10. Bernice
“Malaysia, can you cancel my three o’clock meeting?” I asked my secretary as soon as I stepped off the elevator.
“Yes, ma’am. Do you have a reason for canceling? You know how these people get about canceled meetings. They always ask me a hundred and three different questions,” she replied.
I laughed. “I don’t feel like talking today.”
The perks of being my own boss meant I could cancel any meeting I wanted, no matter the reason. I was Bernice James, founder of BerJam, Security. The security systems rivaled all other companies in the market. I’d graduated from the top tech school and created the headquarters in Massachusetts with a few tech friends. I’d patented all my ideas immediately to protect me from getting my ideas stolen. Once the systems were up and running, we began a soft launch to fifteen people. After we got our beta testers to note any bugs, we did a full launch a year later. Once I’d expanded, I decided to take my headquarters back to Texas. For the last two years, we’d been expanding our brand all over the state of Texas.
What set BerJam apart from all the competition was the user interface, usability, and overall success in response times. Unlike most security systems, we actually worked with law enforcement and city officials to guarantee our users had the utmost safety when they used my system.
Nine-one-one operators had direct lines to our systems to ensure no matter a person’s demographic or location, they would have adequate security.
“The meeting has been canceled. Don’t forget you have training courses lined up for Wednesday and Thursday,” Malaysia reminded me.
I nodded as I picked up a glazed donut from the box on her desk. I bit into the soft breakfast treat and hummed. “I know. I have those times blocked off. I’m hoping today goes by quickly so I can get home and soak my feet.”
“If you want me to call Honest Hands for a massage, I can set it up in a couple of minutes.”
“You’re the best, but I have to have a productive morning to make up for canceling my meeting. If I get the massage, I’m going to be no good the rest of the day,” I explained.
Malaysia laughed. “I understand.”
My phone rang as I headed toward my office. I pulled the rectangular device from my pocket and swiped the screen. “Bernice James.”
“Hey, Bernie!”
“Lisa! Hey, boo! How are you?”
Lisa was a loyal client to BerJam. She’d moved from Massachusetts to Texas to be near the business. Her whole family uprooted to be here to stay close to the main headquarters. It made me feel like I’d done an amazing job at building a security system fit to protect people of all demographics.
“I’m good. I got a call from one of my cousins who has been in Texas forever. They work for a wealthy man whose home was broken into last night.”
“Oh?”
“I can’t give too many details, but the client is a huge celebrity who is in the market for a better home security system. I can give you my cousin’s name and number to get more details.”
I hummed. “You know I don’t like dealing with celebrities personally, but if the money is right, I’ll reach out. Go ahead and text me your cousin’s number.”
“Perfect! I will send it your way as soon as we hang up. Thank you, Bernie.”
“Anytime, my love.”
When the call ended, I wiped my hands with a napkin from my desk, before I attempted to shoot it into the trash bin in the corner of the room. It bounced off the rim and landed on the floor.
My office was huge. It had the perfect view of the Houston skyline as well as the optimal position to avoid traffic at the end of the day. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows provided natural light.
My phone buzzed to indicate a new text message from Lisa.
Lisa:
My cousin’s name is Camille. Her phone number is 832-222-5555.
I liked the message before I tapped the number and waited for Camille to answer.
“Hello?” a soft voice answered the call.
“Good morning. My name is Bernice James, founder of BerJam, Security. I was given your contact information from Lisa Stevens. She says you have a client in need of a new security system.”
“Hi! Yes! Thank you for contacting us so swiftly. I can’t disclose much information over the phone because the client is an A-list celebrity who doesn’t want people in his business.”
“Understandable. I can send one of my best technicians to install the equipment today.”
“Actually, would it be possible for you to install the equipment yourself? Again, we want to minimize the number of people who come to our client’s property. We trust you are thorough with your technicians, but even the best trained people can lose their morals when money and fame are involved.”
“I understand.”
“My client is willing to pay one hundred thousand dollars upfront for the installation of his security system,” Camille explained.
My eyes nearly bucked out of my head. I’d become a millionaire in the last two years, but I’d never been paid nearly that much for one install in one day. Whoever this guy was had to be loaded with cash.
“Wow. I can do the install today. Please text me the location of the home and what package they are wanting,” I stated as I gathered my belongings.
“It’s a mansion that spans over fifteen thousand square feet. There are over ten bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and several other properties around the property.”
