Merging Assets (8 page)

“We love you, too. That’s why we want you to move in. That little house will rent to someone else. We’ve got the room, and you can work from here. The sun room will be perfect for your office. We’ll be at the garage.” Fred took a bite of the pizza.

Her appetite finally kicked in. With nothing in her stomach since an English muffin at breakfast, she took a big bite.

“We can be your first client. You can do the garage’s books. At least, set them up on a better system and handle payroll. It needs updating.” Andy sat down next to her.

“Seriously? You’re just changing your careers for me?” she asked.

“Not for you. For us. Andy was stressed. You know it.” Lance rolled his eyes. “There’s something for all of us to do at the garage, and we’re our own bosses. All equals. Plus Nicholas needs to retire, and Lucky Springs needs the garage.”

“That’s true.” She took another bite. It made sense. She wasn’t numb or scared anymore. It might take a little time to build up enough clients to support herself, but she wasn’t alone. She didn’t need to be rescued, but it was wonderful not to be flying solo anymore.

“So what do you say? Want to live with us?” Andy asked.

“I was raised to play it safe and not take this sort of risk, but it feels right,” She replied.

“Moving in with us isn’t really a risk. You can always move out if you’re not ready.” Lance laughed.

“I meant the job thing. I don’t have a lease on the house so I’ll let them know to look for new renters. I can start packing tomorrow. It’s so weird not to have somewhere to go.” She sipped her wine.

“You’ll be here. We can help you pack. Or you can come to the garage and let Mr. Nicholas show you the books. He’ll still be hanging around and working part time so no rush,” Fred said.

She smiled. “I have a feeling with five people in this relationship and two businesses, we’ll all be very busy and much happier.”

“Yep, plenty to do. You won’t be bored. We don’t all have to be at the garage tomorrow. We’re signing the papers in a couple of days. The lawyer has the info. He’s drawing it up.” Roman opened another bottle of wine.

She looked around at the family she had now. When she was single, she hadn’t been miserable, but she wouldn’t trade the crowded table for all the promotions in the world. The company didn’t care about her. Finally, she’d found the right men, and she was free to work for herself. It seemed like a dream, but it was very real.

Chapter Eight

Lance was the only one in the group who never got a twinge of doubt after the decisions were made. He’d even seen Roman a bit worried when they’d sorted through Mr. Nicholas’ old-fashioned tracking methods from the past. While the old guy’s body was wearing out, his brain was still sharp. They’d have to make the business their own.

The relationship was working well with the corporate crap behind them. The five of them stuck together and sorted things out one problem at a time. Having control over things made it so much easier.

It took three days of dodging calls to convince the company none of the five were coming back. The guys had managed to move Crystal in with them and set up an office for her in the sun room. They had plenty of time to have a little construction work done so the room would be fully winterized as an office.

Since he was the best at hopping from job to job, Lance was a jack of all trades. Eventually, he’d manage the garage mechanics, but for now, it was all hands on deck with whatever needed to be handled. They had made serious progress with other goals, however. Crystal’s old place had been cleaned until it sparkled and was ready for new tenants. One more thing off the list.

Today, it was all about the garage. Crystal was in one office poring through the books while Mr. Nicholas charmed the ladies waiting for their cars to be done. Lance and Andy were going over the employee files in the other office while Fred worked the phones for better deals on supplies since the old man hadn’t bothered to negotiate in a few years. Roman was learning the front desk from their best employee. It was a different business from what they were accustomed to, but it was theirs. The grin on Andy’s face told Lance everything would be okay.

“What? You’re staring,” Andy said.

“You like being the boss.” Lance smiled.

Andy nodded. “I like us being in charge of our lives. And our business. A little less pressure on me and no corporate bullshit.”

“And we know about motors, tires and all this crap. I’d rather be fixing a single mom’s car so she can to go work instead of worrying about semis getting loaded and the bottom line so the execs get their bonuses.” Lance liked his life more already.

“Damn right. If someone needs credit or a break, we can do that. We won’t be screwing anybody, and we’ll make enough to live on.” Andy and his guys didn’t need to be filthy rich to impress Crystal. She had her own career aspirations and fit right in.

