I stretched as I heard my alarm go off. Friday at last. One more day of getting up and then I could sleep in as late as I wanted for three days. Monday was a state holiday. Now don't get me wrong, I love my job as the secretary of my Dad's construction firm. I just wish I didn't have to get up and be in there by six o clock every morning.
I slid from beneath my warm down comforter and trudged to the bathroom. After washing my face, brushing my teeth and pulling my flowing blonde hair into a messy bun, I applied a tiny bit of makeup and then went to the closet to pick out my outfit for the day. I didn't have to dress up, like I said, I work for my father. I did usually try to at least wear slacks and a nice top, but today I had to go out to one of the sites, so I opted for a well-worn pair of denim jeans and an E&M Contracting tank top. The jeans were my favorite pair; they'd been worn and washed so often they were almost white and felt almost like cotton when you touched them. There were two big holes in the knees and one was beginning to form on the corner of one of the back pockets. The tank top revealed a good portion of cleavage, and was pretty clingy, but it was going to be a hot day. So I figured skimpy would be alright today.
I walked out into the already stifling humidity and started up my 06 Silverado. The engine rumbled to life and I cranked the AC up before returning to the house for a bottle of water to take with me. I then climbed in the truck and headed towards the site. I called my dad on my way and he instructed me to make sure all of the guys were listening to the new foreman; it was his first day on the job. The new guys name was Travis. I finished talking to him just as I turned into the industrial park where the boys were working.
I saw our crew just off to the left and headed in that direction, parking next to our three trucks. I slid out of my now cool truck and sighed as the heat engulfed me. My jeans were sticking to me from the heat already. I glanced around, waving to the men I saw. I walked up to Skeeter, our on-site mechanic. Skeeter was in his mid-60's and more like a grandfather to me than anything else.
"Hey Skeet, where's the new foreman? I wanted to introduce myself" I said as I walked up.
"Oh, Erin, he's on the other side, seems him and Landry got into it and they went over there for a private chat," Skeeter said. He rolled his eyes. "That Landry, he just needs to be bloody fired," he muttered as he walked away.
I sighed and went around the corner of the building. The first thing I saw was Justin Landry's face, contorted with anger. His muscles tight. I heard him begin to yell next.
"Man, FUCK you dude, you're the new guy around here, and you don't know how shit works!" Landry yelled.
I still couldn't see our new foreman but I heard a low, rumbling voice as I got closer.
"I may not know all of the ropes yet, but I'm pretty sure sleeping in the shade ought to be against the rules." the voice murmured, sounding perfectly calm and in control.
I saw Landry working up to another vicious remark. "Man I already TOLD you..."
I interrupted before he could say more. "Justin? What's going on here?" I asked in my "Drill Sergeant" voice, as my dad calls it.
Landry immediately spun towards me with a deer-in-the-headlights kinda look on his face.
"Uh Erin, hey I didn't see you coming up. Me and the boss man here was just chatting," he stammered.