December 17th #2
Once back at the house, I find Hayes dressed in jeans, a spread collar shirt, a pinstriped blazer, and gorgeous navy alligator loafers. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I say, then wave goodbye to Mom, Chef Paul, and Sammy.
The building is nestled among the shops in Kansas City’s iconic Country Club Plaza—or the Plaza, as us locals call it—and is accessed via key card.
As I step inside the lobby, I notice high ceilings, decorative iron stair railings, polished stone floors, and a modern-looking elevator, which we take up to the third floor.
“I’ve been to Tripp’s downtown office building many times, but I haven’t been to this location. What do you know about this building?” I ask Hayes. “Why didn’t they house the hotel business downtown?”
“I’m not sure,” he says. “In fact, that’s a good question for your new boss, Jadyn Mackenzie.”
When we step off the elevator, it feels like we’ve stepped back in time and are now in Spain.
“Welcome,” Jadyn says in greeting.
“Hi!” I say, feeling excited as I look around the huge entry space, featuring soft upholstered couches and a marble coffee table. No, actually, that’s not true. I walk over and look at it in awe.
Jadyn smiles and nods her head. “Yes, I had one of the coffee tables that we’re doing for the Fort Worth hotel made to use here. Didn’t it turn out amazing?”
“It’s really cool to see something I designed in person. And sitting here.”
“You designed it?” Hayes asks.
“She did,” Jadyn says with a grin.
“This whole space is gorgeous,” I blurt out.
“It really is,” Hayes agrees. “You two ladies have fun today. I’ve got some calls to make.”
“As I’m sure you know, the Plaza is known for its red-tiled roofs, numerous fountains, brick streets, colorful tiles, and Moorish-style architecture,” Jadyn says to me after Hayes goes down the hall and into an office.
“I knew this area would inspire us since we take old properties and redo them. In fact, this office was one of our very first projects. I loved the plaster walls and the views of Brush Creek, but when we took down the drop-in ceiling tiles, we found the original ceiling beams and decorative frescos.”
“I’m obsessed with the floor,” I tell her, looking at the herringbone wood.
“Also original. Sitting under two layers of nasty carpet.” She starts walking down the hall the opposite way from where Hayes went. “Follow me. I’ll show you to your office. You can hang your coat up, and we can chat.”
I don’t know what I imagined my first office would look like.
Some kind of cubicle probably, but that’s not what this is.
There’s an antique wooden dining table, perfect for laying out floor plans, on one wall.
Above it is a massive bulletin board for pinning up design choices and seeing how they work together.
The other wall has a credenza with framed architectural drawings above it and a desk in front of it.
But the best part is an arched window with views of the Plaza.
Jadyn takes a seat on one of the two upholstered chairs in front of the desk and says, “So, what do you think?”
“It’s beautiful,” I tell her.
“You’ll love working in this area too,” she says.
“There are so many great restaurants within walking distance, making it super convenient when we’re entertaining everyone from investors to contractors.
And we pretty much have one of those lunches every day between now and the holidays.
I think they all love visiting us once the holiday lights are up. ”
She pauses and then says, “Tripp told me about your pregnancy and when you are due. I’ll be able to get you up to speed on everything before the holidays.
Your laptop is in my office. I’ve been downloading all the files you’ll need, and we’ve gotten your email all set up, and we’ll be sending out an announcement to all our contacts about your new role and which one of us to contact about things.
You basically get to jump in with both feet.
And I know that Tripp offered maternity leave, which is important, but we’ll be keeping you apprised of what’s going on. Have you thought about a nanny yet?”
“No, I haven’t. I don’t even know how to find one.”
“Well, you might be in luck. My youngest, Emersyn, starts pre-K three days a week after the holidays and will start kindergarten in the fall. My nanny is looking to find another family she can work part-time with for now and full-time in the fall. Would you like to meet her? She’s like part of our family. ”
“That would be really great. Do you think I can do it? The job?” I ask, having a moment of self doubt.
“I wouldn’t have let Tripp hire you if I didn’t think you’d be great at it.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Oh, and on a personal note,” she says, whipping out her cell phone. “Look.”
I study the picture, seeing a grassy lot marked with white paint and a bunch of survey stakes. “What’s going there?” I start to say, then realize what it could be. “Wait. Is that Damon’s lot?”