ll let him know. Thank you so much for making the accommodation.”

“As long as the check clears on the ride over, it won’t be a problem at all,” I joked.

“Oh, it will clear before you even leave the building. His team is just waiting on the go ahead from me. He’ll want the deluxe package. You can send the invoice to the email [email protected],” Camille explained.

“Great. I’ll have my assistant send up the invoice before I head out.”

Once we’d cleared up a few more questions, the call ended, and I gathered my belongings. I walked back over to my secretary’s desk and grinned.

“What’s got you grinning like that?” she asked with curious light brown orbs.

“We have a high-profile client who wants an install at his mansion. He wants me to install, and I had to talk them into letting me bring two techs with me. I’m going to give you the email to send the invoice to. One hundred thousand plus the fifty thousand installation fee.”

Malaysia’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness!”

“Right? Biggest order we’ve had to date. I’m excited. I haven’t been in the trenches installing equipment in years. It’ll be fun to get my feet back in the mud.”

“Be safe. Which techs are you taking?” she asked.

---