Fred walked in and looked as if he’d seen a ghost.

“What’s wrong?” Andy asked.

Fred held up a finger as Roman and Crystal entered the office. Fred closed the door.

“Okay, we’re here. What?” Crystal asked.

“You won’t believe this.” Fred laughed.

“This really isn’t the time for guessing games,” Roman said.

“Your friends will be telling you this at lunch, Crystal, I’m sure. I only heard because of my friend in HR. The owners were back east for another business venture and never approved any of the inquiries. They had no idea what was going on until they got your letter,” Fred said.

She shrugged. “They didn’t have to know about it. HR had the right to review the situation.”

“Your letter must’ve been taken
very
seriously. Himmel and Douglas were investigated. They admitted they’ve been sleeping together and working together to get rid of you. Rumor is Himmel fudged something somewhere and worried you’d find it. Anyway, both of them got fired. I think Himmel’s wife is leaving him.” Fred folded his arms.

Crystal laughed. “Serves them both right. Coming after us for doing things by procedure when they were in a secret relationship. I never thought he’d falsify records though. Wow, Himmel. His wife is nice. I met her at the holiday party last year. I still don’t understand why they went after me unless it was something to do with Accounts Payable.”

“The investigation is ongoing. Who knows what they’ll find, but odds are you’d have uncovered it and they’d have been screwed. Maybe, that’s why they kept sending you to the warehouse and launched the investigation. They didn’t really care. It was just a big cover up. We may never get all the details, but you’d have found it. You don’t miss a thing, and you’re bluntly honest. That’s rare, and I love it.” Fred kissed her on the lips.

“Thanks. It’s not always good, it seems,” she said.

“For us it is. For your financial clients, it will be.” Andy winked at her.

“Just be prepared, everyone,” Fred said.

Andy’s smartphone chimed. Then Crystal’s ringtone went off. She looked at it and ignored the call. Andy did the same.

The silence made Lance a little nervous. Would they offer Crystal a better job? More money. What about the guys?

Crystal shook her head. “No way. We’re not going back. The owners hired Himmel and Douglas and need to learn from their mistakes. They lost five great employees because they didn’t stay in the loop and communicate effectively. If people with power trample their employees, the employees leave. There are other options available for employment. When you treat people like that, they’ll start over elsewhere rather than be belittled and blamed.”

“Thank God! I wasn’t going back no matter what they offered me.” Lance grinned.

“Me, either. An apology would be nice but too little, too late.” Roman nodded.

“Same here. I like being our own boss,” Andy said.

Fred nodded. “Me, too. Security is good, but there’s no trust in that place anymore.”

“We can trust each other. And we know we were right. I hope the owners fix all of their bad picks in the executive wing and rebuild the trust with their employees. At least, we didn’t burn the bridge. Douglas and Himmel set fire to it,” Crystal said.

“I hope they both stay in town so we can rub it in their faces,” Lance said.

Crystal laughed. “I hope they leave, and we never see them again. It’s good to know we’ve been vindicated. Now, back to our work.”

* * * *

At lunch, Crystal was on cloud nine. Proven blameless and free, she sat with the three women she’d driven to Lucky Springs with. Ashley had grown up here and still work in sales at the factory. Her guys were in quality control. Zoe was marketing and already had a baby with her salesmen. Lizzie had left customer service for the bee hunks.

“I still can’t believe all the drama,” Lizzie said.

Ashley nodded. “Zoe and I both lodged complaints with HR, not that it would’ve helped with Douglas behind it.”

“She was one of those women who hates other women. She wanted to be the queen. The only woman playing with the big boys. So glad she got hers.” Zoe sipped her soda.

Crystal stirred her strawberry milkshake. “I’m glad Himmel did, too. Cheating at work and on his wife. What a creep!”

“What they put you through! I just want to run them out of town. Better yet, shove them both in a barn full of angry bees.” She stabbed her coleslaw with a fork.

That was pretty tough talk from the sweetest one in the group. “Are you okay, Lizzie?”

“I have been moody lately. Finally, I went to the doctor and got a checkup. We weren’t trying or anything.” Lizzie blushed.

