Page 60 of Landlord Wars
We’d just received a new shipment of designer plants for display, and I was logging in the fiddle-leaf figs. “Everyone wants these, so we’ll have to fight to keep the display plants in the store.”
Victor nodded. “That’s my feeling too, which is why I have a distributor who’s close and can deliver new plants within twenty-four hours. But I was referring to the business proposal. Have you had a chance to look it over?”
After the impromptu make-out session with Max, my brain had been mush. I’d lain on my bed for a moment and ended up falling asleep and not waking until the next morning. “Not yet, and I need to work on the Bane mansion design this evening.”
Victor looked around the busy shop and frowned. “Should we hire another designer? It’s not healthy to work every night, Sophia. That’s not what I want for you if you take over the business.”
I wanted to say I had it all under control, but Victor was right. Even though we’d caught up these last few months on backlog projects, new ones were coming in faster than we could handle. “I think we should consider it. Even if we only hire someone to take my mocks and put them into digital drawings.”
“My son says there are a lot of people in the city with technical skills looking for freelance work,” he said. “I’ll reach out to him and see if he can point me in the right direction. I’ll also put out feelers with a few architects I know. Find out if they ever outsource digital drawings.”
I’d been so busy I hadn’t thought of how to offload work that didn’t require my expertise. If I was going to run a business now or later, I needed to learn how to delegate. “That would be wonderful.”
He patted my shoulder. “Focus on the Bane design. I should be able to find the right person quickly, but I’d like you to interview them before we hire.”
“Absolutely,” I said.
He headed toward the back of the shop and stopped midway. “Speaking of my son, how did the date go with his friend?”
Between my mom stuff and Max changing the script on me, I’d totally forgotten about my date. I bit my lip nervously. “He was really nice, but I’m sort of seeing someone now.”
Victor winked. “That’s my girl. Glad you have someone in your life, Sophia. You deserve it.”
He called out to a contractor standing by the entrance and motioned toward the back, where they disappeared.
I finally understood the meaning of having someone special in your life. When Max fed me or secretly bought me chocolates, it felt vital. He did thoughtful things to make my life easier and more enjoyable, and it made all the difference. I could easily get addicted to it.
My phone vibrated and I reached for it. Speak of the Landlord Devil…
Max: Dinner tonight? Chinese takeout okay?
My mouth wateredat the sound of takeout and the handsome deliveryman attached. But I really needed to get caught up.
Sophia: I have to work late. Tomorrow?
Max: Tomorrow it is. I’ll meet you at your place at 6 with the food. Email me the proposal when you get a chance and I’ll review it before I come over.
If Victor hiredsomeone soonish to help with digital designs, it would free up so much of my time. My brain worked best hand-to-paper, but clients needed formal drawings, and that was time I could spend hanging out with the new boyfriend I’d somehow acquired.
I texted Elise, who’d been ghosting me for days.
Sophia: Are you still alive? Do you want to stay the night tonight? I’ll be working late, but you’re welcome to crash and avoid the rats.
She textedback a skull and crossbones. But hey, at least she responded.
I went to myrecentsand called her. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.” Her voice sounded better than the last time I’d seen her, but she also sounded defensive.
“Elise, you can’t avoid my place forever.”
“There’s no way I’m showing up at your apartment,” she said. “I’d look desperate.”
“It’s not desperate to visit your sister. It’s not like we can comfortably hang out at Mom’s,” I pointed out.
There was a pause, then, “But he doesn’t know that, Soph. All he knows is that I made an ass of myself and then ran out.”
I looked to the ceiling with impatience. “He’s in his room most of the time. The point is, you might not even see him. You can use my room to study, out of the way of the common areas.”
