Chapter 37

Work hard. Work relentlessly. Never give up. Last week, they applied for the monetization program. No response as of yet.

Waking up early in the morning, Owen didn't so much as consider lazing around. He ignored the intense ache from the simple act of picking himself up. The words coursing through his veins forced him to take a shower, brush his teeth, and get ready for work.

He noticed Isabella's door was ajar. In the living room, he saw the short-haired brunette sitting on the couch with a laptop on her lap. The screen was a bit too close to her and her eyes were baggy. She too was working hard.

He approached her and kissed her on the forehead. "Come on," Owen said. "Go to sleep." Gently, he pried the laptop from her and closed it. Isabella was too sleepy to resist, her eyelids struggling to remain open. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to her bed. Once she was set down and covered by her blanket, she visibly relaxed. Sleep came naturally.

For Owen, it was time for toast and then biking to work. It was barely six o'clock. Big whoop. 

His green vest on, Owen went out, unlocked his bicycle, and pedaled through the quiet streets, the cool morning air brushing against his skin. Approaching the construction, he noticed just how close to completion Bay Heights was. Owen greeted his colleagues with a nod and a smile, his mind still lingering on the image of Isabella peacefully asleep in her bed. He would have reflected on home a little longer if not for Boss Mike taking him aside and informing that a certain someone was coming today.

"Really?"

"Really," Boss Mike affirmed. "You weren't here last or the time before. Today, you'll be seeing her and I don't want to get caught off guard."

"Okay," Owen replied, shrugging. Not like he cared either way. He was a decently-sized cog within the company but like all cogs he was replaceable.

The morning passed without incident until a sleek black car pulled up to the construction site. Owen, by coincidence, was hanging around with Frank and taking a break. 

Dressed in an expensive black jacket and with streaks of white in her long brown hair, the woman entering the site exuded an air of authority and arrogance. Her sunglasses shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun on top of giving her the luxury to look at anyone without fear.

Owen exchanged a knowing glance with Frank. Everyone didn't pause their work but Owen did sense a shift. They were aware of the woman's presence. Too aware.

"Here comes trouble," Frank muttered under his breath, eliciting a stifled chuckle from Owen. The woman's gaze swept the area once, twice, and three times. Boss Mike signalled Owen and his team over. 

"Good luck," said Frank, giving him a wave. 

Stopping in front of the woman who surveyed Boss Mike and the six-man team, including Owen, with a scowl, her lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. Without preamble, she spoke, her voice carrying a tone of authority. "You are the best team on the site, yes?"

"We do our best," Boss Mike replied carefully.

"This is my personal project," she declared. "And I expect nothing but the best from each and every one of you."

The woman wasn't just talking out of her ass. Apparently, this was Big Boss' wife. Ya know, the wife of the CEO of the company and the biggest hospital director. Her name…well, he didn't know it. He decided to call her Senora Big. 

"If possible," Senora Big continued, her tone brooking no argument, "I want this tower finished earlier than originally planned. I won't accept anything less than perfection."

Ah, so this was the reason for her visit. Senora Big wanted to speed up the process somehow. Key word: somehow. Rich ladies typically didn't have a clue as to how big operations worked. 

"We will do our best, ma'am—"

Boss Mike was cut off by an anxious ringtone. A pop song from the late 80s that was forgotten by everyone in the western hemisphere but her. Senora Big's expression darkened as she retrieved her phone from her pocket.

Ignoring the curious glances of the construction crew, she answered the call with a terse greeting. A few moments passed as she listened intently to the voice on the other end of the line, her brow furrowing in growing frustration.

"What do you mean, broken?" she demanded, her voice laced with irritation. "I specifically instructed you to ensure everything was in perfect condition before I left."

As the conversation continued, it became apparent that there was an issue at her home—an unexpected and unwelcome problem that required her immediate attention.

Turning to the construction crew with a look of annoyance, she snapped, "I need someone to accompany me. Now."

"Ma'am—?"

"I said I need someone to accompany me to my home immediately," Senora Big demanded. "There's been damage to the roof of my home and I need to fix the damage immediately. Do I look like a carpenter to you?"

Heads were shaken and everyone chorused, "No."

"Then someone will come along." Her eyes drifted from each person. Finally, she looekd to Boss Mike. "Well? Give me your best man. I need him for a job."

Including Boss Mike, everyone turned to Owen.

The pressure suddenly on him, Owen stepped forward, hands behind him. "I will accompany you, ma'am," he declared. He tried to be confident and determined. It was a difficult balance to strike in front of such a rich lady. Was there such a thing as too much confidence? That was his worry.

Her sunglasses shifted to him. There was a pause as if she was looking at him for the first time. Her phone buzzed again. A message, Owen presumed. 

"I don't care who it is," she said, pulling out her phone and checking the message. Senora Big bit her bottom lip. "Let's go!"

Without waiting for a response, Senora Big strode purposefully towards the front entrance/exit. The construction crew exchanged bewildered glances before hastily returning to their work, leaving Owen to jog after her. There was concern and worry for him.

But what did they know? It wasn't like they knew Owen Hart aside from what they saw at work. Genuinely, the worries and apologies were unnecessary. 

Until the limo rolled up and Owen realized just how rich the lady in front of him was.