Page 10 of My Book Boyfriend
“It would probably give up some profit.”
“We can afford to give up some profit,” I say. “We also have to meet the requirement, anyway, to have a green roof. We could add solar panels and install one of those ‘intensive’ green roofs. That will even give us tax breaks.”
“But shouldn’t we play this by the book since we’re already challenging him enough with our insistence that we be co-CEOs?”
“You’re right. I’d feel a lot more confident suggesting we keep most of the community garden if Grandpa wasn’t framing this as ‘the’ project to show we’re CEO material.”
“He’ll say you’re soft. And I have to be realistic here. If I save the garden by architecturally incorporating it into the plans for the building, he may cut me out as CEO.”
“I know I’m asking a lot,” I say. “I wouldn’t accept CEO without you as my co-CEO.”
Rowena, her face so similar to mine, stares back at me. I trust Rowena absolutely. Her father is another story. There’s so much bad blood between my father and his brother. And my dad’s constant warnings not to trust my uncle have taken their toll.
“Okay,” Rowena says. “I’ll look into it to see if it’s feasible. It’s a cool challenge. And it would save us landscaping costs. Anyway, you’re hardly soft. Grandpa should have seen you last week when you had to fire that subcontractor who used shoddy materials. How’s Ernesto?”
“He’s better.”
“I guess the sub thought he could get away with it once he’d heard our foreman was sick and the corporate guy was coming in to supervise.”
“Probably.”
“It’s not every child who’s grown up on a construction site.”
My phone buzzes, and I glance at the caller ID. “PR.”
“Good luck.” Rowena stands. “I’m glad this is in your purview and not mine.”
I talk to PR, and she emails me the packet they’ve compiled about the Oasis Community Garden. I click on the folder and open it up. A lawyer is definitely advising them. They’ve achieved 501(c)(3) status and even have a board. And there’s the lawyer: Tessa Jackowski, Esq. My matchmaker friend, Mr. Devi, is the treasurer. He worked as an accountant for fifty years.
A romantic accountant. Not a bad source for a recommendation.
I glance at the list of names and then look closer. Lily Burton.
The librarian last night was named Lily.Couldn’t be the same one.And then a Mrs. Potter and an Iris Murphy round out the board.
I unpack my bag and take out my hardback ofHe Had No Idea. I still want my own copy. I call up Banter & Books. “Hi, yesterday, the saleswoman mentioned that you might get more copies ofHe Had No Ideain stock today. Did you happen to receive any?”
The woman at the other end replies that they did. I ask her to hold one copy for me and ask if they can deliver another copy to Lily at the New York Public Library branch nearby.
“We don’t usually do that, but since I know Lily, I’m happy to do it. Do you want to include a note?”
She knows Lily. My face flushes. I don’t want to seem like some weird stalker guy. I give a short note to include.
“Don’t forget that we have a book talk onHe Had No Ideaon Friday at 7 p.m. They’re lots of fun. Lily is leading it.”
I note it on my calendar. I am free, and it would be good for me to get out more. And find people who also like Wilhelmina Chrissy—an entire crew of book buddies.
I should have gotten her last name. I google Lily at St. Agnes, but there are no photos of the librarians. I pull up the website of the Oasis Community Garden. No pictures of their board members either. But she is in a photo on the site, reading to a group of pre-K kids out in the sun, with a caption explaining the garden’s partnership with the library.
This is ridiculous. I need to focus on making sure Rowena and I become the next CEOs, and instead I’m googling some woman I met last night. Who wasn’t even interested.
I turn back to my computer monitor. PR has sent another email with additional material. And there it is. I frown.
They’ve created information dossiers with photos on the entire board. And Lily Burton is the librarian I met last night.
A coldness fills my gut.
I stare at her face, a mischievous smile lighting up her eyes just like last night when she quizzed me.
