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He groans as I turn up the radio with “Highway to Hell” blasting through the speaker system.
CHAPTER THREE
Hoodoo
We arrive at The Plantation, and Maxxy walks me to the office. I can’t help but notice how her ass looks in those tight-as-fuck jeans. A slow smirk crosses my face as I stare, probably a little longer than I should, when she steps into the office.
I follow and let out a sigh. “So whatcha gonna have me doing while I’m here?”
“I need you here running shit while I return to the farm and do what I was brought here to do.”
I tilt my head. “Okaaay, though like I keep saying, but no fucker is listening, I’m a damn medic. I don’t know how to run an office.”
“If I can run an office… hell, if Felix could run the office, I’m sure you can too, Hoodoo. Don’t sell yourself short.”
I eye her suspiciously. “Did you just say something nice?”
Maxxy chuckles. “What? No! Don’t be a pussy.”
“Aaand there she is… ladies and gentlemen.”
Maxxy rolls her eyes while leading me to the computer. “Okay, so basically… I need all the invoicing done for the suppliers. The only problem is everything has to be done in a roundabout way. You gotta be creative in your wording and think outside the box. So, for instance, when you see activated charcoal, you take off the activated and leave it as charcoal. Then you put it down as gardening supplies because charcoal can increase the soil’s water-holding capacity…” she pauses as if to check I’m still listening. “You see where I’m going with this?”
“I get it… doctor the information so we don’t look shady as fuck, but make it match what The Plantation is supposed to be doing.”
“If you get stuck, pull up some old invoices and check them. You should be able to figure it out. If not, call me on the radio.” She hands me a walkie-talkie and slaps my shoulder, the jolt sending a shockwave straight to my back. I grimace but nod my head.
“I’ll also place some calls, try to get more laborers for the farm.”
Her shoulders relax as she lets out a relieved sigh. “That would be damn helpful.”
“I got you.”
She eyes me up and down, then smiles. “We’re gonna have fun here, you and me.”
Raising my brow, I tilt my head. “That so?”
“See you later, princess.” She chuckles and turns, heading for the door.
Before I can fire back, she jumps down the couple of stairs and is off quicker than I can comprehend. My lips turn up in a small smile as I shake my head. “Little bitch.”
Chuckling, I roll the chair back and sit, gently rubbing my back. Somedays, it hurts far more than others. Today is that day. And as I lean back in the ergonomic chair, it does nothing to ease my pain. I clear my throat, wishing I could simply pop some pills to help ease the discomfort, but I know that’s not an option. So I crane my neck to the side and thump my thumb onto the keyboard’s space bar to turn off the screensaver. It lights up, and the background is a picture of Maxxy giving me the finger.
I can’t help the genuine laugh as I shake my head. I don’t know how she knew I would return with her today, but she’s planned ahead.
Gotta give her props for that.
Still laughing, I open the accounting software and begin looking through the invoices, studying how she’s done the creative listings in the past. I can’t help but raise my brows. This woman is damn good. Very good. So I start inputting the data into the system, following her lead.
Hours go by, and I’m getting the hang of it, memorizing things and adding my own flair to it when I can. You have to be careful so the IRS flags nothing as suspicious. I can see why Maxxy is floundering. This shit takes concentration, and with her having to work this angle and the farm, it’s no wonder she’s spread too damn thin.
I’m lost in finding an alternate use for sodium carbonate when my cell rings. Upon noting Hurricane's name flashing, I let out a breath as I reach for it on the desk. I swipe the screen and answer, “Pres?”
“Hoodoo. Just checkin’ in. Everythin’ runnin’ smoothly?”
I lean back in the chair, taking a break from the financials. “Yeah. I’m elbow deep in fucking invoices. They haven’t been entered in weeks, by the looks of it. I get now why Maxxy needs help… it’s not as simple as just typing them in. You gotta be a little… well, creative, and it takes fuckloads of time. Time Maxxy simply doesn’t have because she needs to be out doing her horticulturalist shit. She’s right, brother… we need more bodies out here.”
Hurricane huffs down the line. “That’s easier said than done. It took us years to find the right people for The Plantation. Slowly the numbers have been dwindlin’ because of the attacks. It’s hard to find people we trust, especially independents who we don’t know or fully trust yet.”
