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I look up from my computer screen in the corner and look over to where Dante is searching through the old beat-up filing cabinet.
My first week working for Moreno Construction has flown by and with the flexible hours Dante has allowed me, it’s fit in well with the rest of my schedule. The more time I spend here, the luckier I realize I am. No other boss would be so accommodating about school and studying. Not to mention the pay is more than I could hope for from any other part-time gig.
He tried to give me a check this morning to cover this week, and I balked at the total. There was no way he owed me that much. He just told me it’s what the standard was for people in the industry. I’m not sure I believe him but beggars can’t be choosers. I reluctantly took the check, thanking him profusely and promising him I’d be the best office admin he’ll ever have. He just smiled at me and said that there was no doubt that would be true, which made me feel uncomfortably warm inside.
I spent about five hours in the office yesterday and didn’t catch a single glimpse of Dante. I was somehow both extremely relieved and deeply disappointed. Is there a word for that? I feel like I should know that, being an English major and all. However, without his hulking presence there to distract me, I achieved an unbelievable amount and was even able to brainstorm some improvement processes to add to the office.
“Violet?” he calls out to me again, making me realize I haven’t answered him.
“Uh, yes, of course. The Kamber project.” I pull a file from the stack on my desk. “I’ve been working on digitizing these. You should actually be able to pull most of the information up on our shared drive right now, I only have a few more things to add to it.”
“All of this is in the computer?” He holds up the thick file like he’s not sure he believes me. I just give him a smile and approach his desk, motioning to his computer with a silent request to control it. He gives his assent with a nod. As I lean forward across his chair, I can hear him take a quick inhale, like I’ve somehow surprised him. Choosing to ignore it, I carry on, showing him how I set up a shared drive between our two computers and where he can access the client files that I’m digitizing and adding to the system.
“Everything should be in here. I’ve also downloaded some project management software so that we can use it to track what needs to be ordered for each job, what orders have been placed, when shipments are scheduled to arrive, and to make sure projects are running on time.”
He’s looking at me with an expression on his face that I can’t quite figure out and I immediately feel like I’ve messed this up. God, I’ve overstepped my bounds. He just wanted someone to file paperwork and sort emails and here I am, barging in and taking over. “I’m sorry, should I not have done that? I just thought it would be helpful after you told me about that late shipment last week. We don’t have to use it, it’s not a big deal. I’m really sorry,” I rush out.
He holds his hands up to stop my rambling. “Slow down, Violet, it’s a great idea. I feel kind of stupid, I could never figure something like that out myself. I’ve always known that office work wasn’t for me.” He chuckles under his breath. “I’m just a little stunned that you’ve managed to set something like that up already.”
“Well, it’s not totally done yet. Kamber is going to be my trial run and I’m still entering everything into the system for them.” I’m still leaning over his chair and navigating the computer. I’m so close to him I get a whiff of the spice from his soap along with something else, an underlying masculine scent that I presume is just him. I look up and his face is mere inches from mine. If I had any amount of courage at all, I would lean forward a few centimeters and brush my lips against his. His eyes are burning into mine and I haven’t seen them this color before. They’ve gone from a rich chocolate brown to an almost black. I suck in air since I apparently haven’t been breathing and quickly jump back from him, heading straight to my desk. I stare at my screen, refusing to look in his direction, knowing that I’m doing nothing but making a fool out of myself by mooning over him.
As I’m working on the Kamber project, I notice we were due a delivery of sinks and fixtures for the kitchen and bathrooms. I scan my notes and see that Jake Aguilar is the foreman at the site but I don’t see any contact information listed for him. “Dante, do you know where I can find the number for Jake Aguilar?”
His eyes quickly leave the screen and home in on me, piercing right through me. His body seems to tense right before my eyes. “Why?” he asks rather gruffly.
“I wanted to call him and make sure the shipment that was due today got delivered so that I can mark it off.”
“I’ll call him,” he says, grabbing the phone off his desk and placing it to his ear.Okaaaay, so he thinks I’m not ready to speak to his employees?I’m more than just a little insulted so I sit back and listen to his one-sided conversation.
He doesn’t even bother with a greeting before barking out, “Jake, did the sinks and fixtures get there this morning?... Why didn’t you tell me?... No, forget it, I’ll take care of it.” He lets out a weary sigh. “Yeah well, let me call them. You know, this is probably something that you should have told methis morning... We’re going to start tracking it now so if something doesn’t arrive, just let me know, okay?... Yeah, all right. I’m calling the supplier now.” He hangs up the phone and starts rifling through the thick file he took from me that’s now covering his desk. I know he’s trying to find the phone number but I have it right here on my screen. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he mutters under his breath.
It’s obvious the supplies haven’t reached the site yet, so this time, instead of asking for permission, I pick up my phone and dial the contact listed in the file. He obviously doesn’t think I can handle dealing with the actual people in this business so I’m going to prove him otherwise.
I flip on the speakerphone so Dante can be in on the conversation before the call is answered on the second ring. “Build Warehouse, this is Dimitri.”
“Yes, hi, Dimitri. This is Violet Daniels over at Moreno Construction.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Dante’s head whip in my direction but I keep my eyes locked on the screen in front of me, refusing to look at him. I need all the confidence I can muster for this call. I’m not usually a pushy person but I need to show Dante what I can do.
“Well, hello there, little lady. What can I do for you today?” I don’t bother to conceal my eye roll at his condescending nickname.
“Quite a lot actually. You were supposed to have a shipment of fixtures out to our site this morning but it’s now three p.m. and it hasn’t arrived.”
“Let me check,” he says. I can hear rummaging on the other side of the line and figure he’s scrambling to find the paperwork for the load I’m talking about. “Uh yeah, honey, it looks like that won’t make it until tomorrow.”
Out of the corner of my eye I can see Dante lifting himself out of his chair, ready to take over the conversation. Before he can make it two steps, I hold up my hand, effectively freezing him in place. He reluctantly sits back down and silently waits to see what I’ll do next. I’m thankful that he’s giving me the leeway to prove myself.
“Actually, Dimitri, that’s not going to work for us,” I say, keeping my voice strong and steady. Calling me an aggressive person would be the understatement of the century. However, I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent listening to my lawyer father on the phone coaching clients, playing hardball with other attorneys, and just generally dominating every conversation and negotiation that he’s ever been a part of. Robert Daniels may not have given me attention, but he certainly gave me the tools to deal with a guy like Dimitri.
I can hear him laugh over the line. “Unfortunately honey, that’s just the way it’s got to be. My delivery truck got delayed but they’ll be there tomorrow.” I glance over at Dante just to make sure that he’s with me and he gives a gentle nod of encouragement.
“Like I said, that’s not going to work. It’s my understanding that you were late with our materials last week as well, correct?”
“Well, yeah but—”
“Then it seems to me you’re in breach of contract.”
“Now wait just a second—”
“I’ve reviewed all of our recent orders with your company and they all have a delivery guarantee on them. Now it doesn’t say here what we get when you’re in breach of contract but I’m going to assume that last week wasn’t the first time you’ve been late with our shipments.” There’s silence on the other end of the line which I take as an affirmation so I continue. “Industry standards dictate when you aren’t able to deliver according to the contract we’re entitled to compensation.” That certainly gets a reaction out of him. All I can hear on the other end of the line is flustered sputtering and I catch Dante looking at me with what I can only describe as a mischievous sparkle in his eye.
