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“Otherwise, I only wish to thank you all for your loyalty. From the moment I walked into this building back in December, I’ve been searching for our wasteful expenditure. I looked at the first budgets, aware we were hemorrhaging money, and I knew, for all of our sakes, I needed to fix those bleeds. I’ve asked each of you to justify your time and show me why you deserve your salary, and instead of taking offence and rebelling against this new leadership, you’ve shown complete transparency. By doing so, you highlighted exactly where our wastage stood.”
Kirk raises his hand, a little bashful, though he’s brave for speaking up at all. “Where was the waste, Chief?”
“Squarely insidemyoffice,” I admit, eliciting another round of gossip. “Doctor Chant’s take-home was ridiculously out of control, and Doctor Kernicke was our next most expensive line item. With neither person working inside the George Stanley any longer, enough funds have been freed up for us all.”
I turn on my heels and pass the file to Fifi, who accepts it in silence and offers a fresh cup of coffee in return.Bless her fricken heart!
“I can’t change the actions of the former administration,” I tell my staff. Slowly turning around, I meet each set of eyes that stare back at me. “And I can’t apologize for their misdeeds. They aren’t mine to apologize for. But I can promise to be diligent in my role and ensure a fairer work environment, with an appropriate salary for the effort you give.”
Patten raises her hand, not nearly as shy as Doctor Kirk, but I shake my head, “I can’t give you more than seven percent. It’s a hard line for this year.”
Lowering her hand, she folds her arms, but instead of arguing, she smiles. “You might not be aware, Chief, but I thought you might like to know, from a long-time George Stanley employee, who served under Doctor Chant for most of those years, today marks our first salary increase in more than twelve years.”
“Twelve?” Stunned, I peer to Aubree, and swallow when she nods in confirmation.Twelve years!I bring my focus back to Patten. “That’s not even legal.”
“It’s the way it was,” she shrugs. “When management doesn’t care about our income, and our priorities lean toward the victim and not necessarily the money being paid, we make do with what we have and try not to grind our teeth when fancy new chandeliers and leather couches are delivered to the chief’s office.”
But then she stops and smirks. “The fact you had those chandeliers dismantled and removed on your first day spoke volumes about you, Chief Mayet. The simple act of treating your staff fairly is what has, and will always, earn our loyalty to you.”
Aubree shoves her hand into the air in my peripheral, drawing me around with a raised brow.
“I broke the coffee machine,” she confesses on a groan. “I did it, I’m sorry. I was trying to clean it, but things just happened so quickly, and before I knew it, I had a filthy secret and no way to come clean without fear of losing my limbs.”
A little dramatic, I think to myself.
But then I lift my fresh coffee and take an appreciative sip.
Maybe not.
“I vow to replace the machine,” Aubree says solemnly. “With my fluffier paycheck, I’ll buy us a new one.”
“Keep your money.” Lowering my mug and glancing back toward my staff, I show them a small smile. “Our budget also includes a new machine. But since Aubree is the reason our caffeine is less convenient to acquire, she’s in charge of finding us the best replacement for the best price. Bring me options, pricing, and delivery times.” Then I point toward Raquel. “Same with you and your new tech.”
When both women give verbal confirmation, I nod and turn on my heels. “Sera and Aubree?”
I start away as chatter breaks out, and the palpable satisfaction in the air says our meeting was a success. Smiling, I move toward my office at a brisk pace, not spilling a single drop of my current hit of caffeine.
Once I push through my door and circle my desk, I peer back to watch the other two file in. “Let’s discuss the Grosvenor case Kirk has on his desk. It’s getting a little airtime on Channel Six, and he’s too fresh to take that kind of heat without backup.”
As the women settle in—Fifi in the visitor chair, and Aubrey perching on the corner of my desk—I lower into my own chair with a wary glance to my phone, distantly thinking of Mayor Lawrence and the message I can only interpret as a threat.
Do what I tell you and let me protect you, or else.
Shaking my head, I wryly note that my relationship with Archer is built on basically the same foundation: Let me take care of you, or else.
How the hell did I move to Copeland only six months ago knowingno one, and now, I have these people circling my life? A best friend in my colleague, and another in my husband, both represented by literal circles I wear every day. Archer in the wedding band I wear on a chain around my neck, and Aubree by the delicate chain ringing my ankle, matching the one she proudly shows off every chance she gets.
And they’re not the only ones. I have a little girl who calls me Aunty, a team of professionals whose loyalty I command, a sweet fatherly landlord who keeps watch as I pass through, and an overbearing mayor who wants to pretend I’m his third daughter...
That’s a lot for a woman with no real sense of ‘family’.
My real parents, long dead now, let their own trauma bleed into me when I was young, so now, as an adult, I sit here questioning why the hell these random people give a shit about me.
For most of my life, I have thrived on independence, relying on no one. Now, I couldn’t get through a day without Archer in it, and my life would be dull and not worth living if not for Aubree, Mia, Fletch, Fifi, and the rest of this weirdo family that has somehow amalgamated and swallowed me up against my will.
Damn the mayor and his exciting news about a new grandbaby. Damn Archer for making me fall in love. And damn Aubree for forcing me into the firstbest-friendship I’ve ever experienced.
I was so sure I’d hate it here.
