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Then I try the commercial Realtor who found this place for us, to see if he has any ideas. Charlotte has called him too.
So I work on some things I’m certain she can’t do. I finalize the list of hardware we want from Netto, then commandeer a few staff members not involved in the bug fix to fly out here and help with the final setup of all the computers and other devices this weekend. They were reluctant at first, but when I offered a week’s extra paid time off for giving up their Saturday and Sunday I suddenly had more offers than I needed.
“Thanks,” I tell Priya as she places a second cup of coffee beside me.
“Oh, you’re welcome. And I’m so sorry about everything that’s happened.” She’s fluttered around, rearranging things and chattering, since we came back here. It’s like she’s terrified I think it’s all her fault and might fire her.
“This job seems to mean a lot to you. All the people I know with a master’s in computer science are in high-paying tech jobs. They’d never be interested in teaching kids basic programming, or music mixing, or simple repairs. And they sure as hell would have no patience with the ones who need to be shown the fundamentals of even using a computer.”
She stops wiping down the coffee area and sits opposite me. It’s the first time I’ve seen her still.
“My parents came here from India just before I was born, to make sure I had the best life they could give me. And I want to make sure other children get the best life possible for them.”
I knew there was something beyond her skills that I liked about Priya in her interview, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“We’re definitely on the same page there. The whole reason Owen and I are doing this is because we want to provide something that would have helped us when we were kids from broke families.”
“I love it. I really do,” Priya says. “I couldn’t be happier that you picked me to run the first one.”
“Well, we obviously made the right choi?—”
“Okay.” Charlotte barrels into the room like she’s had seven espressos and a gallon of chocolate ice cream. “I’ve been on the phone,” she says, clutching a pen and phone in one hand and a planner and notebook in the other. “Went down a few dead ends at first—couldn’t persuade any of your HR team that this is urgent enough to send the staff volunteers out early, and all the local volunteer team here are too busy working overtime at their jobs so they can give us more hours for launch week.”
She has an excited, almost postcoital glow, like organizing gives her orgasmic levels of satisfaction.
“But I think the basics are under control now.” She rattles the pen against her teeth as her eyes dart over a page of notes. “I found new contractors who just had a cancelation and can start tomorrow. And they’ll do it all—rip out all the soggy stuff, lay new flooring, repaint, the works. I sent them some pictures, told them the square footage, and they think they can get it done by the end of the week.”
“Wow.” And boy, am I wowed. So much that I want to snatch the items out of her hands, toss them aside, slam my lips against hers, and push her back against the one dry wall in the place. But I try to keep my voice steady. “You are an excellent rallier of people.”
She’s virtually started over yet has managed to pull together a remarkable number of things in a remarkably short time. Smart, quick-witted, incredibly sexy, and a whirlwind when it comes to getting things done. Is there anything this incredible woman isn’t? Apart from not interested in me, obviously.
But I can’t deal with the soul-crushing awfulness of that right now. I need to stick a giant pin in it till the launch nightmare is over.
“Yes, that’s fantastic, Charlotte.” Priya looks slightly in pain. “I feel bad—I should have been dealing with all that.”
“Don’t give it a second thought. I’ve been organizing things my whole life—did that instead of studying. You’ve been studying. You’ll get to the organizing part.” Charlotte strides to the kitchenette and opens cupboards till she finds a mug. “I spoke with the furniture people and they felt sorry for us, so they’re going to replace everything.” She looks over her shoulder at Priya. “I told them to deliver on Thursday, so if the contractors haven’t finished, you’ll need to figure out where to put the stuff till they do, but I didn’t want to leave it till Friday in case there were any hitches with the delivery.”
Is there nothing she doesn’t think of? No hitch she can’t anticipate?
“No problem at all.” Priya brightens. “My uncle has a huge garage. If worse comes to worst, I’m sure he’d let us store them in there overnight.”
“I like your thinking, Priya,” Charlotte says, filling her mug with coffee. “And Netto is going to deliver all the fun goodies on Friday. You just have to make your final selections today, Elliot.” She brandishes her pen at me.
“Done.” I hold up my phone in victory. “See, I am useful for something.”
“Great.” Charlotte crosses something off her list and turns to Priya. “Since this is kind of Netto’s party, I figure their stuff will definitely arrive on time. So are you okay to work over the weekend to get everything set up?”
“Oh, yes,” Priya says. “No trouble at all. I’ll ask some of the computer science undergrads I tutor to help.”
“And I can add to that team. Three of my newer geeks are coming out on Saturday morning.” I feel a childish delight in being able to achieve what this sexy wonder-woman was unable to. “I could do something you couldn’t. Bribe them with extra vacation time.”
“Great.” Charlotte leans back against the counter, either not seeing or ignoring the flirtation I can feel filling my face.
“My old friend Lucy, the teacher who I got to meet up with the first intake of children, has chosen the ten she thinks will be the most enthusiastic at the launch.” She rests her mug in the palm of her hand. “Priya, could you please get those kids together and explain to them what they’ll be doing on Monday? Basically, they need to be super-enthusiastic students and tell reporters how great the Netto products are, as well as what unique opportunities First Byte will offer.”
“Definitely,” Priya says. “That will be fun.”
“And maybe get them all sweatshirts with the logo so they look awesome in photos.”
