“Yeah,” I answer, “we could do that. It is going to be more materials and labor, though, so if that’s all right with you—”

“That’s fine,” she says. “Also, I was wondering if we could maybe change the sunken area to three feet with four stairs leading down. I know it’s going to cut into the space a little, but I really think it’s going to make this whole section pop, and I really want to draw attention to this area. We’ve got some really great stuff already and even more’s coming in, it’s just fabulous.”

This may be the first time I’ve worked for someone who uses the word “fabulous,” but as long as she’s ready to pay for the ideas she has, I’m on board.

“Sure,” I tell her. “We can do that. This is José, by the way. He’s my number two, so if you ever need anything and I’m out picking up supplies or something, he’s the guy you want to talk to, although, I’ll be happy to make time for you whenever you like.”

“It’s nice to meet you, José,” Jessica says, ignoring the fact that I’m actually hitting on her.

José shakes her hand, but immediately goes back to work.

“You’ll have to excuse him,” I tell her. “He’s all about the work.”

Alec, lazy motherfucker that he is, comes through the front of the store scratching his ass.

Jessica, upon seeing him, purses her lips, but somehow manages to keep her justifiable judgment to herself.

“What do we got, boss?” Alec asks.

“Right now, we’re just clearing the area so we can start getting things mapped out,” I tell him. “Why don’t you give José a hand while I finish talking to the lovely Mrs. Davis, here?”

“It’s Miss, actually” Jessica says.

“Oh, my apologies,” I say, but I’m starting to tire of keeping up a happy, cordial front.

It’s nothing that she’s done, although I do think some of her ideas are pretty ridiculous, but after what happened with Amy yesterday, I’m really not in the mood to do anything but sit on the couch that I don’t have anymore and fall into an oblivion of spilled potato chips and infomercials.

“Why don’t we go back to my office?” Jessica suggests.

“Okay,” I respond and turn to the guys. “Keep going and I’ll be back in a minute. Also, if anyone knows where Lou and Ian are, maybe give them a call and threaten with some kind of physical violence if they’re not here in the next five minutes, will you?”

“You got it, boss,” Alec answers.

I follow Jessica back to her office and close the door behind me.

“You wanted to talk to me?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I tell her, taking a moment to soak up her beauty before her expression changes to one of unbridled anger. The way her dark hair falls over her shoulders is enticing now, but in a minute, I have a feeling we’re not going to be getting along so well. “I didn’t want to say anything out there, but I don’t really think that you’re going to want to lower the floor that much down there. It might add a nice visual effect, but it’s going to cost more, and I really think you’re going to lose more space than you’re going to gain by getting rid of the storage room.”

“Well, I’d like to try it out,” she says. “I think it would be a wonderful way to draw attention to the section.”

“Yeah, but what I’m telling you is that you won’t have room for a section, and what little you’ll be able to put there isn’t really going to be worth the flight of stairs.”

“Well, it’s not going to be a flight of stairs,” she says. “It’s only an extra eighteen inches.”

“Eighteen inches is a lot,” I tell her. “Unless you want it to just be a sheer three-foot drop-off, it’s not going to be an efficient use of space.”

“Well, why don’t we try it my way, and if it doesn’t work out, we can always change it back to what we talked about yesterday, sound good?” she asks.

It’s not an unreasonable suggestion, but I’m really not in the mood to haggle.

“It’s your call,” I tell her. “If you want to waste the money, that’s your choice, but I do have to tell you that it’s going to take a little more time to get that much of your floor torn up. You know that it’s concrete under that carpet, right?”

“I’m aware,” she says. “Now, why don’t you go see if you can round up the rest of your crew and let’s do it my way? That’s what I hired you to do, so just do it.”

“I’m just trying to help,” I tell her.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re trying to help anything,” she answers. “What it seems like is that you’re going to just reject any changes that I want to have done because you don’t want to work your crew. Speaking of which, why are there only two guys out there? You told me you’d be here by nine.”

“I was here by nine,” I answer. “José was here before that. There’s a lot to do in preparation for this. We can’t just start tearing shit up without making sure we have the right tools to survey what we’re doing. I’ve got an electrician and a plumber coming in to work on any wiring and piping in that storage closet and that wall you want us to open up for your new window, and that’s something that’ll have to be taken care of before we can get that taken out. So, if you could just relax and at least let me and my men get started before you jump all over us with new ideas that, frankly, are never going to work, maybe you should—”

“Mr. Dawson,” Jessica interrupts. “I get that you’re having a bad day, and I’m not going to bother asking why as it’s none of my business. What is my business, however, is what happens in my store, and that includes what your crew does and the way that you talk to me. And to be honest, I’m not very impressed with either right now, so if you don’t want me to tear up that contract, maybe you should go back to doing what you do, I’ll go back to doing what I do and I think we can successfully avoid each other until you calm down and remember how to behave as a professional.”

Let it go, Eric. Just let it go.

“That’s pretty rich,” I scoff. “I don’t come in here and tell you what to do with your lingerie section or how to display your shoes. I get that you’ve got some ideas, but if you want this coming out in a way that’s not just going to end up costing you time, money and customers, maybe you should listen to someone that’s been doing this for a while and get off my back.”

I’m pretty sure I just talked myself out of a job.

“Mr. Dawson, I think it would be the best thing for both of us if you leave my office,” she says.

I’m looking for something to say to maybe smooth things over, but nothing’s coming to mind.

“And I think that should happen now,” she says.

“Great,” I tell her and walk out of the office.

I just went off on a client. I’ve never gone off on a client—well, not one that didn’t deserve it.

Yeah, some of her ideas are pretty naïve, but I shouldn’t have done any of that.

By the time I get back to the work area, Ian’s showed up, but Lou’s nowhere to be found.

“Anyone seen or heard from Lou?” I ask.

Everyone just shakes their heads.

I pull the phone out of my pocket and dial the number.

“Yeah, boss, I’m headed over now.”

“Do you know what time it is?” I ask.

“I know I’m running a little late,” he says, “but you wouldn’t believe this party last night, boss. It was off the—”

“You’re fired.”

With that, I hang up the phone.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before. I feel a lot better, and I didn’t have to get in hot water with the client.

What’s left of my crew looks up at me, this being the first time I’ve ever actually fired someone.

“There’s room in the unemployment line if that’s what you’re looking for,” I tell them.

I’ve never seen my men clear an area so quickly.

Chapter Three

Two Gallons of Regret

Jessica

We’re three weeks into the remodel, and nowhere near completed.

It took them three days just to get everything surveyed so they knew what to remove before they knocked down the walls and now that whole area is a complete eyesore.