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The thing I really like about Mel is that she doesn’t pry. Honestly, no one here does, well maybe JT, but he’s harmless about it, only looking for anything to use against Edge and Draven.
She just sat on the ground next to me after I unlocked the door for her. She didn’t say a word and, there wasn’t any pity in her eyes, which is by far the worst thing to see. Nope, she just came in, gave me a small smile, and slid down next to me. We sat like that until JT knocked on the door asking what we wanted for lunch, like we don’t have an actual food schedule since everyone would always argue without one. I swear, this place really is like one big dysfunctional family some days.
Even an hour later and I’m still shaking slightly as I sit at Edge’s desk and try to focus on all of the paperwork that needs my attention. You wouldn’t think a tattoo shop would have so much, but I guess that’s just how it is for any business. Though this is nothing compared to how it was when I first started working here. It was almost as if Edge never filed a single form. I cringe just remembering how bad all of the stacks of paper were.
It even took me awhile to convince him that using a computer program for everything would be a lot better. Even if my brand of convincing him was leaving little post it notes with helpful hints about different programs. Eventually, he just walked up to me with a stack of the post it notes and told me to get whatever I wanted as long as I never leave him another note again.
I may or may not have done a little happy dance in my seat when he walked away.
I definitely didn’t waste any time purchasing and downloading the program onto all of the computers here. I was so happy that I didn’t even pay attention when everyone groaned about hating the fact that they now had to learn a new system. After hearing some of the horror stories about past attempts to get them into this century, I typed up detailed instructions, I mean idiot proof ones with pictures even, and printed out one for each of them. I also thought ahead and left a few copies in drawers next to any computer in case they lost theirs, which they did. A little planning goes a long way.
I stare at the screen and back down to the paper on the desk and frown. I double check what I’m seeing before frowning even more.
I look up in time to see Edge passing by the door and, I call out to him without thought, something I wouldn’t have done months ago, but now am able to do somewhat easily.
“Edge?” My voice is still low but, stronger than it had been before.
He pauses and steps back to the door. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize he wasn’t alone because another large body joins him. “What’s up, Cadie?” Edge asks as Marrow walks in behind him.
I look between the two men and chew on my lip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were busy. It can wait,” I rush to change what I was going to ask.
“I’m not busy,” he replies, standing against the wall, giving me as much space as possible.
I look over at Marrow and look away quickly when I see that he’s looking at me. “Umm, it’s fine, it can wait,” I mumble.
“If it’s something about the shop, you can say it in front of Mar. If it’s personal I can kick his ass out,” he says calmly.
Dammit. “It’s about the shop,” I say because lying has never been something that I’m good at or comfortable with.
“All right, shoot,” Edge says.
I look up and studiously avoid looking at Marrow. I can see him in my peripheral vision. Even if I didn’t, I could still feel his eyes on me. I always seem to know when he’s looking at me. My body always feels like it’s touching a livewire when he’s around for some reason. A reason on which I choose not to dwell.
I take a deep breath and muster all the courage I can. “There seems to be a few discrepancies in the last few orders that were made.” There’s only a slight tremble in my voice but, the men standing in front of me graciously ignore it.
Edge frowns. “What kind of discrepancies?” His arms cross over his chest and his eyes take on a sharp look that would’ve made me run for the hills months ago. Now I can rationally tell myself that he looks that way because he takes his business very seriously and that it has nothing to do with me.
I turn the laptop to face him and move the paperwork so that he can see as well. I clear my throat a few times. “According to the list of supplies, the prices don’t match. You were quoted a different amount from what has been charged.”
He looks it over for a few moments. “That could’ve just been an accident,” he says but his tone is dubious.
I nod. “I thought that too but, I decided to take a closer look. When I looked back over the past year or so, it happens every other month. You get charged normally and, then the next month it’s almost double. It seems like it’s so that you don’t notice, especially since this is a standing order and charged automatically.”
Edge blinks a few times before pulling out a chair and sitting down. He’s extremely focused on everything that he’s looking at now.
I look up when I hear a low whistle. Marrow is looking over Edge’s shoulder now, looking just as intense as his friend.
“It looks like someone has been making a decent amount of bank without you noticing,” Marrow states and he’s correct.
“Around eight thousand from what I’ve gone through. But it is most likely more, I didn’t go too far back once I noticed a pattern,” I say lowly.
Edge looks up at me and blinks. “Eight grand?”
I grimace and shrug. “So far.”
“Someone has stolen eight grand from me without me knowing?” he asks with a dumbfounded look on his face.
Marrow rolls his eyes at him. “I told you how many years ago to update your system and to get rid of using paper for everything. You would’ve caught it the first time it happened instead of it happening for God knows how long.”
