Addler? Here? At the front steps of the building. I force the food down my throat, but the mouthful seems to expand, nearly choking me on the way down. “What?”
“Got it. Thanks.” She scrambles around the table and heads into the hall.
I shove what’s left of the mangled bread and ham into the plastic grocery bag I used for lunch and follow suit. The boss would want to know the ranch owner’s here.
I peek into the conference room where Bill had been taking a call earlier, but it’s empty. Hustling across the worn linoleum, past a conference table big enough for twenty people, I open the door to his office. Sunlight filters through the semi-closed blinds on either side of the desk, showing he’s not here. The desk itself is a disaster, with crumpled receipts littering the top and a couple that somehow ended up on the floor.
Did he head out to the field? He always lets me know when he leaves so I know where to find him if something happens. Scrolling through the recent calls on my cell, I arrive at a line with his name and press the button as the knowledge of the impending visit builds up inside me. Addler. Tall. Dark hair. Broad shoulders. Amber eyes burning so hot, they look gold. Damn it, Bill. Where the heck would he go and not tell me?
He answers on the second ring. “Elena,” he says sharply. The rumble of the big tires on the work truck fills the background. He’s on the highway, off the ranch, which means he won’t be here to meet with Addler.
“You left?” I squeak, my stomach twisting into a knot.
“It’s Isabela,” he explains in a tight voice.
“Oh hell.” Isabela, his wife of thirty years, is in urgent need of a new kidney. Unfortunately, nobody on either side of the family is a good enough match. If he’s rushing to town, this can’t be good. The sandwich could be a concrete slab in my stomach now. “Addler’s here.”
“Shit.” The exasperation in his voice makes me wince. With everything he has going on, it’s not like he needs any added pressure. “He wasn’t supposed to be in until next week.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor. “What?” He knew Adder was heading in and didn’t tell me? He, more than anyone other than Mom, knows the history between us. I can’t believe he would have let Addler show up without telling me so I could at least prepare myself—or find somewhere else to be.
“Andrew Schmidt, the VP of Operations, called to say the company just sold the construction division.” He exhales. “Addler de Marco’s the new owner,” he says, as if he’s resigned to the situation.
“Oh.” The room swims around me. The entire reason I’m here is to help Bill straighten out the books. All the major players in the energy business have been downsizing everything from staff to inventory to assets. Everyone’s been aware Kelly Oil & Gas was ready to sell, but I’m not sure anyone realized it would happen so quickly. And the new owner is going to take the town by storm.
“I know you two have history,” he says, his voice tinged with warning. “But I need you to set that aside for now.”
“Ughhhhh.” Of course he’d ask for me to pretend nothing happened. This is Addler de Marco after all.
“Corporate’s supposed to be down on Monday to make the official announcement. Mr. Kelly, one of them,” he adds in a mumbled voice, “wants to talk to the staff about the sale. Then he wants to meet with the vendors. I need you to get the community center rented for Monday at noon. Get catering in to provide enough to feed a couple hundred. I know it’s short notice, but if you can’t get it covered in town, send for it from Laredo.”
“Okay, I’m on it.” I nod, as if he could see me. I need to hustle. If I have to bring in from Laredo, the cost is going to skyrocket. “Who’s notifying the vendors?”
“Houston’s sending out invitations as we speak.” A second ticks by. “Gah. I didn’t even think to tell you before I lit outta there.”
I can’t blame him for that. His mind’s on whatever’s going on at home right now. “It’s okay, Bill. We’ll manage.”
“Have I told you lately how glad I am to have you around?” he says.
There’s enough sincerity in his voice to make me regret wishing I could find somewhere else to be. “I’ll get things moving for Monday.”
“Thank you. Just put everything on my credit card.”
“Speaking of which…” I take in the aftermath of hurricane Bill. “Your office is a mess.”
“Yes...I didn’t have time to pick up. I’ve got something like thirty thousand in expenses I started working on.” The knot of defeat makes my heart ache. “Can you bring them home with you? I’ll swing by to pick them up as soon as I have a chance.”
Damn it. This is like last time all over again. At least this month he’s down to thirty. “Okay. Let me grab them.” Hitching my shoulder, I hold the phone against my ear while I reach for the receipts with both hands. The best I can do is stack them on each other to keep them from wrinkling even more. I’m not sure how many times I’ve had to get after him about the condition of the receipts already.
“Addler will want to see the cost on the open projects,” Bill warns. “I know it’s a holiday weekend—”
These issues are the entire reason I’m here. When Isabela got sick, Bill concentrated on keeping the work going, but he didn’t realize the issue with the paperwork until it was too late. If corporate did an audit, they’d quickly realize how bad this mess is, and he could lose his job. I can’t let that happen. Bill’s the closest thing to a father I’ve ever known.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” I try my best to sound as sure of myself as possible because the thought of spending time alone with Addler makes my tummy twist. “You go take care of your family.”
Footsteps sound on the portable building’s hollow floor, getting louder as the visitors approach. I shove invoices and crumpled-up pieces of paper into the plastic bag with the remnants of my lunch. Then I swoop down, pick up the two pieces on the floor, and cram them in along with the others before folding one plastic handle over the other. The big, yellow smiley face on the bag mocks me with Have a Nice Day.
My gaze skims over the large wooden desk, satisfied that it’s at least presentable.