Page 14 of Pain in the Axe
“What a beautiful doggie,” she said, nuzzling Clem’s nose. “What’s her name?”
“Clementine.”
Chloe lifted her head and froze, staring at me. Recognition dawned in her eyes, and I could almost see the memory play through her mind. Our first real date. Sharing stale popcorn in a cramped movie theater in Orono. The crisp fall air as we wandered along the river after.
Our eyes locked, and the air in the room shifted.
She stood up quickly, smoothing down her skirt.
“Cute dog,” she said, turning to leave. “Don’t let her pee in my office.”
Chapter 4
Chloe
Itook a deep breath. This was one of my least favorite parts of the job. But, as Karl reminded me, local PR was essential to our success. Especially given the reputation of the company. So we needed to be here, putting a bright spin on things.
Week one had not gone according to plan. In fact, I was farther behind than I ever thought possible. We were all working around the clock, and I had my accounting and legal teams on Zoom every night, reviewing every detail.
I’d tried more than once to get face time with both the mayor and the chief of police, but they’d brushed me off. And I needed both of them on my side if we were going to make all this work.
So when the mayor’s office called and told me my presence was required at the town meeting tonight, I saw it as an opportunity to put my best foot forward.
My feet were sore and tired, and more than anything, I wanted to sit on my deck and look out at the gorgeous lake with a glass of shiraz in my hand.
But I was the boss, so I had to get shit done.
I squared my shoulders.
“Thank you for coming,” I said to Karl. JJ had stayed back at their cottage, obsessively poring over topography maps.
“Are you kidding? Small-town drama is the best part of this job.” He craned his neck, perusing the various people heading into the school. “And I’ve always got your back. If the townsfolk get their pitchforks and torches, like inBeauty and the Beast”—he thumped his chest—“I’ll protect you.”
Karl was obsessed. He discussed, quoted, or alluded toBeauty and the Beastmultiple times per day.
We’d had many fun drunken nights debating aspects of the film, but there was one detail we agreed on. The beast was way hotter in his animal form. The human underneath? Meh.
We walked into the school. The building had once been a mill but had been converted decades ago. Children’s artwork lined the hallways we traversed on our way to the gymnasium. The large space was filled with row upon row of chairs.
“This is so exciting,” Karl whispered, practically bouncing on his toes. “Ooh, look. There are snacks.”
Sure enough, some brilliant person had dispatched children to sell snacks at a table set up just outside the entrance.
Karl pulled me toward a cherub-cheeked girl with blond pigtails who was scooping popcorn from an old-fashioned machine into red-and-white-striped bags.
“Popcorn?” she asked, her gaze locked on me. “All proceeds go to fund after-school programs.”
“Sure,” Karl said, reaching for his wallet. “I’ll take one.”
The little girl put her hands on her hips and scowled. “Only one? There are two of you. And they’re only five dollars each.”
“Five bucks,” I scoffed. “That’s a lot for popcorn.”
Her blue eyes narrowed. “Inflation,” she quipped. “And it’s for the children.”
Jeez. I respected the negotiation instincts. This kid had more backbone than half the executives I dealt with daily.
“Four,” I countered.
