Both Gio and Xander look at me like I have no clue what I’m talking about. “Technically she can fly without restrictions until about twenty-eight weeks. But if we fly with her OB, we’re good,” Xander fills me in proudly.
I snap, like I understood everything he just said. “That’s right. Rich people can fly with their doctors. I forgot about that,” I say sarcastically.
“Don’t be an ass, man. You asked a question, I simply answered,” Xander says in an unbothered tone.
“Miles, please take a seat. I don’t want this meeting to drag on forever,” Penny says without even glancing at me.
My jaw tightens. I’m used to shooting the shit with these guys.
“Everything is okay, Penny,” Gio intervenes. “We give each other shit all the time. It’s a MacAllister thing,” he says with a grin.
The tension knotting inside me eases a little, but then Penny looks at me—and that look sends a shiver straight down my spine.
We fall into a staring match, neither of us willing to back down. She wants to remind me she’s technically my boss, and I need her to remember those two idiots are my family.
“Ooo-kaaay,” Xander drags the word out before clapping his hands together.
I blink, realizing I should probably let this go before Penny and I end up arguing in front of Gio and Xander like a divorced couple.
Penny tries to hide her smug smile behind her coffee mug, but I still catch the way her eyes crinkle.
“So,” Gio says in his usual peacekeeper tone, “Penny mentioned you two came up with an idea to keep the project moving through the winter. Is that right?”
“Right,” Penny says, her smile a little too tight.
“When I told the crew about the Christmas bonus,” Penny says, smiling genuinely this time, “after the initial shock and excitement wore off, some of them admitted it didn’t sit right with them to accept something so generous and then not work for a couple of months.”
Gio’s expression falls. “I never wanted anyone to feel bad or like they owe me—or us—anything in return.”
“I know that, man,” I tell him honestly. “But you know how much the people around here respect you.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Stop being so hard on yourself, Gio.” I say firmly.
“Seriously,” Xander adds. “ I wish all billionaires were like you.”
“Hear, hear,” I agree.
“Okay, enough about me,” Gio says after clearing his throat. “What’s the proposal?”
“Right, sorry.” Penny turns her laptop toward us, revealing a full presentation.
Fuck.
When did she even have time to put this together?
She’s amazing.
“The idea is to hire a second crew to finish the roof and the exterior walls,” she explains smoothly. “Both crews would work eight-hour shifts. Once the building is fully enclosed, we can go back to operating with a single crew while continuing the interior work through winter. If everything goes according to plan, we’d still be on track to open mid to late spring.”
I’m shamelessly staring at her by the end of it.
Mesmerized by how well she commands a room. The way she speaks with confidence, the way she sells an idea in lessthan five minutes, the way that fucking smile that lights up her whole face when she’s passionate about something.
“Miles? You with us, man?”
“What?” I blink, realizing I got caught.
