Page 184 of Crazy for this Girl

Laynee nods. “Under one condition.”

“Of course.” I sigh and uncross my arms to lean over the table. “And what would that be?”

“I want to learn every department. I want to be in their meetings. I want to walk around with the housekeepers and sit at the front desk. I want to speak with guests and subtly pick their brains about what they liked and want more of.”

“You want to gain insight with my guests to profit your bed-and-breakfast?”

Laynee frowns. “It’s one bed-and-breakfast, Ca—Mr. Harper. I’m not running a Holiday Inn next to yours.”

“And what about you being my assistant? I still need that.”

“Well…” She fidgets in her chair. “I was hoping you’d give me some more leniency on where I do your work. Like I can pull your reports with the front desk. And I can answer emails while walking around with the housekeepers. I also was hoping you’d let me sit in on a few conferences with you and our vendors so I can study how you do business.”

“I’m waiting for the shit I’m going to hate,” I manage because I know we’re not done yet.

“I need to go part-time.”

“I need a full-time assistant.”

“I can be that.”

I glower at her. “How?”

“Your reports will be in your email before you get in. I can have your coffee like normal. All your dry cleaning picked up and emails responded to before I leave for school.”

“And what time is that?”

“Four.”

I set my jaw because she’s going to overwork and kill herself. “And when are you going to study?”

“On the weekends.”

“And homework?”

“In between.”

“Laynee…”

She lifts her brows. “Mr. Harper.”

I roll my head to stretch out the tautness of my neck. “Are you done?”

“I think so.”

I pick up her folder and toss it to her side of the table. “Your counteroffer is awful, Miss Reese, and half of it isn’t needed.”

Her face twists, looking down at manila atrocity that I’m sure she spent a lot of time on. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you don’t need to go to school to operate a bed-and-breakfast. I can teach you everything I know and you can sit in, like you said, to get other people’s perspectives.”

“You’d let me do that?”

“I’d let you do that at a price.” For once in Laynee’s life, she doesn’t speak. “If you want to take your own business seriously, you’ll need to do a lot of research. You’re also going to need someone to work with you on accounting. I know a few good people. You need a property, a list of things you’re going to need, and you’ll have to compare prices. You’re going to have to conduct meetings and phone calls on your own. Going to college is for people in-between shit. You’re beginning something with resources that I can give you.”

Laynee is silent for another moment before saying, “What’s the catch?”

“There isn’t one.”

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