"Hey darling, I'm off to work." Craig leans in and gives me a kiss. Craig has always been an awesome and wonderful husband.
"You have a great day dear and don't forget to get some cheesecake on your way back home," I said.
"Ok, darling. See ya."
~*~
"Good morning Craig," Lily my assistant greeted.
"Hey Lily, good morning. Any message for me?"
"No, sir. Would you want your coffee now or after your briefing?"
"Now please and make an appointment with Sage. We need to go over the building plans for the Hotel Contract."
I walk into my office before I take a seat...
Ding! New Email.
Dear Mr. Craig,
We would like to inform you that your contract for Sage's Hotel has been withdrawn. We would like to have well-established contractors on the job. This is in no way meant to damage your credibility or reputation.
We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Sincerely,
S
I can't believe this. I have invested all my savings into pieces of equipment and building materials for this contract and this man decided to pull the plug. What should I do? Where do I start? He didn't even state if there would be any refund.
"Lily, get me Simeon right now!" I demanded and slammed the phone. Something has to be done immediately.
There was a knock on the door. It better be Simeon. "Come in!"
"Hey Craig, you asked Lily to get me. What's wrong?" Simeon asked. Simeon has always been my go-to guy in the office. We started working as Junior Contractors here at Balls Ford Contractors, and since then we've been each other's buddy.
"Sage just withdrew the contract, and I've already spent the money in the company's account. How do I get it back?" I asked pacing back and forth, thinking of the next step to take.
"Wait, you what? Craig, I told you specifically not to touch the money until you were sure the contract was yours. What are you going to tell the Chairman?" Simeon was right, I should have listened to him and all this wouldn't have happened.
Ring! Ring!!
"Hello Lily, I'm sort of —,"
"The Chairman just came in, and he really looked furious. He asked if you were around and I told him you went to the site."
"Thanks. Please cancel all appointments, I will be leaving work early," I hung up.
"What's going on? Is Sage here?" Simeon asked.
"I wish he was, so I could punch him in the face. The Chairman just came in and asked of me. Lily told him I left for the site." I had to leave the premises immediately and figure out a way out of this mess as I picked up my phone, laptop, and briefcase. "I have to go, Simeon. Keep me updated."
~*~
Driving while stressed has never ended well for me. I am driving like a mad person who obviously should not have been given a drivers license.
As I pull up in my driveway, I think to myself, 'how do I explain this Blair? I can't keep a happy face, she would definitely know something is up'. She's one never to miss knowing when something is off. Blair walks out looking so beautiful and cheerful, I hope I don't spoil it for her.
"Hey darling, you are home early. Are you ok?" Blair asked as she tried to help me take my briefcase out of the car.
"Nothing is wrong Blair. I am fine," I replied as I tried to get out of the car.
We both walked back into the house. I have no idea what I am going to say to her because she will keep hammering on the issue of me coming back home early.
"Craig, what is wrong? You come back home early, looking like you are going to die any minute and you also forgot the cheesecake!" She never gives up and always wants to get an answer.
"Woman, I need some peace right now!" I shouted and walked away, leaving her looking stunned in the living room. I go into the bedroom hoping I can lay my head down and have a rethink of the events, and she walks in. "I thought I told you I needed some peace?"
"Well, you can not be in this mood when Sally comes home from school. So spill it already," she demanded.
"You never give up do you?" I laughed, finally something that made me forget my problems for a second.
She gave me a smile that seemed genuinely sweet. "Of course, I do not give up that easily. So what's bothering you? Talk to me."
"I made a bad decision Blair. I spent the company's funds on pieces of equipment and building materials for a contract that has not yet been approved by the client. Now they have withdrawn the contract from our firm and I have to pay back every penny I took out of the company's account, that will make us broke. Blair, it is just too much." I try to pull myself together, yet tears come in such generous streams as I reach down to hold her hand.
Her eyes became glazed with a glassy layer of tears. As she blinked, they dripped from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly in an attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from her mouth; my heart sank.
I should not have told her.
Her lower lip quivered as the words slowly made their way out of her mouth. "You can speak directly to the client, can't you? Figure out who they are and talk to them."
"Blair, trust me if I could, I would. This guy is a business mogul who doesn't really have time to chit-chat with us contractors. Sage Featherbird - that is his name, he lets his employees handle his business and I hear he hardly responds to emails personally, so that is a dead end."
Her eyes were as immobile as the rest of her face as if news like that was impossible to absorb any faster. She was frozen for maybe three whole seconds before the corners of her mouth resumed their usual softness and her eyes quit staring. "Sage Featherbird?"
"Yes, Sage Featherbird. Do you know him?" I asked curiously.
"No, no, not at all. Maybe just talk to your boss. I am sure he can put in a good word for you. We can't afford to be broke. Let me go prepare lunch," She said as she stood up and left the room.
She was lying. The lie slipped out, smooth and easy like melted butter running down toast. And I was going to find out the truth...
~*~