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I dabbed at my crotch and swore again. I was going to have to go home and change. I’d worn my last spare set of clothes last week when I’d slept in my office.
“Nope, just the spreadsheets for Penn’s party. Did you get the final numbers on food for the guest list I sent you?”
“Yep, sent to your email this morning.”
“Shit.” I washed my hands and then scrubbed my face with my wet hands to clear out the fog. “Sorry. I haven’t been getting much sleep.”
He handed me a fresh towel. “You don’t say.”
I tossed it in the trash. “I’ll check my email.” I grabbed the handle to get back into my office. Now I’d have to push my vendor meeting because Penn was coming in this afternoon.
“Mason.”
I paused. “Yeah?”
“Gillian isn’t the one.”
She’d never been the one. In any way. But I knew what he was talking about. “I know it’s been difficult—”
“The Perry party cancelled and asked for a refund.”
I closed my eyes. We’d already ordered the alcohol for that event. Now I had three cases of wine I’d have to figure out what to do with. Things happened and we couldn’t control a cancellation, but I had a feeling it wasn’t for any other reason than Gillian’s less than professional attitude.
I’d had to bribe three of my vendors in the last month to keep us on as customers. It should be the other way around, dammit. She was difficult on a good day, but stress made her meaner. Handling the schedule for the dining room was one thing, but her being an event planner was quite another.
“Mrs. Perry came in to discuss the budget, and Gillian copped an attitude.”
“Why didn’t you find me?”
“Gillian said it was her call. And we were better off without the booking since she was so particular.”
“That’snother fucking call.” The door trembled from my grip or maybe that was just my shaky hold on my composure. “Until I can figure out what I’m going to do, come to me or Rami about anything for the MJ2.”
“Got it, Boss.”
“Thanks, Henry. I should be on top of this. It’s not your job to do anything other than cover the kitchen.”
“We all look out for each other. Well, most of us.”
I’d been failing completely on that front. Sleeping for shit was only part of the problem. I’d been cleaning up behind Gillian for months, and I couldn’t get my head above water to even try and find another event coordinator.
The one I wanted wasn’t available.
Sure, it’s the event coordinator you want.
“We all miss her, Mason.”
I glanced back at Henry. “Yeah, well, she’s not coming back.”
“Did you tell her we are here when she’s ready to come back?”
How could I tell her anything when she didn’t talk to me? The anger bubbled up with the tired and now Gillian trying to kill my new venture even before I could get it off the ground.
“No. She’s got her priorities, and they don’t include us.” My voice was clipped.
“Jesus, Mase. She loves it here.”
“She loves her kid more. As she should. I wish I had a mom half as amazing as she is, and she’s freaking just starting out.”
