Page 2 of My First Mistake
“And there’s no one else I would have trusted with it. Like I said, genius.” He laughs like he’s giddy with excitement.
“I just design the building, my people on the ground actually build it. They’re the real geniuses.”
He places his hand over his heart. “You’re all incredible in my book. Seriously, I’m blown away. The board are thrilled with the progress, and our staff can’t wait to move into our new premises.”
“Always got to keep your staff happy, right?”
Gregory nods and Claudia and Isaac give each other a knowing smile. I pride myself on looking after my staff—and not only because it makes good business sense to cultivate a happy, healthy and loyal workforce.
“And are we on schedule for completion mid-January, Isaac?”
My foreman nods. “Sure are, boss. There are a few snags for you to fix but nothing that will delay completion.”
We make a little small talk about Gregory’s plans for Christmas and then I end the call. As soon as I’m done, my assistant, Keeley, comes into my office.
“Your out of office is all set up, but I’ll keep a close eye on any urgent matters and update you accordingly.” She places some papers on my desk. “The final contract came through from the Ontario Group for your attention. And so did the response from the cable company regarding the Lansing apartment complex.”
Keeley has been my personal assistant for four years and she knows I prefer to read actual papers than words on a screen.
“Your flight to Vermont is booked for eight a.m. tomorrow morning and I took the liberty of arranging you an airport hotel because I know how much you hate having to get up at theass crack of dawnin winter.”
Another thing she knows about me. I think Keeley might be the longest relationship with a woman I’ve ever had. That’sprobably both fucked up and also not unusual in my world. Building a multi-million-dollar business from the ground up kind of eats into a person’s social life.
“Thank you, Keeley. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I should give you a raise.”
She smiles sweetly, knowing she’s due one in January anyway. “Yes, you should. You could also give me the whole week of New Year’s off. Christopher has finally invited me to meet his parents.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Christmas in Paris?”
“Except his parents live in Boulogne,” she reminds me with an eye roll.
“Surely a deviation to Paris is called for though? I hear it’s the most romantic city in the world.”
She puts her hand on her hip. “Does this mean you’ll give me the time off?”
I pretend to mull it over, but the truth is, her boyfriend, hopefully soon-to-be fiancé, has already asked me and I already approved it weeks ago. Christmas and New Year’s are always slow and I’m the only masochist who doesn’t take any time off over the holidays. “I guess I can live with that, providing you make me one of your incredible coffees before I leave.”
Her eyes light up and she throws her arms around me in an uncharacteristic display of emotion. “You’re the best boss ever.”
I pat her shoulder gently. “Yeah, thanks. Now go get my coffee. I have a trip to pack for.”
“Chase,I need you to do something for me,” my best friend, Braxton, says as soon as I answer his call.
I give a brief nod of acknowledgment to the bartender who places my glass of bourbon on the bar. She offers me a flirtatious grin and then gives her ass an exaggerated sway as she walks away to serve another customer. “Anything. As the best man, isn’t that kind of in my job description?”
“This one isn’t exactly in the job description, buddy.” I can picture him scratching his beard, twisting it into a knot beneath his chin that way he does.
“I’m sure I can handle it. Shoot.” I take a drink of my bourbon, certain there is nothing my best friend of twenty years could ask me to do that I’m incapable of. He’s been my ride-or-die since we were ten years old.
“I need you to share a cabin with Addie at the wedding.”
I swallow the amber liquid before I choke on it. Okay, there isonething he could ask me to do. “And why do I need to share a cabin with your kid sister?”
He sighs. “Well, for starters, she’s not a kid.”
Yeah, and don’t I fucking know it.
“And, she just broke up with a guy and she’s…” He pauses, probably not for dramatic effect knowing Brax, but it sure adds to the tension.
