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I don’t bother to respond to his remark about finding the place. It’s downtown Seattle. Even a tourist can find the restaurant. So I cut to the chase. “Why all the secrecy, Byron?”
He smiles before answering my question with one of his own. “Would you have come had you known it was me?”
I lift my glass and take a sip before looking him in the eyes. Never show weakness, I say to myself, so I make sure I have on my most businesslike mask. I rarely wear any other, but I’m struggling this time. “Of course I would’ve.”
“Very good, McKenzie. Ialmostbelieve you.”
“Would you like the appetizers brought out, sir?” the waiter asks.
“Yes, please. And I’ll have iced tea,” Byron says.
“What? No alcohol at high noon?” I ask with only the slightest mockery in my voice.
“I don’t want you to accuse me of being inebriated while we have a business discussion,” he fires back. “And didn’t you know the three-martini lunch went out of style before you were born?”
“Why am I here, Byron? Are you wasting my time?”
The waiter delivers Byron’s tea before disappearing again, presumably to grab the first course, which clearly Byron has ordered in advance.
“Not at all, McKenzie,” comes his easy reply. “Our head accountant has had an unfortunate accident and is out of the offices for the next thirty days — at a minimum. So I find myself in a pinch, and I’ve heard good things about your company. Besides that, my brother said you did an excellent job when you worked for him.”
Several plates of food magically appear on the table, and even though I’m tense, I can’t help but appreciate the sweet aromas drifting up, but I don’t grab anything.
“So you want to hire our company temporarily?” I ask. I decide to pick up some food to give myself something to do. I take a little of the calamari misto, some of the fried cheddar curds, and a few mussels.
Byron fills a plate for himself and devotes a little time to nibbling before he speaks again. “I want to hireyou, McKenzie.” I don’t miss the emphasis onyou, but choose to ignore it.
“Why don’t you tell me about the project? Then I can tell you if I think our company will be a good fit,” I say. For the next few minutes, Byron explains what he needs, and my mouth practically waters. This is a perfect job for my company. It’s filled with challenges, and Astor Construction is so diversified that it certainly isn’t run-of-the-mill accounting work. It will take a sharp mind to cut through everything, and I have this in spades.
“Our company is more than qualified to help you,” I tell him.
“My brothers and I have been spending more time at job sites, where we can swing a hammer and get back to the basics. We do this on the assumption that we’ve hired a responsible team to handle the paperwork. This isn’t going well right now. Too often important things are getting forgotten. That’s why I’m stuck at a desk... and I don’t like being stuck anywhere. It doesn’t help that our accountant had a boating accident. But that’s what your company is here for, correct? To come and perform when needed?”
The way he says these words makes it more than clear there’s a double meaning, but his tone stays level, and his expression doesn’t change. I want to call him on it, but I’d look petty.
“Yes, of course. We can come in while you need a temporary accountant, we can help solve problems, or we can come in permanently. Whatever your needs, my goal at Seattle Accounting is to ensure you’ll frequently use us.” I nearly flinch at this last line, especially when his eyes twinkle.
“Well, between the challenges of new projects and our overseas operations, our accounting team has been working nonstop. Because the head of the department has been out for the past week, it’s gotten chaotic, but it’s been like that for a while with the turnover I already mentioned. I hate to say this, but at some of our operations we’re not sure who we can trust. I need you to start on Monday,” Byron tells me, “and it will be averylong week.”
“I know the perfect person to send over. He’s been in the field for twenty years and has been able to solve problems multiple high-level clients deemed unsolvable.” This will ensure I don’t have to work directly with Byron. I’ll be helping behind the scenes of course, but I don’t want to work at his side.
“That won’t work for me,” Byron says as he takes a bite of his salad. His voice doesn’t change. It’s firm, but not unkind.
“I haven’t given you his résumé yet. I can fax it over right after lunch,” I tell him.
“I said I wantyou, McKenzie.”
I pause, hearing what he’s saying. “I don’t go to work sites, Byron. Of course I’m involved in all operations, but I have my own business to run,” I tell him. “That’s why I hire capable employees and place them where they’re needed.”
He shrugs. “Then I’ll have to go somewhere else.”
I pause before speaking, not wanting to sound desperate, but also not wanting to lose this job. “Why don’t you look over Jim Dallinger’s dossier? I assure you he’s as qualified as I am, if not more so.”
“I won’t argue this point. Either I getyouor there’s no deal.” The waiter can probably feel the tension rolling off of me in waves as he replaces my barely touched salad with a cup of clam chowder.
“Did you order the entire meal?” I ask. I express enough vexation in my voice to show him I’m not pleased.
“Yes, I did,” he replies, a challenge in his tone.
