Chapter 9
Zane
With Maisie at my feet, I peruse Sadie Summers’ resume. I need to get this damn meeting over with so I can get down to showing her the ropes, then get back to work.
My phone pings from my back pocket when I’m halfway to the office.
Iz
I’m running a few minutes late. Do your best to be nice to Sadie until I get there. Do not upset her. She’s our only hope of surviving Christmas
I huff, shove my cell back into my pocket without replying. Our only hope of surviving Christmas? I remember when this place used to run with just the four of us, plus Grandpa and Gran before they retired.
I know times have changed, but let’s not get dramatic here.
My phone pings again, but I don’t bother reading it because there’s a knock at the office door.
Iz was supposed to be the one asking Sadie all the questions and welcoming her here.
I mean, as much as my sister says Sadie is here for an interview, I know she’s hired this woman, so there’s not much I can do about it now.
“Come in,” I call out, making a half-assed attempt to clean up all the papers and mess on the desk. Clearly, office cleanliness is not my strong suit.
The handle turns, and seconds later, the door gently pushes open. I’m met with a pair of pretty blue eyes, a flash of blonde hair and a big smile. A smile that slowly fades when she takes me in.
I swallow hard as we look at each other for half a second, neither of us speaks, but I take a few steps toward her.
The woman from The Dusty Spur. Fuck, maybe it wasn’t Sarah after all. Facepalm. It’s Sadie.
Then recognition passes over her face, and she shoves her hand out in front of me.
Clearly she was expecting Iz. Not me.
“Hello. You must be Zane?” She hesitates ever so slightly, a hint of nervousness laces her tone.
I draw my hand out of my pocket and grasp onto hers, noticing the way my large hand swallows hers up. “That’s me. Takin’ it you must be Sadie?” Way to go, genius.
“Yep, that’s me. Um, weren’t you in the coffee shop earlier this morning?
” she says as I gesture for her to come in and have a seat.
I walk the rest of the way to close the door and head back behind the desk.
It’s only when I take a seat that I notice she’s wearing our winter uniform: an official dark blue sweater with our family logo — a Christmas tree donned with ornaments and embellishments.
It has ‘Lawless Christmas Tree Farm and Lodge’ swirling around the tree in red lettering.
So she already has a uniform? How?
“Yes.” I answer.
“Well, it’s good to meet you.” She pauses. “Where should I put my things?”
I pique an eyebrow. “Huh?”
“Iz messaged me and said to come in for my onboarding,” she says with a small smile on her lips.
“She wanted me to start right away. But first, I just want to personally thank you for taking me on without a proper interview. Bailey did say this was a busy time of year, and I’m up for the challenge. ”
My face does a number of things in the next few seconds, from an eyebrow lift, to wide eyes, to narrowing them in confusion.
“To be honest, I had no clue my little sister hired you until she more or less dropped the bombshell.” Fucking Isabelle. “Normally we like to make sure we like the person we’re hiring.”
She stares at me. “Oh.”
That might’ve sounded harsher than I mean it to, but if employees start off thinking you’re a pushover and they’re just here for the paycheck, that won’t fly with me. We have a reputation to uphold.
“Iz should be here soon,” I add as Sadie sits in the chair opposite me.
She glances down at the printed resume of hers I was pawing through earlier. “I see you’ve seen my credentials.”
“I have. No mention of a Christmas tree farm on there.”
“I grew up in Colorado,” she says. “I’m used to the outdoors.”
I note the high-heeled booties she’s wearing, knowing once more that she won’t last a day wearing those. “What about using a snow shovel?”
“I’m also a New Yorker, we get snow there, too.”
I pick up the resume because I need something to do, and cast my eyes down. “Advertising?”
“Yes, I was very good at my job, but it was time for a change.”
I lift a brow, glancing over to her. “What happened?”
She swallows, looking downwards. “Um, the company I worked for was restructuring.”
I frown. “You were fired?”
“Fired is such a strong word. I’d like to think of it as a mutual parting of ways.”
“You were fired.”
She folds her arms across her chest. “Actually, if we’re going to be honest with each other; something I value in a boss and also as an employee, let’s cut to the chase,” she says, surprising me. “The company and I had different value systems, and I felt as if I needed to spread my wings and fly.”
I stare at her. “I think you can do better.”
A sound leaves her pretty lips. Wait, did she just huff?
