Page 6 of Sam
CHAPTER 3
SAM
“Morning, Mum,” I say, sinking tiredly down into the chair behind my desk, grimacing at the paperwork stacking up. I know I have to deal with it, but I’m fucking exhausted.
I’d done a show this weekend in London, and it had kicked my arse. I’d left at three a.m. on Friday to ensure I’d miss traffic and so I could park my van and unload. I fucking hated the city, and if I didn’t have to, I’d never do those shows. It had been good for business, though. I’d taken a shit tonne of deposits for commissions. I’d be working my arse off the next year to get them all out. The last thing I wanted to do was paperwork.
Letting out a long, tired sigh, I lean back in my chair, contemplating the ceiling.
“What’s going on, son?” Mum asks. Tilting my head, I turn tired eyes towards her in time to see her push her glasses up on her head, pick up her mug of tea, and turn towards me.
“Paperwork. I’ve had a good weekend and I’ve taken commissions for work that will keep me busy for a year. I don’t have time for all this,” I flick my hand towards the papers on my desk. “But I also know that it’s probably the most important part of my business. I hate it, though.”
Mum chuckles as she glances at the neat piles on her desk and then the computer program that’s up on her screen.
“If you went digital it would be easier,” she points out.
“I’d still have to input all the information, and you know that will take me forever with these fingers,” I hold up my big hands with the sausage-like fingers. I hated typing. My fingers always overlapped the keys, and I ended up having to use a pencil to get it done.
Mum snorts a laugh. “Yeah lad, I’m not sure when you got those mitts from.” She sits back in her chair, cradling her mug of tea. I can see she’s thinking about something, so I wait her out. My mum is a planner and a thinker. She always has been—a by-product of being a teen mum and then running this company when Grandad drove it into the ground.
“I may have a solution for both of us,” Mum states. “Since Bren had Lexie, I’ve been thinking about cutting back. I know that she’ll go into nursery school eventually, but it won’t be full days, and Bev and I are going to take turns having her. That means I won’t have as much time for the paperwork here. What do you say we find an office manager?
“One who can handle both companies, and we split the cost? I know you’re doing okay, and my guys are busier than ever, especially now that we are the main electrical contractor for Warren’s building company. We can afford to hire someone full-time. What do you think?”
I’m nodding before she’s even finished. “Go for it. Do you have someone in mind?”
Mum hums under her breath as she thinks. Putting her mug back on the table, she turns back towards her desk. “Maybe let me have a chat with someone, and I’ll let you know. I’m guessing you’re good with me handling the interviews and stuff?”
“Fuck yes,” I exclaim with feeling. “Is that even a question? You know I’m crap at that stuff, Mum.”
She sniggers, “I’ll let you know in the next week or so. Now get to that paperwork so that it’s not a mess when whoever we hire takes over.”
“Fine!” I huff almost petulantly. Yes, I know I’m a grown-ass man, but fuck me, I hate paperwork.
It takes me most of the morning to get it all squared away, but I make myself finish it. Then I send out quotes to a couple of potential clients. One client comes back straight away, so I raise an invoice, get his deposit sorted, and mark a date in my diary for delivery.
Once I’m done with that, I head to the café to grab some lunch, knowing that I won’t get a chance once I start working on my next project.
Nodding at the girl behind the counter, I leave my lunch order with her. Having a look around, I’m pleased to see the café is full. I walk towards the table reserved for our family at the back. Dad and Draco are sitting there finishing up their lunch when I get to the table.
They both nod in greeting.
“Hey, Dad, Draco,” I greet them, pulling a chair out from the table and taking a seat.
“Son,” Dad replies, wiping at his mouth.
Draco nods at me before asking, “How was the show?”
“Successful,” I answer, “good enough that Mum and I are looking at hiring an office manager to handle the two companies.”
“Yeah, your mum mentioned that,” Dad says as his phone rings. The caller ID shows Adam O’Shea.
“Reaper,” Dad answers, getting up from his chair and clasping my shoulder on his way out.
Draco watches him go before turning back to his meal. He obviously doesn’t feel like talking, and as my food has arrived, I leave him to his thoughts and tuck into my lunch. They seem heavy. If I had to guess, he’s worried about his sister. Bella has been MIA since I got back. I know she’s in communication with Beau and her parents, but nobody else.
Dad comes back to the table, sitting down as Draco asks, “How is she?”
