NYC, Part I

Maria’s POV

I haven’t been to New York since I was a newlywed, and I’m thrilled to be here. I can’t wait to see what special thing NYC does for the housekeeper. The Boston men purchased an iPod for me and downloaded some of my favorite songs and albums onto it. Now all their questions about my favorite music and dances make sense! They also said they sent a message to Armando to ensure I had a hookup available in my prep area when I get home. It’s such a sweet present and it made the train ride from Boston to NYC very enjoyable. They were sweet boys, when not pumping me for info. They behaved just like all the other men I’ve met so far.

It made me feel so guilty for deceiving them but Susan said that they’d earned it. Boston’s job is to follow orders, maintain profitability, and lead the company. It’s not to squeeze the housekeeper for information. Quite frankly, she can’t wait for Mark to find out that he was duped.

“No, Maria, you should not feel guilty. When I go back, I’ll immediately discourage him from thinking he can squeeze the housekeepers for information.”

We all laugh. It’s the 2 p.m. housekeepers call the day before I leave for NYC and I’ve been moaning about feeling guilty for the past 15 minutes.

“I know. I did it with the best intentions—”

“Exactly. You did it because supporting the CO, in this case, Stephanie, should be every RangeMan’s number one concern. We should all be supporting and encouraging her in the role. If Mark fell for your lies, then he deserves his punishment.”

Each lady murmurs her agreement.

“Amusing that you should feel that way about your XO, Susan,” Rose says. I can hear her laughing.

“I mean it. I know I don’t rant and rave very often, but I’ve been the one listening to that insanity for months. However, I will say that his opinion seemed to have started turning around before I left. If he said he was interested in genuinely helping Stephanie and hoping she’d call on him for advice, I’d go so far as to say he meant it.”

“You think so?” Ella asks.

“Yes,” Susan replies. “I know Mark comes across as an ass at times,” we all giggle, “but the two things you have to know about him are these.” We wait. “One, he reveres Ranger. He’s loyal to his boss and loyal to his boss’s orders.”

“Doesn’t sound as if he’s been that loyal lately,” Lucia sniffs.

“Which leads me to number two. Mark cares deeply for the company. He resigned his military commission to follow Ranger to this company. He was one of the first hires. Until recently, he was the man placed in charge when the Leadership did their missions or when they brought up new branches. He lives and breathes RangeMan.”

We all contemplate that level of dedication and loyalty to the company. Admirable.

“So, although I’d like to dispute his opinion about Stephanie’s fitness to be CO, on paper we must all admit she’s a terrible choice. However, soldiers who look terrible on paper are sometimes outstanding in the field. She seems to be that soldier, but until she proved it he was going to be concerned about the company and her fitness to lead it.”

We all agree quietly.

“As an employee of this company I must agree with him. I was hoping that she would prove everyone wrong and she has. I’m thrilled. The difference,” she states forcefully, “is that I’ve kept my opinion to myself until now. I’ve waited for Stephanie to show that she knows her stuff and she has. And I never would have told the boys anything negative about her. That’s where Mark made his mistakes and that’s why I hope she gives him hell. He knew the Leadership Core all backed this move. He should have kept his mouth shut until he had more information, like I did.”

I nod, although I know no one can see me. Susan is absolutely right. Mark should have kept his mouth shut.

“Did he bad mouth her while you were there, Maria?” Ella asks.

“No. On the contrary, he defended her.” I hear the ladies gasp. “Shocked the men entirely. He told them that the CO was to be respected and obeyed. She’s in charge. They follow orders.”

“You think he meant it?” Rose asks.

“I think so.”

We’re quiet for a few minutes.

“The issue is the Bombshell Bounty Hunter stories,” Susan says quietly. “Miami and Boston have been listening to the stories for the longest and the longer and more. . . “she searches for a word, “convoluted those stories seemed to get, the more respect she lost in Boston.”

“Why?” Lucia asks, bewildered.

“Because the Boston men know female bounty hunters. They know women who are able to trace and apprehend and they do a good job without getting hurt and shot like our CO. The stories started off funny but I would say that they stopped being funny around 18 months ago. The men just started thinking she was pathetic. Mark didn’t have to say much in Boston about the CO for her to start behind the eight-ball up here. Her own reputation did her in from the start here.”

We’re quiet. Even I must admit that, as much as I love Stephanie, that’s the prevailing view in Miami. The assumption is that she’s Ranger’s ‘piece of Jersey ass’ and that when he moves home to Florida, he’ll find a more appropriate woman, one as beautiful and brilliant as they believe he deserves.

