Page 57 of I Did Before I Do
“Most likely.” I smiled at her and straightened, ready to go.
“Ryker!” Benny’s voice almost echoed across the shop.
I looked over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Office. Now.” He stood at the steps, watching me. He looked pissed.
I sighed. “All right. I’m coming.”
I turned and followed him back up the stairs. He led me into his office and shut the door.
Bradley was there, too.
They both looked serious.
I sank down into one of the chairs in the cramped space, next to Bradley. Benny sat at his desk, folding his arms. “Look,” he said. “Bradley and I have been talking, and we have to make some changes around here. For the good of the shop.”
What the fuck?
I frowned, crossing my arms in a mirror of Benny’s posture. “Yeah? And? Gonna fire me for cutting out early when I don’t have any more appointments? Good luck finding anybody to replace me. You know I’m one of your best artists. Probably one of the best artists in the state.” I snorted and shook my head. “I get more return customers than anyone else here, and you know it.”
Bradley and Benny looked at each other.
Benny raised an eyebrow and looked back at me. “Yeah. We know it.”
“Okay, so what? What’s the problem?”
“Oh, there’s no problem.”
I paused. “Wait, what?”
Benny continued. “There’s no problem. And that’s why we want to make some changes. We’ve been talking about the new shop and had to make some tough decisions.”
“You said nobody was going to get fired.”
“We’re not firing anyone, dude, just shut up and listen.” Bradley smiled at me.
When I looked back at Benny, he was smiling, too.
“You’re one of our strongest artists,” he said. “And you have a good work ethic. Even if I did catch you about to sneak out on us.” He grinned.
“Okay, so what are you saying?” I looked between them again.
“You’ve proven that you’re a loyal employee, and a talented artist, and a hard worker. That’s why we are making changes. I want you—no, we, Bradley and I—want to offer you a stake in No Regrets.”
I blinked, my mouth hanging half-open in shock.
“You know, we’re opening a new place in a few months. We want you to be one of the main people over there, in Malone. You and Logan are going to be owners in the business, if you’re up for it.”
Holy shit.
Holyshit.
“Yes!” I leaped out of my chair and halfway across the desk, grabbing Benny and pulling him into a hug. “Are you fucking serious? Yes!”
Benny laughed and patted me on the back. “You’re fucking up the desk,” he said, but I could hear the grin in his voice.
I let him go and hugged Bradley instead. He hugged me back, giving me a hard thump on the back.
