BLAZE*

It's not surprising that I'm already sitting here at the office at six in the morning. My brain was in overdrive all night, making it difficult for me to sleep. Every time I drifted off, work-related nightmares plagued me. Frustrated, I rolled over and got out of bed at four-thirty in the morning. I dressed in my office attire and made my way to the office, where I've been since five-thirty.

I have nine applications sitting in front of me. On Friday, I went through a stack of them and reached out to the candidates to schedule interviews for today. I scheduled the first applicant to arrive at nine this morning, and based on his qualifications, he seems to be a good fit for the company.

Today is the day Vega begins working in the office, and I couldn't be more relieved. Jace will be here to train her, and I'm reassured to know that he will also assist me with interviews. It lifted another weight off my shoulders when I contacted the crew of guys who have helped to construct our grand mansions. I informed them to be on site by eight today and did this all before leaving the office on Friday.

Over a month ago, they leveled and laid down the foundation for this particular home, which Tanner, Wade and Conner will construct the framework today. Reflecting on our busy schedule, I can't believe I allowed these homes to slip through the cracks. However, I find solace in knowing that I'll be providing jobs for those in need.

We have needed to expand and hire more construction workers for a while now. Working together as a team has been a pleasant experience. However, I realized it was time for Tanner, Conner, and Wade to take charge of their own crews. We have been fortunate enough to have eleven men assisting us until now. Tanner, Conner, Wade, and I were involved in starting the framework on homes, but then we shifted our focus to landscaping while the others worked on building the homes. It's going to be tough not having my cousins around every day anymore. However, Cunningham Construction and Landscaping is booming. I never imagined that within just two years, we would become millionaires. The journey so far has been quite exhilarating.

An hour later, Jace and Vega entered my office, exuding confidence and determination. As they approached my desk, I stood up from my chair to greet them.

I shook Jace's hand, giving a quick nod, then turned to Vega and smiled. In response, she beamed back at me. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Vega?"

"Yes, sir, most definitely. Jace has caught me up on what's going on around here, and I'm excited to help in any way I can."

As her Emerald Green eyes glinted with excitement, a pang of longing hit my heart when Lyra came to mind. I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to meet her, and those beautiful Emerald Green eyes would be my undoing. And that smile... Oh, don't even get me started on that.

'Lord, please let Lyra wake up soon.'

Tanner strolled in next, followed by Wade and Connor, who walked through the door several minutes later. As usual, they were late. Being on time was something they could never manage.

"Nice of you two to grace us with your presence. Y'all realize that you're fifteen minutes late on getting here, right?"

Annoyance laced my tone, and I could feel my face turning beet red from anger. Although, I must admit, if it weren't for their exceptional skills and the fact that they're family, I would have fired them a long time ago.

Connor was the first to speak up on their behalf. "Sorry, Blaze, traffic sucked this morning."

Then of course Wade had to throw something in. "We also hit the snooze too many times."

Wade winces when Connor smacks him over the head, and Connor rolls his eyes.

"It doesn't matter at this point. We're past that, right? Because you were both late. Learning how to be punctual is crucial. You guys need to grow up. We're no longer in college, and soon you'll be responsible for your own projects. How can you expect your team to be on time if you can't be?"

Connor, the more mature of the two, reassured, "We promise things will improve, and we'll be punctual from now on."

"I'm glad I informed all of you to arrive at seven. I called every guy on the crew last Friday. They will meet you all at the site by eight. Tanner, since this is your build, you'll be in charge. Please ensure that everyone takes their breaks and stays hydrated. It's scorching hot outside, and we don't want anyone to get dehydrated."

I'm not fond of the fact that I won't be there because being in the office isn't my speed. However, that's why I paid Taylor well, and I would do the same for Vega.

"This week, you guys will work on the construction project together. It's important to make the most of it and give it your all. However, starting next week, each of you will have your own crews to manage. So, it's time to get going and ensure you're not late."

They all nod their heads, say goodbye, and stroll out the door.

As I glanced at Jace and Vega, I noticed their grinning faces and Vega's playful giggle. "I must say," Vega exclaimed, "being a woman, it's quite amusing that Jace and I arrived a few minutes before everyone else. That was crazy!"

Jace asked, trying to hold back his laughter, "So, Blaze, what would you like us to start on first?"

Determined to focus on the task at hand, I choose to get straight down to business. After retrieving the building plans for the other three homes, I discovered these houses were out of the city limits and in smaller towns. Interestingly, these towns were located thirty minutes to an hour away from our current location.