“Pregnant?” Zoe asked.

Lizzie nodded, and the women screamed in excitement.

“That’s so great!” Crystal said.

“Apparently, I need to catch up.” Ashley laughed.

“It wasn’t a plan, but the guys can’t wait.” Lizzie’s tiny frame didn’t show a hint of it yet.

Crystal took a bit of her sandwich and contemplated kids in a group relationship. Zoe made it work with her job, and her daughter was a mirror of her stylish, independent mom. They had no idea which of the four men was the father, and they all doted on the little girl.

“Crystal,” Ashley said.

“What? Sorry,” Crystal said.

“Boy or girl. Make your bet.” Zoe nodded.

Lizzie was so calm and had taken to life on a bee ranch with jeans and T-shirts. For some reason, Crystal saw her friend with a few sons. “I think it’ll be a boy.”

“I don’t care as long as it’s healthy.” Zoe took a big bite of her cheeseburger.

“Of course, it’s just fun to guess. Once you find out, we can plan the baby shower.” Ashley smiled.

“I’ll help. I have a lot more free time now,” Crystal offered.

“You won’t be swamped trying to get clients?” Zoe asked.

“I’m starting slow. The guys own the garage now. That’s one. Mr. Nicholas has asked me to look at his retirement funds. I’m going to offer a review and recommendation service to small businesses. Go over the bookkeeping and give advice. Offer to do the tax forms and such. Some people might want more. Individuals will mostly want me to do taxes when the time comes, but maybe, they’ll want some financial planning, too.” Crystal shrugged.

Lizzie raised her hand. “Count in the bee ranch. We could use a bookkeeping review. I’m no expert.”

“Done.” Crystal nodded.

“You’ll be very busy. People trust you.” Ashley smiled.

“But you’re very calm for this lack of work. You’re not freaking out to get more clients and stuff going. Is it panic?” Zoe asked.

Crystal shook her head. “No. I mean, I moved in with the guys, and I had been saving as much as I could since I’ve been working here in Lucky Springs. The promotion helped with a raise. So I’ve got enough of a cushion to go slow and do it right.”

“Well, self-employment agrees with you,” Ashley said.

“So does Lucky Springs. I can’t thank you enough for bringing us here.” Crystal nodded.

“We needed jobs.” Ashley shrugged.

Zoe lifted her glass. “To new job ventures and new babies!”

The other women raised their glasses to the toast and clinked them. Taking a drink, Crystal knew they were all on the right track.

* * * *

Crystal walked into the main office at the garage, where Andy and Lance would be. Today she found all of them hanging out. She grinned and watched them for a minute before they noticed her. Her men. All four different and sexy and perfect in their own way.

“What are you staring at?” Roman asked when he caught her eye.

“The guys I love looking happy with what they’re doing. I think we’re finally in the right jobs and with the right people.” She walked in and locked the door behind her.

“I think she’s up to no good,” Fred said.

Andy laughed. “You hope.”

She tossed her purse in a chair and checked out the smallish office as she went to each guy and took her time kissing them.

“So things are looking good here?” she asked.

“Great. Everything is in order. We’ll need your expertise to keep the money in line, but we’ll pay you. Keep it all square.” Lance shrugged.

“Glad to hear it. It occurred to me that we had sex in Andy’s old office. We’ve had sex in the house and can screw around whenever we want in my new office. But we’ve never done anything here.” She sat on the desk.

“Is that a request?” Lance pushed her skirt up, and Fred pulled her back.

“I think it only feels right.” She reached for Fred’s zipper.

“It’s all you this time. You’re getting fucked, eaten and you’re doing all the sucking.” Andy opened her blouse and pushed her bra down before he sucked her tits.

There was no downside to any of it. They were the bosses. It didn’t matter if they got caught. There were no more worries about bosses or HR. No more drama about policies or procedures. It was all behind them.

She tugged Fred in closer and sucked him as Lance found protection. Soon, Roman was fucking her while Andy slid his cock between her tits. The way Roman moaned, she knew Lance had to be fucking him, too. She grabbed Andy’s cock and led him around. She wanted two in her mouth.