One more interested in having his babies and keeping his house clean than bounty hunting.

“Well,” Lucia says, “I think Stephanie is proving that she was an excellent choice to be the CO. The company is growing, the branches are getting stronger, and we’re having the most fun we’ve had in months teaching a bunch of sexists how to behave.”

We all laugh.

“You think we’re done?” Ella asks.

“We’re about to see,” Lucia replies.

---

Javier picks me up at Penn Station. He’s alone, but he’s a sweetheart.

“Maria! Welcome to NYC. Did you have a nice ride down?”

“I did! I’ve never taken the train. It was very relaxing.” He smiles and takes my bags. We walk outside and another RangeMan pulls up.

“Well, whatever procedures were in place everywhere else will probably be in place here in NYC, but do you have any special requirements that I need to know about? Anything I need to account for?”

“No. I’m very interested in riding the NYC subway. Lucia tells me it’s not as scary as I’ve been told.” We’ve reached the SUV and Javi opens the door so I can climb in. The other RangeMan grins, overhearing the end of my sentence.

“Sup, Maria! I’m Mack. Welcome to the NYC.” I smile and Javier stashes my bag in the back then climbs in. “Yo, I’ve ridden the subway all my life. It’s not scary at all.”

Javi laughs. “I can give you a primer if you want. Most of the office can. Just stay off the buses.” He grins. “I assume you have a life to live and getting on the buses is an all-day thing.”

We laugh and I sit back and relax. Something else I’ve noted on my trip around the company is that the senior management at each branch protects and backs the housekeeper. There’s no question about my authority in those offices. If I say I want or need something, I get it and the XO stands behind my request, not that it’s actually necessary. The men jump to get what I need.

Hmm …I believe procedure for Miami’s management will change also. They need to support me openly. If I request something, I don’t want to have to beg to get it. I want Armando to make it a point that if I need something, it should be done. I should not have to ask twice.

Actually, I should not have to ask once.

---

NYC Leadership immediately asks me to join them in Javier’s office. They have a quick 15 minute meeting each day at 3:45, right before each man has another pulse check or company call, just to get an idea of what the Core Team at each branch needs to know. It’s quick but afterwards I’m bemused.

“Lucia attends this?” I ask Javier.

He nods. “The housekeeper is a part of the leadership team. You are essential. If you’re noticing patterns among the men that I need to know about, now is the time to tell me.”

Each man is nodding. “Lucia figured out why we weren’t passing physical from Cinco de Mayo to the Puerto Rican Day Parade,” Mack says. He’s twirling a pen in his hands and tapping out a beat. “The Doc was ready to kill us but she said that 2/3 of this office was Latino. We was out partying!”

“Which I didn’t understand because I’m not Mexican or Boricua,” Javier says, chuckling. He and Mack high five and I scowl. I don’t identify as Boricua, but I am half Puerto Rican. “But hell, a holiday is a holiday and all our families cook like crazy during that month. We were gaining weight like no one’s business!”

Everyone laughs and starts naming them.

“Cinco de Mayo.”

“Ascension.”

“Mother’s Day.”

“Memorial Day.”

“Armed Forces Day.

“Pentecost.”

“Trinity Sunday.”

“Corpus Christi Day.”

“Puerto Rican Day Parade.”

By the end we’re all laughing. The guys are shaking their heads.

“The Doc just looked at us like we were crazy. Next day, we get a memo posted up big.” Mack motions for me to follow him and we walk to the 5th floor. The memo is still there.

From the Chief Medical Officer, Robert Brown

I have noted the number of religious and cultural holidays celebrated by the men in this office from May 1st to approximately June 10th. However, I would like to add another to the list:

National Blood Pressure Month, celebrated in May

You’re raising mine. That’s dangerous for you. Celebrate all you wish but get the health and weight under control or I’ll add a new holiday:

‘Visit your NYC RangeMan in the Hospital’ Month celebrated from mid-June to mid-July

I laugh. Bobby certainly made the point. Javier and Mack grin. “Gym usage doubles in May,” Javier says, “and Lucia goes vegetarian that month to offset what we’re eating at home. We never again failed medical.”

