Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
5
JAGGER
“The schedule is updated on the computer for next week. Also, you need to look over a set of contracts to see if any changes need to be made. Those can wait till Monday, though,” Joss tells me as she places a few folders on my desk. We’re slowly converging everything digitally. Our schedule has already been done, though we’re finding glitches in it, and I need to get Jude out here to take a look. The next phase we’re slowly integrating is contracts—less paper, less filing, and hopefully less hassle, and not only for Joss, for everyone. Our general contractors, project managers, and foremen will then be able to pull everything up on their tablet before too long.
The one downfall we’ve come across is plans. Reading them on a ten-inch screen is damn near impossible, especially if you need to add a certain detail. It’s a hell of a lot of scrolling and zooming in. Another task for Jude. He’s been on me forever to make it into this century. Telling him it wasn’t that simple didn’t help until he spent a day with Joss. Then his mind worked, and he came up with a program of his own to work at Jagged Edge.
“Thanks, I’ll look over them today or tomorrow. I’m still playing catch-up from last week, and no, you’re not on call this weekend. Don’t answer your phone, don’t come in, and don’t think about work. This place will be fine.” Joss pulled her weight big time last weekend while I was away. The guys pitched in, but had it not been for her, I’m pretty sure we’d be behind on most of our projects.
“I hear you. I’ll silence it, but seriously, if you need me, don’t hesitate. The only plans I have are to float around in my apartment pool, read gossip magazines, and eat my weight in chips and salsa.” She doesn’t mince words at all, she doesn’t take my shit, and she sure as hell doesn’t take anyone else’s. A few of the guys have tried to give her the run-around, but Joss put her foot down, stood tall, kept her shoulders back, and looked a man twice her size dead in the eye while telling him he better get his ass on the job site, or else. I was in my office, ready to intervene, but she handled herself. The employee stormed off, and when no one was around, I had a word with him myself. He didn’t like what I had to say, therefor I gave him his marching orders. Still, word got around, and ever since that day, no one has dared to piss Joss off.
“Sounds like you have a solid weekend.” I look up from taking a quick glance at the contracts, noting their names and which one is a priority.
“I do. Oh, that reminds me. We have an estimate on Monday morning. She dropped your mom’s name.” That gets my attention. I move my mouse around to wake up the computer. “Eleanor doesn’t give the company name out lightly or even suggests using her name, so I moved the client in right away. Randy is the only one with availability.”
“It’s all good. Get out of here, or you’ll never leave. Enjoy your weekend, and don’t answer the phone,” I remind her.
“Okay, okay. Don’t work too hard. I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.” Joss waves as she walks out of my office, through the small room, and out the door. I wait until the door slams closed before looking at the schedule. I’m about to pull up the program to check who the mysterious person is my mom referred.
“Lucky me,” I mutter. My cell phone starts dancing around on my desk. The screen lights up, and I know there’s no ignoring this call.
I hit the accept button before pressing the speaker option. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, Jagger, you’ll never guess who I saw today.” I’d hazard a guess, except then she’d know my friends have been checking up on things and I’d have to answer questions I’m not ready to reply to yet.
“You got me there. Who?” My computer decides to finally pull the program up, and I’m once again reminded that I’ll need Jude over here soon.
“Lyric. You remember her, right? She lived next door. Her mom and I were good friends. Though, we lost touch. Life got busy and whatnot. Her father was a big to-do Marine. Anyways, the house next door is hers. She inherited it, and, honey, it needs a lot of work. I hope you don’t mind I gave her your number for an estimate.” I puff out a breath of air. Of course, I remember Lyric Skye. Kind of hard to forget the first girl you ever loved.
Motherfucking fuck.
I knew Lyric was here in Whispering Oaks. I also knew she’d been at my folks’ house. What I didn’t know was that Mom would throw us back together like this.