“Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous,” she murmurs and I grin.
“Okay, so if you’re moving what are we doing about Brutus?”
Stella goes still, and she shakes her head slightly.
“Who’s Brutus?”
“Brutus is Stella’s dog.”
“Excuse me? Whose dog?”
Stella twists so she can see both our faces. “Number one, I don’t have a dog. And if I did, she wouldn’t be named Brutus. Number two, I’ll just explain my living situation has changed. They’ll understand.”
“One of you needs to explain this, because I’m completely fucking lost.”
“Landon told us about some puppies found a few weeks ago. They’re at the Humane Society until they are ready for homes. I’ve been watching them, that’s all.”
“Babe, you want a dog?”
“Not now.”
“Why not now?”
“Because you’re place doesn’t have a yard. And all your stuff is so nice, it’s no place for a puppy. They’re known to ruin things.”
“There’s an enormous courtyard on the left side of the property and a park across the street. And who cares if it ruins anything. It can be replaced.”
“Dog’s need yards, Max.”
“We’ll buy a house with a yard.”
Laci chuckles.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not, you want a house with a yard, we’ll get one. I’ll move in here until we find something and—”
“You’re crazy! I can’t believe you’re serious.”
“Babe, get Brutus.”
“Her name’s not Brutus!”
“Whatever, get her. We’ll work it out.”
She gives me a non-committal shrug and I catch Laci’s eye. She winks quickly and changes the subject. Looks like I’m adding an unexpected trip to the Humane Society to my schedule soon.
The financials on my desk are proof that all the marketing and PR efforts we have loaded into JOS are helping every area of Hurst & McCoy. The endless phone calls, public appearances, and television interviews have paid off. Between being busy with all this shit, the construction crew on site has given me an update every twelve hours.
Things are on track with everything except the mystery man who approached Stella. It’s a complete dead end. None of our people in South America are talking and Pedro hasn’t seen anything suspicious or out of the ordinary.
It’s been two weeks since we got back from Lake Lanier and I’d give anything to be heading there again tonight. But instead, I have to go home and prepare Stella for the news I’m leaving for New York on Monday and then directly to the factory for a test run of the new equipment. It kills me to leave her, but we knew this may happen. Hopefully my surprise will help soften the blow.
“Max?” Dana walks in and hands me an envelope, crossing her arms angrily.
“What’s this?”
“This is a series of invoices sent to Hurst & McCoy that are outstanding.”