I smile. The Miami boys are the same during that same time period. I do cut back on some of the heavy food during that time but never really thought about why. A few days later, during the staff meeting, I realize that I’m sitting at the head of the table near Javier. I drift off, thinking about that. I sat next to Adam’s seat while I was in Atlanta. I sat next to Rodney in Boston. I sat next to Ram in Trenton. I poke Adam and whisper, “Am I supposed to be in this seat?” He nods. The meeting breaks up minutes later and I head back to the prep area. Adam and Jorge join me, looking confused.

“Why did you ask if you were supposed to be in that seat, Maria?” Jorge asks.

I shrug. “I just realized that at every location I visited, the housekeeper sits next to the liaison.”

Adam takes a deep breath and runs his hands through his short blond hair. “Where do you sit in Miami, Maria?”

“End of the table.”

Adam snorts. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but in Atlanta, we respect the power of the housekeeper. She has more information on the men than anyone else.” He looks directly at me, blue eyes blazing. “You are the person in the branch with the responsibility for the health and welfare of the men. That means that you’ll be the first person to know if there’s something going on among the men we need to know about. No other person impacts every RangeMan more than the housekeeper. You are the ‘den mom’, the person who knows and sees all. That’s why you have an elevated position in Atlanta. It’s a subtle acknowledgement of your power and authority.” He walks over and hugs me. “You’re ‘Mom’ and I’d never put my mom at the end of the table.”

I smile and wipe my eyes with the handkerchief Jorge provides.

Adam’s right.

I’m Mom. The Miami boys are my boys but they haven’t been treating me like Mom. They’ve been treating me like a slave. No more.

I’m important and they’re going to treat me like I am.

---

“Ladies, I have a question.” It’s 2p.m., a slow time, and I decide to see if there have been any changes at home. “What has Miami management been like since I left?”

It’s quiet on the line.

“Well, I was picked up at the airport by Armando,” Susan says slowly. “He made it clear that he supports the ‘Housekeepers’ War’, as he termed it, and he backed it up. Once I explained grocery procedures, he got on the phone with Mark and got a copy of the Boston ones. He informed me about the possible bugs in the apartment. He did everything he could to support me without coming between me and the men. I think he’s enjoying watching the humbling of his men.”

“I agree,” Rose adds. “Hell, it was clear he was enjoying it. He was very respectful of me while I was there, him and Shane and Thomas. He’s trying his best not to come between us and the men, to allow us to dish out the punishment, but it’s clear he really wants to break his men.”

I sit back and consider. This is good.

“Maria, Mando is a cousin of mine, distant but still,” Lucia says, “he’s family. He told me, bluntly, that the ‘Housekeepers’ War’ has had an impact on him too. He never really thought about the fact that he had a grieving widow in his office because you always seemed so strong, so capable. I’ve ripped him a new one for that.” We all giggle.

“I asked him how long he expects Mariela to grieve for him after he dies. Querida, he turned white because I reminded him that you took the position only a year after Armand died. He hadn’t made the connection. You never cried in public so he didn’t realize how bad it was. Turns out, his parents didn’t get along well and when his father died, his mother barely grieved. He didn’t see it in you so he didn’t realize the extent of your grief.”

We’re all quiet. I’m glad Lucia explained. If she had not, I might have been madder at Armando, but I see. I refused to cry in front of the men so he assumed I wasn’t heartbroken, like his Mami wasn’t heartbroken when her husband died.

“I’m glad you explained that, Lucia,” Ella says quietly. “I’ve been angry at Armando for months, wondering how he didn’t realize he had a grieving widow in his office. It still doesn’t excuse him but it does give me a new piece of the puzzle.”

I’m nodding, even though I know no one can see me.

Susan picks up. “The problem in that office is Antonio.”

“Oh my God, yes,” I exclaim. “He’s an absolutely wretched human being. Rude, condescending, and arrogant. Now that I’ve been away for a while, I can see what I thought was concerned behavior for what it is and it makes me furious.”

“He’s an absolutely sexist nightmare and he’s the ringleader. He has to go down,” Ella says.

We all sit in silence, wondering how to accomplish it.

Rose sighs. “The problem is firings are an XO function and we have an XO who cannot or will not fire family. Admirable, except that this family member has to go.” We all murmur agreement. “I think, ladies, that we are praying for a miracle on this one. If Armando won’t fire him, either Stephanie will have to or we’ll need to get someone in there who can.”

“Ranger gave Armando leave to fire him at any time,” Lucia says.

“Good,” Ella replies. “There’s a standing order in place. We just need to get someone to execute it.”

---

The NYC men behave just like all the rest of the men across the company with a twist: They want cooking lessons.

