Chapter Three
Clint
First day at a new company, and my coworker already hated me.
Not that I could blame her. What she said was true.
I couldn’t fake the kind of experience she had and there were real life consequences if I fucked up.
Besides, from what she’d said, she’d worked her way up from the bottom where I had jumped the line.
I’d been raised with the expectation that I’d join my father’s business.
It was just expected that I would do a BBA and an MBA and spend my days in suits and shoes that slipped against the floors.
Clean-shaven, perfectly groomed, wearing a watch that was meant to impress and driving a car that did the same.
I’d always resented the lack of choice I had in my life, but I had learned quickly that being broke didn’t give you many choices, either.
I was an idiot.
I’d never had to worry about any of the things at the bottom of the hierarchy of needs: food, shelter, safety, clothes.
Now, I was budgeting for each one. It involved a skill set I didn’t have.
This wouldn’t be forever. At least, that is what my mother assured me.
Even so, I had to prove my worth here. I had to keep this job for as long as I needed it, until I could get back to some semblance of my old life.
It was strange not being in my father’s shadow.
Strange having no parental pressure. No name to live up to.
Well, except Dimples for some fucking reason.
The fact that Jessie getting in my face had my dick perking up was a complication that was destined to go nowhere. She hated me, and I completely understood why. That didn’t change the fact that when she walked through the door of the office the next morning, my blood pumped just a bit faster.
Based on the look on her face, she wasn’t any more excited to see me today than yesterday. We exchanged a strained greeting.
“Mark isn’t here as best I can tell.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m not sure where to start.”
She huffed as she stowed a few things away and put a hard hat over her auburn hair. “Well, we have a new backhoe driver starting today, and someone needs to train him. I guess that is on me. As for what happens in here,” She gestured around the office. “That is your domain. You figure it out.”
I was so used to being polished and perfect that every inch of Jessie, from the loose braid over her shoulder to the scuffs on her boots, was appealing.
She didn’t have an ounce of political correctness in her.
I didn’t have to guess if what she was saying was a bid to get ahead or the truth.
She said what she meant. It was refreshing, even if she clearly hated me.
The door slammed and she was gone.
Now alone, I glanced around the office. It was time to prove that my degrees were worth the paper they were printed on.
I started looking through the office. Unlike when I’d worked for my father’s company, Kingston Financial Group, everything seemed to be done on paper here.
Employee schedule, budget spreadsheets, project projections, materials orders.
Each was tucked into a different folder in a beige file cabinet against the wall.
I spent a few hours pouring over everything.
Figuring out how things worked, making notes of processes and possible places we could save money or time.
My knowledge of construction was zero, but my understanding of business and project management did come in handy.
Besides, I could find out a lot on the internet.
Around ten, I poured a coffee for myself and one for Jessie and headed out onto the work site.
I’d been given a safety orientation before my first day, and I concentrated on remembering all the rules.
The site ran like an ant hill. From the outside it looked random, but there were work zones to respect and directions to be followed.
Everyone on site knew all this, including me.
Still, there was a lot going on. Material needed to be moved, pipeline laid and tested.
There were regulations about waterways, railroads and archaeological finds that all had to be closely watched or risk big fines.
I skirted the edge of the site to where a few guys were taking a smoke break.
We shook hands all around, and they started filling me in on the ins and outs of the work.
Everyone seemed friendly and eager to talk.
As they were explaining the tasks of the day, my eye caught movement off to my right.
Jessie was moving in our direction, and she was coming in fast.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” She planted a hand on her hip.
“Bringing you coffee.” I handed her the mug.
She blinked, but ultimately took it. “If you don’t know how to be safe on a work site. You shouldn’t be out here.”
“I did the safety orientation,” I said defensively.
Her nostrils flared. I really had to get along with this woman, but something about watching the blood flood her cheeks as she suppressed the urge to slug me gave me a little thrill.
She took a sip of the coffee I’d brought her and I was weirdly satisfied to see her savor the taste.
“At least you can do something right,” she muttered and headed back towards the office.
I looked towards the guys I’d been talking to, and they both shrugged clearly suppressing a laugh at my expense.
Without thinking, I trotted after her.