Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
So why is it here in the kitchen? The great room is on the ground floor or what would have been known as the parlor floor. The kitchen is on the garden floor. I have zero idea why these shelves are in here. I need the space to work because I have to take down a whole lot of walls to make it easier to start the rewiring. Ani simply shook her head when I told her and asked me to start the process.
Part of the process includes not having a bunch of insanely heavy boxes in my way.
I pick up the delivery invoice from the large island we’re replacing in a couple of days. Maybe more now. The white marble has already been delivered and is waiting for use, taking up more space I’m going to need to get into the walls. It was signed for by one of the crew who I’m going to have to talk to about putting things where they’re supposed to go. The elevator isn’t working—another thing I need to plan for. So these will have to go back up the stairs. Somehow.
It’s actually a lot of shelves. Is Reid planning on filling every spare inch of wall space in the great room with floating shelves? There’s art we’re supposed to use. Now that I study the paperwork, I can also see it’s not all white oak. There’s several boxes of walnut with a live edge. These two things do not go together, and I have no idea what Reid is thinking. I especially have no idea since there’s a third shipment of cherry shelves. He might be putting floating shelves in every single room for all I can tell. I only know they don’t belong here in the kitchen, and I have to do something about it.
I need some help, though. These boxes are super heavy.
I was hoping I could turn on some music and spend a couple of hours tearing out walls for the electrician who’s coming in tomorrow to see how bad the situation is. I know it sounds weird but it’s soothing. Especially alone, with no one asking me for directions or telling me they found a nest of pigeons in one of the upper bedrooms. True story. But it’s going to have to wait because the space is too crowded.
I make my way up the stairs, and I’m surprised at how quiet it is. Although I should have known. The crew can get the hell out of here fast when they want to, but usually Patrick hangs around for a long time after work is over. I make my way to the ground floor and turn down the main hall.
No one. It’s perfectly quiet. I sent my own crew home hours before since they don’t have to sit around and wait for the director to be ready.
I do not. If I go home, I have to deal with calls from my mother about the upcoming holiday season, and wouldn’t it be lovely if the company helped out the family? Wouldn’t paying for a car for Cousin Steve be a Christmas miracle?
I’m the Grinch.
I’m weary, working fourteen-hour days because I can’t trust Paul to do the right thing for the business. It’s almost like he wants it to fail so he can come in and save it from himself. And then likely figure out all kinds of ways to milk the company for his own good.
The real problem is no one else sees anything wrong with it. I’m being forced to save them from themselves, and it’s making me tired.
I want a night of peace and quiet where I tear apart stuff and go sleep on the air mattress I set up in the butler’s pantry. Is that too much to ask?
I’ll wake up, rush to get back to my place, take a shower, down some coffee, and then get back here pretending I’m a normal person who didn’t stay up working until long after midnight, got four hours of sleep, and is back for more.
Where did everyone go?
There’s the sound of the keycard on the door pinging and it comes open. Through the stained glass I see a tall figure moving to the inner doors.
Reid. I would know those shoulders anywhere. He strides through the inner doors, looking far more casual than I’ve ever seen him before. He’s in track pants and a hoodie. How does he make it look so good? He glances around, and his eyes laser focus in on me. “What the hell is this about the electrical costing a hundred thousand dollars? In what world does it cost that much? What the hell are you trying to do to me, Harper?”
Well, that is one way to greet me. When I saw him I kind of thought maybe he was here to talk. Like a real person. He is definitely not going to help me. It looks like there’s no one who will, so I should get started.