I figured since he already thought I was a monster, I may as well confess all my sins. “That was something else I adjusted,” I said.
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“Their breakroom was a buffet. Food, snacks, and drinks along with every coffee flavor you can think of.”
He slowly shook his head. “Don’t tell me you took it.”
“I had a real coffeemaker installed. There were some complaints about the bottled water being removed. I had a water cooler installed and requested they bring their own water bottles.”
“I think you better start brushing up on your tax law,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because you aren’t going to have a staff left. You bought a business that you are going to be left running all by yourself.”
I scoffed. “I don’t think so. There are a stack of applications on my desk as we speak. There are plenty of people who will do the job. That’s what those people need to see. They’re bitching and moaning to Saige right now, but they’ll figure it out soon enough. They can accept the changes and be a part of the new company or find somewhere else to work.”
I could tell by his expression he didn’t like my theory. “Do you know, most people quit a boss, not the job?”
I shrugged. “And?”
“People don’t like to work for assholes, and I say this with all the love in the world, but you’re a dick. I really am glad you don’t pull this shit at the bar because I know I wouldn’t stick around. It isn’t like you are paying anyone a million bucks to work for you and take your dictatorship.”
“Is anyone worth a million bucks?” I quipped.
“You should treat them like they are,” he countered. “A little employee appreciation can go a long way.”
“They are paid, and it isn’t like I turned off the heat and make them sit at their desks with no breaks. I’m asking them to do their job. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m very successful. This isn’t my first rodeo. This is kind of my thing. I buy businesses that are stagnant, and I infuse life into them. I make them successful. I increase profits.”
“For you,” he shot back. “You get richer while they work harder. I’m not sure anyone is going to see that as a fair trade.”
“They aren’t working harder because I’m mean. It’s the damn job.”
“I’m curious about something,” he said.
“I can only imagine,” I muttered.
“What is your turnover?”
I shrugged. “It’s high, but that’s to be expected. People don’t like change. They often want to find a new job after new management comes in. That’s not a shocker.”
“But imagine how much money you would save if you retained the employees you bought with the business.”
I smiled. “I don’t think I can legally buy people.”
“Very funny. You know what I mean.”
I thought about it for a few seconds. “Technically, yes, it would save money initially. But when I buy a business, I’m looking at my long-term investment. I have to have a crystal ball. I have to think about taking a hit now and training the right people for the job that I want done. If I try and retain those employees that have been trained the wrong way and allowed to develop bad habits, it’s only going to cost me more in the end. Not to mention, a shitty attitude is like a cancer in the workplace. You just can’t allow it to stay. You have to cut far and wide and get rid of the bad to make room for the good.”
He let out a low whistle. “I never realized just how ruthless you were. Damn. Like seriously, damn.”
“Contrary to what people think, I don’t try to be a dick.”
“No, it seems to come pretty naturally to you,” he quipped. “Congratulations.”
I wasn’t offended. Davin was the only person in the world who said what he thought. Except Saige now. Saige was also a pretty straight shooter. “Thanks.”
“What are you going to do when your boss lady quits?” he asked.
“Saige?”
“Yes. I assume you two are butting heads.”
“Why do you assume that?” I asked.
He laughed. “I knew it!”
I sighed. “She isn’t happy with the changes.”
“Why would she be? You went and pissed all over in her sandbox. Women are territorial, and if she is anything like the women I’ve worked for, they consider their employees theirs. As in their babies. You are messing with the woman’s kids, man. Don’t you know you never piss off a mama bear?”
“That would explain a lot,” I said.
“You guys clashing quite a bit?”
I smirked. “That’s an understatement.”
“Here’s a suggestion, and I know you’re the big rich guy who buys and sells companies more often than I change my underwear, but hear me out.”
“I hope to god you change your underwear more often than that,” I muttered.
He grinned. “If you don’t wear them, you don’t have to change them.”
I had to give myself a mental shake to jar the image of him free-balling from my head. “So gross.”
“I’m serious.”
“I have no doubt in my mind you are serious. You can keep the clothes by the way.”
He laughed with that goofy expression on his face that made him look so easygoing. “Talk to her about all these things you see that you think are wrong. Maybe you two can come to a compromise about the best way to handle the problems. You are making all these decisions and not consulting her. I hate to say it, but she’s going to quit. I give it a month before she leaves you high and dry.”
“She isn’t going to quit,” I said. “She’s been at the same job forever. She isn’t going anywhere. She’ll get on board once she sees how well the changes work out.”
He slowly shook his head. “I forgot you’re single.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You don’t know the first thing about women.”
“I know enough,” I said with a sly smile.
“You might be great in bed, but there’s a reason none of them stay in your bed.”
“Because I don’t want them to,” I replied.
“They’d run out the door screaming the first time you opened your mouth and barked an order at them. You don’t know shit about women.”
Chapter 13
Saige
I dropped the box of crayons on the table before putting the coloring books down. Jace walked in behind me. He was in a funk. The weather was nice, but he did not want to go to the park. Usually, I would force it, but today, I got the feeling he really didn’t want to do it. I was cool with just taking a day off and hanging out in our jammies.
“Which one do you want?” I asked him as I sat down.
He scanned the coloring books and grabbed one that was filled with superheroes. I took the adult coloring book that was full of beach scenes. We started to color, which was really the open invitation for talking. It was a trick I learned a couple years ago.