“Yes.”
“And Liv, you can design the floor plans?”
She pursed her lips. “Each one is the same layout?”
“Yes,” Bentley said. “Each building is three floors, four units per floor—the same layout. Two bedrooms, self-contained, with laundry. The basements are mechanical, storage, and all the other building equipment.” He leaned forward, meeting Liv’s gaze. “The apartments are charming. Gumwood, chair rails, hardwood floors, cove molding. Play it up but give them all the modern conveniences.”
“Join the old with the new,” she murmured.
“Yes!” He smacked the table. “That’s what I want.”
“I can do that.”
“I knew you could.” He winked.
I knew it as well. She was talented.
Bentley turned to me. “Van, I know this is a bigger scope than the houses we work on, but I want you to oversee it. I need your eye for detail and expertise with carpentry. The woodwork in these places will astound you, and I want to make sure the integrity is maintained.”
I was intrigued and the thought of using my woodworking skills appealing, but I had to ask. “What about the other three houses we’re working on?”
He waved his hand. “You told me Jenkins was a great manager. Give him a chance, let him oversee those with you backing him up, and concentrate on these,” he instructed. “Same with you, Liv. Hand over the designs to your assistant, Kim. Let’s see what they’ve got. I’ll even let you off the Miller project.”
We all laughed. Liv shut her notebook. “It’s almost done, Bentley. I’ll make sure it’s complete.”
“I know you will,” he said, looking pleased. “That’s why the two of you are my best team.”
I had to agree. We were a good team.
He smirked, crossing his leg and leaning back in his chair as he turned his attention back to me. “I know you’re dying to see what these places look like, Van, and you’d love the challenge of a different type of project.”
I had to laugh. Bentley knew me too well.
“If Jordan finds me the men, I’ll make sure it happens. They can gut and build, Liv will design, and I’ll handle the finishes and oversee the project.” I regarded him steadily. “I’ll need help, though. I can’t do it all on my own. This is gonna cost you, Bent. This is a specialized field.”
“It’ll be worth every penny. You know someone, right?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then get them. The project will net us millions.” Bentley looked around the table. “So we’re all on the same page?”
Jordan shut his laptop. “I’ll send it out for tender and get the bodies we need.” He stood. “In fact, I’ll go start, if you’re done with me, Bentley?”
“Thanks, Jordan. Keep me apprised.”
“Yep.”
He strode from the room, stopping to hold the door open for Sandy. She entered with her arms filled with files and set them on the table.
“The Niagara project. Here is all the documentation on it and the long list of guidelines for building since it’s in a protected area. Once you’ve checked it out, Jordan can start procuring all the proper permits.”
Sandy winked at me. “A little something to do in your downtime, Van. Between flipping houses, custom woodwork, overseeing crews, and a couple of hours a sleep a night, you should be able to fit this in, correct?”
I chuckled at her drollness. She was the glue of BAM. She knew everyone by name, their lives, their families, and always made a point to ask after them. She was the right hand to the partners, oversaw all the staff, worked closely with HR, and was everyone’s favorite person. She never forgot a birthday, made sure all special occasions were marked, and handled a thousand and one details with the ease of a general. I knew how much the guys depended on her.
“I can forgo the sleep, I suppose. A nap at my desk should suffice.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s the spirit.”
Reid strolled in, his laptop tucked under his arm. His smirk was wide, his hair, as usual, looking as if he’d run his hands through it repeatedly. As he went by Sandy, he pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for the sandwich. I forgot to eat again.”
She shook her head, looking at him fondly. “I told Becca I would look after you while she was visiting her dad. Just because your wife is away for a week, you don’t have to slip back into your old routines,” she chided him.
“I do when Bentley sends me new projects he wants handled ASAP.”
Sandy peered at Bentley over the rim of her glasses. “You need to peddle it back, young man.”
Her words amused everyone. Bentley had no idea how to “peddle it back.” He was on fire lately with projects and deals. Knowing him the way I did, I knew it was because his wife, Emmy, was only days away from giving birth. He was overprotective and tense, so, like me, he slept very little and used work to occupy his mind.
BAM was overflowing with acquisitions and projects.
He glanced at his phone. “Soon,” he mumbled.
Sandy patted his shoulder and left the room.
Reid opened his laptop. “Okay, so you want this new project all wired up?”
Bentley was frowning at something on his phone, so Aiden spoke. “Yeah, Reid. Work with Liv and Van. This place is old-school—it still has hardwired jacks in all the units. Bring it into the twenty-first century, technology-wise.”
Reid looked excited. “Awesome. I’ll build it, and they will come.”
I chuckled.
Aiden stood. “We can discuss it between us and Liv. We’ll do a site visit so we can see what we’re dealing with later today, if that works for everyone.”
I was excited to see the buildings. We all agreed on a time, then Aiden and Reid left, talking about various ideas.
Bentley set down his phone. “Okay. Now the Niagara project.” He smirked. “I know we have a lot going on, and this one is going to take a while. The cabin is in a protected part of the Niagara Peninsula, so we have special permits and guidelines to adhere to. I’d like to drive up and look around, see what’s there, and then come up with a strategy. I don’t plan on starting on it until spring. Jordan tells me the permit process is slow with the conservation people.”
“It is, but if we’re aware and plan accordingly, they are usually cooperative. But I suggest we have Plan B as well.”
“Great, then we’ll plan and make sure it is all within their guidelines. Have a backup, and we’ll go from there.” He picked up his phone. “What day works for you two? I want as early as possible in the week. It’s about a ninety-minute drive each way, and we’ll need a couple of hours I assume? I’m sticking close to home, in case…” His voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat. “For Emmy.”
I smiled as I glanced at my calendar. Liv spoke.
“Whatever is good for you, Bentley. Van and I can adjust our schedules,” she assured him. “First babies are often late.”
He tugged on his sleeves. “So her doctor assures me. He also has told me she is in perfect health, but I prefer to be close—although it seems our daughter is in no hurry to arrive.”