Rich and Bossy (Rich Boys)

18. Hazel

CHAPTER 18

Hazel

“Miss Page, can I get you anything else?” Mom is still pretty much beside herself, even though this isn’t the first time Campbell has paid us a visit. She’s in full hostess mode, setting out cookies and sandwiches, while Dad does his best to stay out of the way. He’s a smart man.

Campbell is gracious as always. “Thank you, Mrs. Strous, I’m just fine. By the time I fly home, I’ll have put on ten pounds.”

Mom clicks her tongue in her motherly way. “You could use it. You’re both too thin.”

“Okay, thanks, Mom .” My smile is a little tight, sort of bordering on a grimace.

“I meant it as a compliment, Miss Page, honestly.” Mom looks horrified at my tone. She puts a hand on her hip. “I used to have a body just like yours until this one came along.” She pats my shoulder on the way past, and I do everything in my power to keep from melting into my chair out of pure horror.

Once we’re alone again, I turn toward Campbell. “And this is why I so rarely had friends over in high school. Sorry. She means well.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s sweet. You should see some places I’ve worked out of—this is heaven.” She’s laughing as she looks over the list I gave her. “So this is everything that happened this week?”

“Yeah. I made it a point to keep a list of all the violations I witnessed, and I asked people outside of work to keep their eyes out, too. Everyone is being super secretive about it.”

I should probably tell her about my encounter with you know who, but I can’t seem to find the right time, or the right opening. Besides, he thinks I quit. That I gave up on this. I just did what I thought was best for Campbell’s surprise media blitz and all-out attack at once.

I still feel bad about lying to him, though.

Why? I have no idea. I know for a fact he’d lie to me in a second. Right?

“Excellent. The more of this we can document, the better. It will help a lot during the recruiting stages, and we can leak this stuff to the media to get the public on our side.”

I’ve already sent her the photos I managed to snap with my phone, risking getting in trouble for that, mind you. We’re not allowed to take pictures, like shipping boxes is some government classified business, but they can film us nonstop. I don’t care at this point. We’re building a case, step by step. Her encouragement is like pure adrenaline, giving me strength and hope. I was so close to actually giving up before I reached out to her.

Now, the array of papers and books and folders spread out over the table reminds me of one of those movies where a bunch of lawyers dig around to win an unwinnable case. I have to keep reminding myself this is real, that there’s no guaranteed happy ending.

“I made sure to double-check with everybody. Nobody is talking about it openly. Nobody says anything to anyone unless they’re a definite yes, strongly interested. Nobody who’s on the fence, and definitely no managers.” I uncap a bottle of water and gulp down a third all at once, my throat parched after talking for hours. I’d better get used to this. Something tells me I’ll be doing a lot of talking once this thing kicks off.

“Great. Let them get as cocky and self-assured as they want. The best way to do this is to hit them all at once, when they don’t expect it.”

I can’t help it. I feel sort of proud of myself, hearing her praise me. It’s like school when I would get a gold star on a test. It’s silly, I know. It doesn’t make it less true.

Campbell checks something on her phone and nods firmly. “Penn and Meadow are working on Decker as we speak. We want to get some media contacts out here in preparation for when we make the push.”

Media contacts. Real-big deal people, national-level stuff. It’s enough to make my nerves hum. “I can’t believe you’re able to do all this. They know we don’t have any funds right now, right? There’s no actual union yet to collect dues.”

“It’s pro bono. Hazel, you need to remember something.” Her voice is warm and friendly, but there is a professional edge to it, too. She can be firm when she needs to. “I know you still see yourself as the little guy, like this is doomed to fail. But this is so much bigger than you. I know you know that, somewhere up there.” She taps the side of her head. “But you need to believe it.”

“I know, I know. It’s just hard to wrap my head around the scope of this.”

“It’s a huge deal. We’re on the right side of history here. The people back in New York and Chicago who are helping know that.” Passion leaks into her voice. Determination. If anybody ever asks why this woman inspires me, I’ll point them to one of her speeches. She could stir a morgue full of stiffs to action. “Other employees, not even at Rapid, this will inspire them. That’s why we have to believe and do our best work. Give it everything we have. You have to be ready for that.”

And now I can’t breathe so well all of a sudden. When she puts it that way, the room has a habit of spinning around me. “No pressure,” I manage with a shaky laugh.

“You’ll be fine.” She smiles. “Everything will be fine. I’m with you every step, and you’ll be prepared. Trust me, you could do a lot worse than having Wells Covington and Decker Collins in your corner, along with Penn.”

The names are vaguely familiar, other than Penn, but I don’t really know who they are.

I lift an eyebrow to try to convey the point that I have no clue.

“Covington’s a major investor in some of Rapid’s biggest competitors. So, you know, he has a vested interest in seeing this happen. He’s more than willing to provide plenty of resources we need. He’s a great guy. His motivations aren’t exactly altruistic, but it’s kind of enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“Tell him I said thank you.” For some reason, I already feel like this is a million times beyond me. To the point I don’t really know how to react, because I have no idea of the scope.

“Trust me. He knows how grateful you are. And thanks to his help, when we do launch this on a big scale, it’s going to be huge. Media interviews, podcasts, everything I mentioned when we first started talking.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I studied this kind of thing in school, huh?”

“Absolutely. Really, you were sort of a dream come true. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be there to coach you all the way, but you’re already familiar enough with the law and terminology and all that. You already have a strong foundation in place. All this works in our favor.”

“You know I’m entirely in your hands. If there’s anybody I trust, it’s you.”

“And I want you to know how seriously I take that.” She meets my gaze, unblinking. “It’s an honor, and that’s not hyperbole. This is a huge opportunity for me too. Yeah, I’m nervous about it also. Rapid is one of the largest companies in the world. I don’t have to tell you this. Organizing one of their warehouses is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know how much it means. We’re going to crush this.”

“You definitely keep me excited. It helps block out all the fear.”

“Good.” She leans closer, palms on the table. “Every time I start in on a new project, it’s like the first time. I’m as giddy over this as I was the first competitor I ever faced. I’ve been beaten down a lot. To the point I almost quit. You will too.” She leans back and smiles. “Something tells me you’ll keep going, though. The same way I did.”

“I’m going to do my best.”

Her eyes dart over me, and she grins. “I get the feeling you’re the sort of person who’s always done her best.”

Before I can get all flattered and start tripping over my tongue because oh, my God, how surreal is this, Mom pokes her head in once again. “You sure everything’s okay in here? I can’t get you anything?”

Whatever Campbell replies is lost to me, since the doorbell rings and drowns her out. Dad’s at the store—probably picking up more snacks nobody actually wants—so I go out to the living room to see who’s at the door.

The second I look at the Ring camera, my heart decides to stop beating.

What. Is. Happening?

All the breath leaves my lungs, knowing who’s standing there, right in front of me, with only a piece of wood between us. What the hell is he thinking?

What the hell is he doing?

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me.

“Well holy shit.” That’s all I hear from Campbell’s voice when she sees who it is.

I’m going to die.