I whistled. “This sounds like it will be a large install, much larger than one technician can pull off on their own, even if I am doing the job. Can you please inform the client I will have to bring a second pair of hands, or this will extend over three or four days if I do this on my own.”
“I’ll let him know. Thank you so much for making the accommodation.”
“As long as the check clears on the ride over, it won’t be a problem at all,” I joked.
“Oh, it will clear before you even leave the building. His team is just waiting on the go ahead from me. He’ll want the deluxe package. You can send the invoice to the email [email protected],” Camille explained.
“Great. I’ll have my assistant send up the invoice before I head out.”
Once we’d cleared up a few more questions, the call ended, and I gathered my belongings. I walked back over to my secretary’s desk and grinned.
“What’s got you grinning like that?” she asked with curious light brown orbs.
“We have a high-profile client who wants an install at his mansion. He wants me to install, and I had to talk them into letting me bring two techs with me. I’m going to give you the email to send the invoice to. One hundred thousand plus the fifty thousand installation fee.”
Malaysia’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness!”
“Right? Biggest order we’ve had to date. I’m excited. I haven’t been in the trenches installing equipment in years. It’ll be fun to get my feet back in the mud.”
“Be safe. Which techs are you taking?” she asked.
“Ralph and Toni.”
“All right, boss. I’ll send the invoice and tell Ralph and Toni to meet you at the work van. I’ll make sure the warehouse has your van loaded for the magnitude of the job.”
“You’re the best. I’m going to have to go change into a work uniform. I haven’t worn one in so long.” I laughed.
As the boss, I usually delegated all of the installs to technicians. Now, at the request of a wealthy client, I’m going back to the basics. I never had a problem going out into the trenches because, at the end of the day, it was my name on the front of the building. I promoted quality security, and I’d make sure I did my darndest to keep it that way.
When we finally got everything loaded into the van, my team and I headed to the outskirts of Houston to the huge mansion. The path to the driveway was lengthy. The stoned driveway was a beautiful beginning to a massive home. The property was extensive. The thought I’d be able to do this all on my own was a laughing matter.From the front of the mansion, I could tell it had to have been at least three stories—not including the expansion of land on all sides of the well-kept property.
“Damn!” Toni ogled the huge home in front of us.Her eyes were wide as saucers as she perused the exterior of the home.
Toni Lively had been a technician in Massachusetts as well. She came in during the startup process once we’d done the soft launch. She was a fast learner, great with people, and had a knack for technology. Her bright personality and wits were why she was one of my best employees.
“Whoever lives here has to be an entertainer. Celebrities in the entertainment industry love a huge mansion like this. They love flashy,” Ralph added.He’d been the driver, so he put the van in park and turned down the radio.
Ralph Toretti had only been with the company for two years. He was a few years older than me and was such a protective and caring spirit. He learned quickly and fell into a comfortable place in the company. I loved having him around because he taught me a lot of things.
“It doesn’t matter who the house belongs to. The check cleared, so that’s all that matters.” I chuckled.
I didn’t want the two of them to get caught up in who the client was. The last thing I needed was for my elite employees to fan out over a celebrity. I climbed out of the work van and grabbed my tablet and cell phone.As the fresh air entered through my nostrils, a feeling greeted me. My gut told me to turn around and run, but I had work to do.
“The two of you begin prepping the camera. We want to make this a seamless and smooth install so we’re not here all damn day and night,” I instructed before I made my way up the staircase to the front door.
My hand lifted up to the door, and I knocked. The home was big, so I figured it would have been smarter to ring the doorbell. I pressed the small circular button three times and waited.A few moments later, the front door opened. I’d had my head down in the tablet to prepare the consent forms. The scent greeted me first. The scent was familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on where I’d smelled the fragrance before.
When my eyes lifted, the breath in my lungs evaporated, and I struggled to breathe properly.
It couldn’t be.
Krash.
The realization had my throat dry and my palms moist. The sight of him after all these years had me in a deep stupor.He was just as fine as he was the last time we’d seen each other, nearly a decade ago. His body was covered in more tattoos. His hair was cut low into a fade. His beard was thick but also cut low, with the hair on his chin a little longer. He’d gotten his ears pierced and his nose. The diamond stud was different but looked good as hell on him. The gold chain dangling from his neck looked expensive as hell.
“Bernice?”
The sound of my name coming from his deep baritone made my body turn rigid. My blood pumped fast through my veins as my head spun.
How could he still have such an effect on me?