Page 53 of November

“In the café?”

“Yeah,” Finley replied, walking into India’s office. “You wanted time-based pricing for employees and adding the customer side, right?”

“Yes. You did all that already?”

“The system has the time-based functionality included. I just had to set it up. And the customer pricing was just adding a button that opens another menu with the exact same info as the employee menu, but with our standard pricing. Not that hard.”

“You say that likeI’dknow how to fix it,” India replied.

“Well, I don’t know how to find new locations and sign leases.” Finley then thought for a moment and added, “Well, I do, but for apartments and stuff, not for businesses.”

“It’s notthathard,” India said with a sideways smile.

“So, anything else for down there?”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “I didn’t expect you to be done so quickly.”

“Like I said, it was pretty easy. Jules is still working on the new training schedule and printing signs and stuff for you, but I suspect she’ll be done by the end of the week. When are we opening it to customers? I might need to do something to enhance the Wi-Fi if we have people hanging out down there. We didn’t worry about that when we first built the place because most employees wouldn’t be there for too long.”

“I don’t know, actually,” she said. “The whole idea was built around Maisie being able to use the café forChapter & Verse, and I have her tentative yes, but she’s checking on the possibility of it messing up her historical landmark claim.”

“So, it’s not a done deal?”

“Not yet, no. But even if she can’t do that, I’d still like to open up downstairs to customers, so your work won’t be wasted.”

Finley sat down in the guest chair and said, “You like her, huh?”

“Maisie?”

“Yes, Maisie.” Finley chuckled.

“I do, yeah. I’m going to use my lunch break to help with her campaign.”

“Yeah? What about that brother of yours?”

“Whatabouthim? He’s an ass. He threatened her, Fin.”

“He didwhat?”

“I went by yesterday because I didn’t have her phone number, and I wanted to talk about another date. Colter was there. I dodged him, so neither of them saw me, but I heard him basically tell her that he could make her life difficult.”

“God, how are you related to him?”

“I have no idea. I’m not perfect; you know that more than anyone. But I’ve never been like him. I don’t understand why it’s so important to him to have this damn city council seat and win the mayor one next. He’s always been like this. When he was little and his grade school decided to start up a student council, he campaigned for it. He got his parents to make him the buttons and posters and give out popsicles at school. He won the vice presidency.” She laughed a little. “He ran for president, but the other kid won, so they gave Colter vice president. I think he’s been holding a grudge ever since and won’t let anyone stand in his way now, but threatening Maisie wasn’t okay.”

“Did you tell him to leave her alone?”

“No, I hid in the bathroom,” she replied. “Until he was gone.”

“Really? India…”

“I know… But I don’t want her to know I’m related to that. She might think it’s in my blood to be an asshole.”

“You have your asshole moments, so she might not be wrong.”

“True, but not like that,” India replied. “I’ve threatened a bad waiter with no tip a few times and the woman who stole my parking space at the opera once – I paid for that spot and my suite – but that’s it. I’ve never threatened to ruin someone’s career, election, or possibly life. That’s what the bookshop is to Maisie: it’s her life. It’s her family’s legacy. Colter just wants to win. He’s worried that she might actually have a chance and doesn’t want to risk it. What’s worse, though, is that I suggested that he offer to get her the landmark status in exchange for dropping out.”

“You didwhat?” Finley asked, leaning forward in the chair.