“And I’m just a phone call away in the event of a HR problem,” Jasmine stated.
Nydia managed to redirect everyone’s attention back to her schematic. She was able to get estimates from Tonya for the start-up costs for her supper club. Tonya said she and her husband were going to forego a salary for the first year to maximize profits.
Tonya gathered her tote and stood up. “I’m sorry to cut out so early, but I’m usually in bed by ten because I need to get to the restaurant at six to prepare for the lunch crowd. Gage and I have decided to host a small gathering at the house a week from this Sunday. It will be our first time entertaining friends and family as a married couple.”
“What time Sunday?” Hannah asked.
“Any time after one.”
“Do you want us to bring anything?” Nydia questioned.
Tonya nodded. “Yes. You can bring your new man. And he can also bring his daughter, because Gage’s sisters are bringing their kids. The same goes for you, Jasmine. You can invite your in-laws because the more the merrier. I must say catering the Singletons’ anniversary and yours and Cameron’s wedding proved to be priceless. The food critic from one of the dailies who attended both events came to the restaurant to interview us. He went on and on about the dishes we prepared, and I indulged in a little shameless bragging when I told him about the DuPont Inn and our plans to serve a buffet breakfast to the inn’s guests, and that Toussaints will be open to the public.”
Hannah gave Nydia a long, penetrating stare. “You and Lamar are a couple?”
Nydia lowered her eyes. “Yes and no.”
“Please enlighten me.”
She glared at the attorney, because she didn’t like being put on the spot in front of the others. Nydia wasn’t bothered discussing her love life, or lack thereof, one-on-one with Jasmine or Tonya, but she drew the line when she had an audience.
“We’ve agreed to see each other.”
Hannah smiled, and lines fanned out around her brilliant green eyes. “Good for him. St. John told me women were lining up to get Lamar’s attention once they found out he was single, but he didn’t seem the least interested in them. And good for you, Nydia, because you deserve someone decent after that parasite you were dealing with.”
Nydia held up her hand. “From this moment on I want all of us to swear that we will never mention Danny Ocasio again.” The three women held up their hands in agreement. She inclined her head. “Thank you, ladies.” She didn’t know why, but Nydia felt a sense of relief that she could reveal that she was involved with Lamar.
She did not have any expectation of anything beyond their seeing each other, and she planned to enjoy the time they would spend together. He’d openly embraced seeing himself as a nerd, but he wasn’t anything like the nerds she’d encountered in college who’d preferred hanging out together discussing their courses rather than attend a campus social mixer. Although a serious student, Nydia did take time to socialize with fellow students.
She spent the next forty-five minutes going over Hannah’s budget and projections. The former corporate attorney gave her a conservative number of employees needed to keep the inn operational. Nydia had recommended a rotating staff of part-timers to avoid paying overtime. She also suggested Hannah cross-train her employees in the case of terminations or absences. Kitchen help should be familiar doing laundry or cleaning suites.
“That’s really a good idea,” Hannah agreed.
“I’m glad you like it. If I had to make beds, clean bathrooms, and vacuum every day I’d find myself just going through the motions. But if I could be assigned to the laundry room every other week, or assist in the kitchen, it would break up the monotony of coming to work.”
Jasmine took a sip of water, peering at Nydia over the rim of the glass. “If Hannah is going to agree to cross-training her employees, then I’ll definitely keep that in mind when I interview applicants. Someone may be willing to do laundry, but may object to working in the kitchen.”
“Do you plan to institute a probationary period before we put them on the payroll as permanent employees?” Hannah asked Jasmine.
Jasmine nodded. “Yes. Three months is long enough to ascertain whether to keep them or let them go. I also intend to do a criminal background investigation on everyone before they’re hired, because we can’t have guests accusing us of theft if something goes missing.”
“I know someone who can do the background checks,” Hannah said. “We went to law school together before he went on to work for the FBI as an investigative analyst.”
“Hannah, I know you don’t want to set up cameras in the suites because it would violate your guests’ privacy,” Nydia said, “but do you intend to install safes for them to secure their valuables?”
“Definitely,” Hannah replied. “I’ve already ordered them.”
Nydia entered all of the information she needed to complete the budget for the inn.
Jasmine was next, and she told Nydia what she needed to become the human resources specialist and co-manager for the inn.
It took less than three hours to complete the interviews, and she’d gleaned most of what she needed to begin putting together a draft of preliminary budgets. She would revise and update them closer to the date of the inn’s grand opening.
Nydia hugged Hannah. “I’m going to take a few days to go over everyone’s projected budget before we meet again to finalize them.”
“When do you need me to transfer the funds into the account?”
“Not until the contractor gives you a proposed completion date for the renovations. I estimate opening the business account a month before you plan to open for business.”
