The Other Side of Greed (The Seven Sins #5) - Lily Zante Page 0,9

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“I like it here. I like it a lot. It takes a bit of getting used to, using these big sewing machines, but I reckon I’ve got the hang of it now.” I return the jacket to her now that I’ve finished taking a good look at all the seams. “I’d say you’ve definitely got the hang of it. Keep up the good work.”

I walk around the factory floor, something I do a couple of times during the day, just to see how everyone is getting along, and to find out if there’s anything that’s not working.

Simona waves at me from the other side of the floor, beckoning me over. A man is by her side, someone I don’t recognize. My face tightens. I didn’t have a meeting planned, and I’m not expecting anyone.

I hope it’s not someone wanting to do a cover story. Recently, Redhill has attracted a slew of donors as well as interest from the media.

“Hey.” I nod at Simona first, then the stranger. His blue-gray eyes lock onto mine.

“This is Brad Hartley.” Simona’s eyes bubble with excitement.

“Hi.” He confidently holds out his hand.

“From?” I look at the guy then back at Simona, unable to figure out why she’s so excited. “I’m not expecting anyone today.”

“Brad’s looking for work—”

“That’s right. I’m looking for work.” With his hand still held out, I have no option but to shake it.

“We’re not hiring.” I notice that he’s dressed way too neatly, even in his ripped jeans and shirt, and the jacket he’s got on, his clothes don’t have that weathered, beaten, years’ old hand-me-down look about it which I’ve become accustomed to. Something doesn’t feel right. I wonder if he’s from a newspaper and is snooping around for information.

“Will you at least give him a chance?” Simona insists. “We took on someone last week who didn’t come through our usual channels.”

He slides a finger inside his shirt collar, as if it’s too tight and uncomfortable, and I note that he’s not wearing a tie. “I’ve got experience. I was involved in a couple of start-ups in San Jose, before I got burnt out.”

The lever on my bullshit-o-meter turns to max. San Jose? Start-ups? Tech? “What are you doing here?” I ask him.

“I didn’t like where I was so I took a break and I went traveling around the world.”

I glance at my watch. I don’t have any meetings, but I have a lot to do. I don’t really want to hire this guy, and I find my interest waning.

“I have lots to offer,” he says eagerly.

“Shall we step somewhere where we can talk?” I lead the way upstairs to our shared office. Fredrich is inside. Simona introduces them both, but she introduces the new guy as ‘someone looking to work here and help us out.’ She’s already made her mind up about this man. She already likes him.

“Do you want me to leave?” Fredrich gets up as if he’s ready to go.

“No, stay put. This won’t take long.” I sit at my desk, and Fredrich gives the guy his chair, and I could be wrong, but I’m sure the guy made a face, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to sit down on it. It’s plastic and has splotches of paint all over it. Updating the office furniture isn’t a huge priority of mine yet.

This isn’t the cleanest of offices, nor the most comfortable, because the paint is peeling off the walls, and our tables, chairs and the computers are second-hand. We don’t need Macbooks or designer furniture to do our jobs. The business is doing well, and everything we make goes back into it, so that we can help more people. I have an eye on my five-year plan and so far, things are progressing accordingly.

The new guy catches me looking at him, then mumbles a ‘thanks’ to Fredrich before sitting down. It’s like he’s sitting on a cushion of pins, pointy ends upwards. Fredrich disappears, presumably to get another chair for himself.

“Is this where you all sit? Together? In here?”

“Is it not to your San Jose start-up standard?” I make no effort to hide the barb in my voice. He smiles uneasily. “What sort of start-ups?” I cut to the chase. I don’t have the time or patience to put up with his patronizing attitude.

“Software mostly, but I got bored. I wanted more, so I went traveling.”

I notice that he didn’t elaborate.

“Traveling?” Simona rubs her hands together. “Anywhere nice?”

“All over Central America. I saw how local communities