Not Safe for Work(58)
“Maybe you should have checked a fourth time,” she said. “I don’t have time for this shit, Jon. I don’t tolerate sloppiness or errors that make me or the firm look bad in front of the goddamned clients. You’d better thank your lucky stars this wasn’t a Horizon project.”
I bit back a response about being able to placate the CEO of Horizon if necessary. I didn’t have to look to know everyone in the room was staring at us, wondering just how badly I’d f*cked up, and I wondered the same thing as I rose slowly and headed toward the cabinet where we kept blueprints. “Let’s take a look at the drawing, because I’m sure—”
“The mezzanine is against the south and west walls,” she said. “That’s not exactly a minor oversight, Jon.”
I gritted my teeth as I withdrew the drawing and unrolled it.
“I cut you slack for being a bit late,” she said coldly. “I gave both of you a break, but I assumed your work would still be done right.”
I didn’t speak as I scanned the blueprint. Then a mix of relief and fury shot through me. “It was done right,” I said as calmly as I possibly could. I laid the drawing on the table and gestured at the mezzanine, which occupied the corner of the south and west walls. Precisely as I’d constructed it.
Marie furrowed her brow and looked where I’d pointed. Abruptly, she released a sharp hiss of breath and jerked the drawing off the table. “This drawing is revision four!”
“Yeah, I know.” I gave her an incredulous look, then bit back a groan. Christ. They’d revised the drawing again. They’d revised it, no one had told me, and now I was the one at fault when the model didn’t match the latest and greatest specs. I took a deep breath. “This is the latest revision I was aware of.”
“Pity it wasn’t the latest revision,” she threw back.
Breathe, McNeill. Don’t snap back. I took another breath, willing myself to stay calm as my weekend’s plans evaporated. “Well, if no one tells me there’s—”
“I don’t want excuses. I want a correct model before we lose this damned contract.” She slammed the drawings down and stabbed a finger at me again. “Do I need to look over your shoulder every five minutes to make sure you have the right specs? Or maybe I should have Teagan handle this kind of contract so this sort of thing doesn’t happen again.”
I exhaled and turned to my guys. “I assume one of you has rev five for this project, then?” Which one of you do I have to kill?
Scott’s fingers skittered across his keyboard. Then he sat back and shook his head. “Rev five wasn’t approved by Codes & Regs yet. The changes weren’t finalized yet.” I couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like there was a distinct note of relief in his voice. Cal and Bianca released long breaths as well.
I let my forehead fall into my hand. “Christ.” So Codes & Regulations had held up the changes. Drafting hadn’t even gotten it yet. I’d spent several days that I was never getting back busting my ass to finish this f*cking model, and now I was taking the blame because another department had dropped the ball. Not just taking the blame, but verbally drawn and quartered. And losing yet another week—and a much-needed weekend—with Rick.
I lowered my hand. “I’ll get it done.”
“Good,” Marie snapped. “I guess you’re back on overtime until it’s finished. And don’t expect any reprieves this time.” Then she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.
My heart sank even more. How long was Rick going to put up with this before he found a Dom with a less shitty schedule?
If Scott, Cal and Bianca knew what was good for them, they were already lighting fires under C&R’s collective ass to get the revision approved. Once it was, they’d rush the drawings for me. In the meantime, the rest of the model could be built according to the original specs. All that was changing was the damned mezzanine. In theory, I could get the old model back and revamp it, but it would be just my luck that the client would change their mind again and want the mezzanine back on the original side.
I laid the drawing out and grabbed a notepad so I could make a list of everything I needed from the supply room. All around me, mice clicked, keyboards clattered and gum snapped, all against a background of bantering and today’s musical selection. They wisely kept me at arm’s length.
Once I had my list of supplies, I left the Zone for the supply room. In there, with the door shut behind me, I rested my hands on the table in the middle of the room and closed my eyes. I cursed into the stillness. My pride was bruised from being called out in front of my crew, and I was livid with the idiots down in C&R, but that wasn’t what occupied my brain right then. I needed to text Rick and let him know, but I couldn’t. Not yet. Irrationally or not, I was convinced the response would be “You know what? Forget it. I’ll find someone who’s around once in a while.”
He wasn’t that kind of guy, and I wasn’t usually this insecure, but goddammit, I hadn’t connected with someone like this in ages. I wasn’t ready to piss that away.
The door opened and shut behind me.
“You okay, Jon?” Teagan’s voice made my teeth grind.
“I’m fine.”
“Mmhmm.”
I rolled my eyes and turned around. “T, if you’ve got something to say, just say it.”