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He surveyed his domain as he set down his briefcase. Finally all the old files had been removed and the office was in workable shape. Plans for the upcoming season, some drawn by Tess, others by Dave Wegmann, the designer, littered the table, ready for Graham to review and stamp with his seal of approval. He’d had to rely on skills he hadn’t used in years to tweak a few plans, and that very day he had meetings scheduled with two krewe captains looking to rent at least twelve floats. Their themes had been turned in weeks ago, but the work had gone unfinished because Tess had left. Graham had divided them between him and Dave. Though Graham had never been talented creatively, he’d managed to get some ideas on paper for a series of Egyptian-themed floats.
He needed to hire somebody else in design but had left the position open for several weeks more because he’d hoped Tess’s anger would grow cold and she’d come back to Ullo and resume the work she’d left behind.
Damn stubborn woman.
A sound outside the door had him spinning in his chair.
Dave peeked inside.
“Oh, hey. You’re here early.” The man was clasping a folder in hands that looked too large to wield a drafting pencil skillfully. Dave looked nervous.
“Have to get here early—we have a lot to do,” Graham said, motioning him inside.
Dave grunted and came in, setting the folder on the worktable. “Here are the sketches for Caesar’s Muse floats. I think it’s going to work nicely. Maybe have to have the carpenters do some adjustments on the ship. Wasn’t sure if it would come in under the height maximum. We gotta clear the Causeway Bridge.”
Graham leafed through the drawings and specifications. “Looks good. Are we going to have room for the waves on the back of the float?”
Dave shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe.”
Graham lifted his eyebrows. “Dunno?”
“Look, I wanted to talk to you anyhow. I’ve been thinking about making a change.”
“A change?”
“Yeah, I’ve been here a long time, you know?”
Graham felt something sink in his stomach. He’d wanted to talk to Dave later today about stepping up to fill Tess’s position and then maybe hiring a grad student from Delgado’s art program to train as a designer. He had to do something to fill the gap Tess left, but the words coming out of Dave’s mouth made him long for the Pepto-Bismol he had hidden in his drawer. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving?”
“Sorry. I have an offer from Toledano Bros. It’s closer to my house and with Tess gone and Frank sick, I feel like it’s a good time to leave.”
“I’ll give you Tess’s job.”
“You should have weeks ago,” Dave said, crossing his arms and trying to look angry. The man didn’t seem to have much ire in him, so it was akin to a toddler refusing a vegetable.
“I had hoped to talk Tess into coming back—that’s the only reason I didn’t ask you to step into her shoes.”
“Yeah, well.” Dave shrugged and looked away. “I’ve been here forever, but I ain’t good with change and I ain’t good working with them asshole krewe captains, so I really don’t want Tess’s old job. Figure if everyone else is changing things, it’s a good time to make this one for myself. Here’s my letter.”
Graham sighed, wishing he could slam his fist on the desk instead. “There’s no way I can talk you into staying? Ullo needs you. I need you.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Naquin. I’ve made my mind up.” The large man stepped back, ducking his head. “I’ll stay for the next two weeks, give you time to find someone else.”
Mild panic knocked at the door to Graham’s soul. Sliding into the CEO’s position at a stable, reputable company was supposed to be easy. But Frank Ullo Float Builders was no longer stable. Mere weeks into the job and everything had started unraveling at an alarming rate. “What about Frank?” Dave stopped in flight. “That’s who I feel the worst about,
Mr. Naquin. Frank’s been like a father to me.”
“Then why abandon him when he’s down?”
The man’s head shot up. “I’m not—”
“Yeah, you are. This company is in transition and we need stability. We need men like you.” He stopped short of begging but thought if he had to drop to his knees, he might.
“I already told Mack I’d come over to Toledano. Rita wants me to work there, too. Gas is high as a cat’s back, and I ain’t exactly getting younger.”
“Just through this season. With a raise. And then we can see how you feel.”
Dave cast his eyes toward the table with all the plans spread out, labeled by krewe and float number. Several seconds ticked by as the man grappled with the offer… with thoughts of doing what was right for the company he’d help build into prominence. “I suppose I owe Frank that much.”
