“Edward is coming to Chicago.Today.He wants to meet the staff at the office and interview your pick for his new operating officer.”
Although it was Saturday, CCI had a perfect view of the river.I’d planned on going there with Ellie to show the place off a little.The staff made an event out of St.Patrick’s Day weekend every year.“When?Traffic is going to be a nightmare.Does he know that?”
“I doubt he does.”
Fuck.It was likely too late to arrange a helicopter.“It’s a holiday weekend here.They party harder than Budapest on a regular night.Today, though?Ellie claims it will be epic, and a nightmare for driving.The ride from any airport to downtown will take at least an hour at best.What are the logistics?”Knowing Mario like I did, he had plans created already.
“Eight your time.The airport is Midway.We need to hire a car.He’s traveling with two bodyguards.”
I did some quick thinking.“If I can get Kat to pick him up, she can drive them in.”Being a native, she’d know which routes to avoid.
“The business manager?Good choice.”
“They dye the river at ten.It’s quite the spectacle from what I’m told.”I couldn’t fathom it.The photos I’d seen had to be doctored.
“Make it happen, confirm the car is suitable, and call me back.”
The call disconnected abruptly.Mario would hate retirement.I dialed Kat.
“Do you have any idea what hour it is?”
“Hey, Kat.Did you close the bar last night?”
She grunted.“Why are you calling me, Ringo?”
“You have an interview today.And the CEO is landing at Midway Airport in one and half hours.What kind of car do you drive and is it clean?”
“Mercedes, and what?”
“Clean, as in pristine.Edward is exacting.”A Mercedes was acceptable, unless, “it’s not a coupe is it?”
“Duh, do I look like a sedan driver?”
“That’s no good.I’ll rent a car for you.It will be waiting when you arrive at the private plane terminal.”
“Wait one second, dick.One hour?”
“One and a half.You can do this, right?”
Her swearing didn’t exactly inspire confidence.“I have to.I want this job.This Edward, is he a leg man or all business?”
“Legs.”
“Fine.That car service?Have them pick me up.I ain’t walking all over the place in high heels.And, where is this interview?”
I explained the event at CCI.
“You realize Ellie and I have a bar to run, right?”
“And you’ve both hired competent people to do that.Unless you don’t want the job?”
“You bastard.”
She hung up on me instead of answering.I took that as a yes and arranged for the car service to pick her up.Ellie wandered into the room as I finalized the call.As usual, she blinked at the sunrise streaming through the windows.Her quiet perusal of the lake was different today.Less angry and more accepting.
“Good morning.”
She made a vocalized response, barely acknowledging me.
