I woke up early and hit the shower. I had a headache and was packing a foul mood. I went to the kitchen and found Consuela, Sara, and Mary fixing breakfast tacos for the guards. She made me a glass of tea and got me some ibuprophen.
I took a plate of tacos and my tea out and ate in the peaceful predawn darkness. The pool lights played their tricks under the circulating water. My headache started lifting.
The day ahead held promise. I could already hear crews arriving, starting equipment. Preparing for the day.
Sabrina came out with a mug of coffee in one hand and organizer notebook in the other. Her hair in a messy bun. A loose fitting robe over her nude torso. Her eyes still red from sleep. She sat down at the table next to the bar. Sipped her coffee and opened her book. She took the pencil tucked behind her ear down and started making notes.
One of the guards brought in two of the crew supervisors and sat them down. Then stepped back. Joined by another who flanked us.
The concrete guy working on the runway spoke first. "Ok, here's where we are. When I priced the concrete, I put it up for bid at 6 sack. Somewhere in the process, it got bid at 5 sack. That adds cost. The supplier isn't wanting to eat the cost difference. I need to know what you want to do."
He pulled out the folder with the bid package in it and showed me where he had specifically stated 6 sack. This is typical of unscrupulous suppliers. Bid it low to get the contract. Then come back later whining about some unfortunate mistake or blameless oversight in the process. Nope. That dog won't hunt.
"Ok, who's next on the list?"
"Pattersons. But they charge a premium."
"Can they supply what you need, when you need it?"
"Yeah, They always have. I use them for small jobs. I picked the one I did to save you some cash since we're using more material than required."
"Ok. Use them. Tell them i'm adding on a bonus. Say, $100,000. For every minute they're over their scheduled delivery, I'm deducting $10,000."
"Ok, on it."
The next in line was the lake guy.
"What can I do for you?"
"Well, we got some weather headed this way. How much over budget can I go?"
"How much you need?"
"Well, for two million, I can get a guy I know from up north of here that has lots of big earth moving equipment. I'm talking big equipment. We can knock this out in short order. I need to get some big generators and flood lights. I'm putting on crews 24 hours. Two 12 hour shifts. We'll have the thousand acres dug to 25 to 30 feet ahead of schedule. The engineers are already constructing the dam."
"Ok, bring them on. I want this done yesterday. No skimping on quality, either. I also want that dam seriously over engineered, and encased in two feet of reinforced concrete. Get with Sabrina for the money. You said two. I'm authorizing five million extra. Make sure that's enough and, like I said, I want it done right, and finished yesterday. You got the money, equipment and the people. So, no more excuses."
"Yes sir."
The guards escorted them out.
I heard a familiar voice... Margie.
"You free?"
"Yep, come on."
She sat down, sliding a brief case over. I opened it up instead of doing what most people did, asking, "What's this?"
I freaking hate that. Almost as much as I hate it when somebody asks, "Can I ask you a question?" What the fuck is that? I mean, the case is there in front of you. Open the fucking thing up and look. Ask a question? Well, you just did. I always say NO! in response to that bullshit.
It was full of property deeds.
"Five hundred plus thousand acres and growing. People are starting to take notice, asking questions. I refer them to you. Fuck them. Anyway, I'm headed to the Valley, then to Florida. I'm paying premium prices, so not getting much in the way of flack when I submit offers. I got you a contiguous 20,000 acre tract outside Amarillo that's full of that kind of dirt you wanted. Sand or some shit. I thought the geologist was gonna cum in his pants when he verified it. It came with mineral rights. There's a couple of producing deep gas wells and a few dozen producing oil wells on it. You own the rights, so the oil company pays you. The seller tried to hold out on that. I told them that the price we're offering includes one hundred percent of everything or it gets slashed in half. They folded. Anyway, that's where we are."
I nodded. "Good job as always. What's this I hear about you and Marci wanting on the full time payroll?"
"Yeah, I was wondering if we could expand our roll in your operation."
"Ok, doing what, exactly?"
"That's just it, I don't know what you need. I know this buying gig will end sooner or later. We got used to doing shit for you. But, what about then? When it's over, I mean."
"I'll figure something out for you both. Give me some time to work on it. But, I can put you on the weekly payroll if it'll make you feel better."
"Whatever you decide, boss. I just don't want to be out in the cold after you move into the next phase."
"Ok. I'll get you and her something permanent. How's Marci doing?"
She looked at me sideways. "Well, she's still jumping around bitching like a teenie bopper that just got jilted. Dude, you're gonna have to put a kid in her oven or she's gonna blow a gasket. I don't even know what the fuck that's about. But, believe me when I say, she's got the idea in her head. Even told her husband. Literally put his ass on notice, either get her pregnant or beat feet. He balked on her. She told him, right in the office, if he won't do it, she'll get you to. He lost his fucking mind over that. Went home, packed his shit, and ain't heard a word one from him since."
"Damn, she's got it bad."
"Well, it's your fault. All that weird sci-fi hocus pocus mind shit you got going on. I get it, though. I get around you like right how? Fuck, I'll be rubbing my cootchie raw later. You got my panties soaking wet right now. I wanna ride that big fucking cock of yours until I die."
I just looked at her, shaking my head. "Get a grip, damn it. You women and your twats. I swear, you're gonna drive me to fucking drink."
She giggled at that one. Earning her another disdainful look. "You forget, I remember when you were fucking everything with a hole and a heart beat."
"Go to the office. Vaults open. Grab you and Marci another twenty each."
I got up and went to the kitchen and was fixing another glass of tea when Consuela came in.
"Where's Sara?" She asked
"How the fuck am I supposed to know? That's what I pay you for. To run this crew."
"So, nobodies out in the courtyard?"
I just looked at her and walked off. I don't have time for this shit.
I went back and sat down. Sipping my tea. "Sabrina!"
She came over and sat down. "Aww hell, I recognize that look. Who's fucked up now?"
"I want an entire team of professional house people in here today. I'm talking full time, three shifts. Kitchen staff, house cleaners, bar people, whatever. How's that nanny working out?"
"She's fine. Alicia loves her. Between her and the body guard you have on them, they're spoiling her rotten."
"Ok. Get that new staff out here right now."
"Ok. So, what about the ones we have now?"
"Look around, Sabrina. Where the fuck am I at? Do you see anybody but us out here? I don't know where anybodies at. I do know they're not where I'm paying them to be. They can go home I guess, but I'm not putting up with this shit. I pay premium wages with full benefits, paid for by me. I kind of expect people to do their fucking job. But, it seems every time I come out here lately, nobodies around."
"Ok. I'll call Marie. She has a full service contract thing going on."
"Her own company?"
"Yes. She hires top people. Background checks, the whole bit."
"Would she be interested in selling out?"
"I don't know, but I'll find out." She stood up. "I'll be at my desk if you need me."
She started off. Then pulled up short. "Oh yeah, by the way. There's a company delivering a complete concrete plant as per your order. They're building it modular for easy break down and transfer. I got a retrofitting outfit taking delivery of twenty trucks to fit with cement shit. They'll both be starting delivery within two weeks. I authorized almost double the bid to expedite delivery. I told them no fucking excuses. I paid a minimal deposit but have the rest in escrow. I told them they start fucking up, I'm yanking funds accordingly."
"Outstanding job."