"We have an hour and a half before the first applicant arrives, so let's go to your office and spread these out. We need to prioritize and determine which one needs to be started first. Jace, could you please grab Taylor's planner for us?"

"Sure thing. Go ahead and I'll be there with the planner as soon as I can find it."

Carrying the plans in my arms, I approached Vega. Together, we made our way down the hall to Jace's office. After turning on the lights, we headed towards Jace's work table. Spreading out all the building plans across the table, I noticed Vega's expression resembling a deer caught in headlights. The surprise was apparent on her face. Despite being one of the smaller homes we had constructed in the past two years, Vega and Lyra's house still held an abundant size. A minute later, Jace walked in and opened the planner.

"Alright, so it seems like the situation isn't as dire as we thought. The house they began working on today is the only one that's behind schedule," he explains, pointing towards one of the other homes. "On the bright side, this one already has its foundation laid and was supposed to start last week. The warehouse has the supplies on hand and ready. Or that's what's stated here, anyway. Taylor set the start of the construction for these last two homes for three weeks from now."

His eyebrows furrow as he gestures towards the other two building plans. "However, these two still need the ground leveled, and the foundation set. But the start date for both is not for another three weeks. I'm a bit puzzled why Taylor scheduled them so close together, Blaze. It's not like her to do that."

"That might be why Taylor has been hounding us about hiring more people, Jace?"

"Yes, it's true. However, she has done nothing like this before. Vega and I will have to reschedule all the tasks, starting from the electrical work and going all the way to the bricking, for all these homes. It's crazy to think that we were planning to be out of the office for another week. This situation is not good. On the bright side, maybe things will work out now that the others will manage their own construction crews from now on."

"This day is going to be long and hard. To tackle the challenges ahead, why don't you and Vega work on rescheduling? Meanwhile, I will gather all the supplies lists and take them to the warehouse to ensure we have everything we need. The other two builds require the ground to be leveled and the concrete foundation to be spread. It is crucial that we begin this task as soon as possible, and I may have to order additional supplies for it. There is a possibility that we can start these builds earlier than expected, rather than waiting three weeks. However, I won't be able to confirm until I reach the warehouse."

"Do you want me to start the interviews if you aren't back on time, Blaze? It would be a good chance to show Vega how to present herself and how to hold one?"

"Yes, Jace, I think that's a great idea. To be honest, I have no clue what I'm going to encounter, and there's a chance I might not make it back in time for the interviews. Vega, are you aware that your role will be more like an office manager than a secretary? However, there's no need to worry. We will compensate you well for your efforts."

"I assure you, there's no need to worry. Jace has briefed me on all the details of my job, so I feel confident in my abilities. I am a fast learner, and Jace will be by my side for the next few days to provide guidance. Everything will be fine and go according to plan."

Vega smiles as Jace gives her a side hug and pecks her on the cheek.

"Well. Alright then. Let's get this day started."

THREE HOURS LATER*

Taylor generally has everything labeled, including all the supplies for each build. However, when I arrived here three hours ago, Taylor had labeled nothing. I'm still here, trying to label everything now. Thankfully, at least the supplies for each house are together. Unfortunately, many things are missing, and I'll need to order them. There's almost nothing here for the other two homes we were supposed to start in three weeks. It's crucial that I get in touch with Taylor. Once I return to the office, I'll try to contact her again. Something must have happened to her for everything to be in such chaos.

After returning to the office, I noticed it was almost noon. As I glanced into Vega's office, I saw her and Jace wrapping up an interview. A few moments later, Jace exited the office, followed by Vega. It was clear from their smiles that the interview went well.

"So, how has everything been so far?"

Vega's face breaks into a wide grin, and she excitedly claps her hands together. "Great! We still have a few more things to take care of regarding the rescheduling, but the good news is that we have three qualified crew members who are all set to start next Monday!"

"Well, I'm starving because I didn't eat breakfast this morning. Let's take a break until the next applicant arrives at one-thirty. I'll discuss my issues with you then, and we can address them when we return."

"Sounds good to me, Blaze. Grab your purse, Vega."

BLAZE SIX HOURS LATER*

It is almost eight o'clock now, and I am just now getting home. Mondays are always challenging, but today was even more chaotic than usual.

Six of the nine applicants were a perfect fit for the company. That was the one good thing that went right today-a plus for sure.

After ordering supplies and rescheduling everything that needed to be rescheduled, everything else had fallen into place. So, I suppose it wasn't a horrible day. Rather, it was long and hard. However, I look forward to the day when I have someone waiting up for me when I get home from a long day at work. Someone to cuddle with at night.