Page 41 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
‘Bagsyouknock on Keith and Kev’s door,’ said Leo, swiftly.
‘You’re the boss,’ Evie reminded him.
‘Bugger,’ said Leo. ‘Okay. Power pose time …’
‘You’re a nut,’ said Evie, with affection. ‘You know, we couldbothgo.’
‘Anothergenius idea,’ said Leo. ‘Let’s do it right now. Before my sugar high from Janice’s scone wears off.’
‘You’re telling us theinstantyou get back!’ Nigel shouted after them. ‘Or I’ll give you a clout round the lug hole!’
‘What exactlyisa lug hole?’ Leo whispered to Evie, as they stood outside Keith and Kev’s office door. ‘Do we both have one?’
‘Shhh.’ Evie was in danger of getting the giggles. She took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock. ‘Ready?’
‘Do it,’ said Leo. ‘I’m right behind you.’
‘He smiled! Kev actually smiled!’ Evie told Nigel and Ange.
‘I thought I heard a ripping sound,’ said Nigel. ‘Now, I know it were the fabric of the universe.’
‘You’re all so mean,’ said Ange. ‘Kev is alovelyman.’
‘What the actual heck, Ange?’ said Leo. ‘Were the Spanish Inquisition lovely men? The Kray twins?’
‘He shook our hands, too,’ Evie pressed on. ‘Amazing!’
‘Keep an eye on them fingers,’ said Nigel. ‘If they start going all black with frostbite, they’ll have to come off.’
‘And Keith clapped us on the back, which isn’t unusual,’ said Evie. ‘Painful, but not unusual.’
‘It’s going to take a lot of work to set up all these initiatives,’ said Ange, who’d been flicking through their strategy paper.
‘And here’s me hoping for a pay-out and early retirement,’ said Nigel.
Evie and Leo exchanged a smile.
‘But wait, there’s more,’ said Leo. ‘A new idea that came up while we were talking. Turn Double K into a co-operative. Owned by customersandstaff.’
‘Keith thought of that,’ said Evie. ‘We weren’t the only geniuses in the room.’
‘A co-operative?’ said Ange. ‘You mean we’d all get a share of the profits?’
‘If thereareany profits,’ muttered Nigel.
‘Love your enthusiasm, Nigel,’ said Leo. ‘It’s a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds.’
‘Well, it’s a risk, isn’t it?’ said Nigel. ‘Plumbing Ultra played dirty before. Who says they won’t do it again?’
‘They absolutely will,’ said Evie. ‘No doubt about it. But Leo and I have already done a great job of painting them as – what’s “bad guys” in French?’
‘Lesguysmauvais,’ said Leo. ‘Or something like that.’
‘Our customers are predominantly small-business owners,’ said Evie. ‘Which means they have a deep distrust of big corporates. Especially foreign ones, bless their xenophobic little hearts.’
‘Evie and I might have emphasised Plumbing Ultra’s French-ness as well as their big-ness,’ said Leo. ‘We can play dirty, too.’
‘And you came up with this idea yourselves?’ said Nigel.