“Fine, Mr. Lawless. The way my luck is running right now, I’ve nothing to lose.
If you want it broken down into simple terms, here it is: My bosses were a bunch of morons who couldn’t be bothered noticing anything I did in their pea-sized brains.
I did everything, and when I say that, I really mean everything.
” She waves one hand in the air in a swirl around her.
“I’d like to blame it on poor management, but I rarely ever saw my boss’s boss.
The window washer knew more about what was going on in that boardroom than they did.
The thanks I got after two years of tireless dedication?
A measly severance. Not even a thank you card or a plastic plant.
I may have taken a few liberties with the ficus on my desk, but I’d earned it. ”
I break my bewildered stare to hold the bridge of my nose with my thumb and forefinger. “Don’t leave anything out,” I mutter.
“You know what’s worse?” she goes on. Uh oh, I’ve opened a can of worms here.
I don’t even get time to answer before she continues her rant.
“They promoted the pinhead I trained. Okay, that’s probably harsh.
I liked Veronica, emphasis on liked. Paying her was apparently a lot less than me, hence the reason I found myself out on the sidewalk, shoeless, with a speeding cab ruining my outfit — long story — not to mention my roommate took all our rent money and I was evicted, plus my ex-boyfriend is being a huge pain in my ass.
The only person in my life right now I have to cling to is my cat, Mindy, oh and Bailey. ”
I reach over the desk, wordlessly pulling a tissue out of the box and hand it to her. I made the new girl cry.
Wow, that’s a new record for me.
I really am pathetic.
She takes it out of my hand and dabs her eyes.
The words ‘I’m sorry’ won’t form on my lips. I mean, I didn’t make her blurt all of that out. Instead, I say. “Need a minute?”
She shakes her head. “Wow. I’m really sorry about that. I guess I still had some pent up anger inside after all.” She unceremoniously blows her nose and stands. “I’ll see myself out.”
“Wait, where are you going?” I stand too, not wanting her to leave. She’s a magical creature, alluring as much as she is intriguing. I’ve never met a woman like her before.
“I-I don’t expect you to hire me after that. I’m sorry, it’s just… there’s been a lot going on, none of that is your fault, and I shouldn’t have brought my problems to work. I don’t normally do that.”
“I asked.” I shrug. Iz and Mom will kill me if I let Sadie run away, let alone if they hear I made her cry. “I wasn’t exactly prepared for that avalanche, but I like honesty. It’s at the forefront of this business and this family, even if sometimes the truth is hard to hear.”
She looks at me without any signs that I’m making fun of her. I’m not. So she sits back down, clearing her throat. “I’ll refrain from any more outbursts.”
I zoned in on my ex boyfriend is being a huge pain in the ass. I should ask her why, but that’s not what you do during an interview/induction.
“Your credentials say you’re computer literate.”
“That’s right.” Christ, she’s still dabbing her eyes.
“That’s good because I’m not, and I’ve let the paperwork get a little outta control. My sister has been helpin’, and my mom, but Isabelle is needed for her dog walking service, and at the Lodge; that’s the other business we run.”
Sadie nods. “I’ve read up on the family business. I’ve also been here before to visit Bailey, so I know the town well.”
I nod. “Good.”
She blinks at me, and my heart lurches. I don’t have the heart to give her a grilling, not after her mini meltdown, but we have a few things to discuss before I let her loose. “So, I’m still employed?”
“Let me guess, everyone in town already told you I’m the Grinch?”
Her cheeks flush slightly. “Not in so many words.”
One side of my mouth lifts. “They were havin’ a good day then.”
“I just want you to know I’m grateful for this opportunity, Mr. Lawless.”
While my cock might like her calling me that, I certainly don’t. “It’s Zane.”
“Oh, of course, I’m sorry.”
“You apologize too much,” I tell her. “Sounds like that company you worked for were a bunch of ass hats.”
She smiles, dabbing her nose with her scrunched up tissue. “Y-yes, yes they were.”
I clear my throat. “Now that you’re here, we probably should go over the rules.”
“The rules?” She mouths.
I nod.
I sigh and run my hand over my short beard. My manscaping is minimal, but I’m glad I shaved a few days ago. Not that I care if she thinks I’m some grumpy mountain man. Let her think that.
“I think you’re gonna fit in just fine.”