“We’re on a hiring binge at this location,” Jorge says. He is scheduled to leave in a few days for the Jersey shore, for a leadership retreat with Stephanie. He looked really upset that he would miss out when I agreed to hold cooking lessons. “The men here, myself included, are having to adapt to the RangeMan lifestyle.” He grins. “It’s not bad. Meals provided, mandatory self-defense and weapons training, and so much exercise I’ve dropped from a 38 waist to a 34.”

I laugh. He looks thrilled by that.

“I never thought of myself as fat but wow! The ladies are checking me again.” I giggle so hard the tears start running down my cheeks. “I’ve never had a six-pack, but my four-pack is on point right now. Javi has a six-pack and I’m determined to get there. It’s another benefit of working here. I’m dropping inches where I don’t need them and putting them on where it counts.” He grins big.

I look up, shocked, and he blushes. “No, no, I mean biceps! Chest! Thighs! Oh God, Maria, I wasn’t trying to make an inappropriate joke.”

We both look at each other and burst into laughter. We lean against each other and laugh till we cry. Javier walks in, looking confused.

“OK, what’s so funny? The men hear you two across the building.”

Jorge retells the ‘joke’ and Javi bites his lip to keep from laughing. “Nice. Harass the housekeeper, Jorge.” He grins. “He’s getting full of himself. We’ve been friends since childhood and for the first time since high school, he can ‘borrow’ stuff from my closet,” Javi says, using finger quotes.

“Hey! I return it.”

“Yeah, and I’m still waiting on the return of my Karl Kani jeans.”

“Dude, I can’t believe you haven’t forgotten about that.”

“I never will either. I loved those jeans. Those were hot in the streets.”

They continue teasing each other and I’m just laughing at them. Finally, they wind down and turn to me. “So, do you have everything you need for these cooking lessons, Maria?” Javier asks.

“Yes. I’ve created some simple little booklets,” I hand one to each of them, “that should help the men recreate these dishes at home. I’ll show them how to shop for healthy veggies and meat, how to prep the kitchen, and how to set up their meals.”

The men nod. “This is all great stuff and we really appreciate you allowing us to tape you. It will be a great resource for our men to refer to in future.”

“I, for one, really do wish I could be here for it,” Jorge says mournfully. “The hardest part for me is shopping for healthy food. This ‘Ideal Pantry” list you included is great.” He smiles, mischievously. “I suppose this means I have to toss all the Pringles and Mountain Dew.”

“The sooner the better. Then you can put on more inches where you want them.”

The men look at me and I close my eyes and bite my lip while they break down in laughter.

---

Saturday morning at 8 finds my prep area absolutely full to bursting with new RangeMen. I hand each of them the booklet and take them to Lucia’s pantry area, where I show them ideal foods to help them bulk up, feel full, and lose weight. Adam and Javier are standing there, smiling.

“Don’t overdose on some of this stuff,” I warn. “You want to do everything in moderation. The healthy diet combined with all the exercise should help you drop the pounds. From there, it’s just a matter of sculpting the parts of your body you want to get the most attention.” The men nod, taking notes.

“I’ve asked Hal, the XO of Trenton, to have Cal come in and work with you men,” Javier announces. Adam looks impressed. “Cal is a former professional body builder and he knows how to sculpt a winning workout routine.” Javier passes around a few photos that are clearly from Cal’s professional days. That’s the only reason I can see for any man to be in a Speedo like that.

“He never used drugs to do it either, despises them, so what you see is pure effort, diet, and exercise. He won’t push you to that if you aren’t interested, but Hal says that Cal is the man everyone in Trenton goes to when they need a new routine.” He grins. “Cal is the man that helped Sarah, the CO’s personal trainer, put together her fitness routine.”

Bingo! Each man is writing Cal’s name down and making notes.

“That flaming skull mean anything?” one RangeMan asks, looking concerned.

Javier grins. “Yeah.” The men wait. “Don’t fuck with me.” The men nod. That’s obvious.

I continue my tour of the kitchen/prep area then start on a few simple meals. The best part of doing this is the men get to eat the results, so they’re happily taking notes and discussing everything. The few items that require baking time are popped in the oven. At the end of the demonstration, the men take point cleaning the kitchen under my direction.

We sit and I go over some basics of nutrition. I tease them about junk food in their cabinets and remind them that having a vice (or two) is OK, but not a lot and not often. Adam helps here.

“In Atlanta, the men have one cheat day a month. It’s a day where we eat whatever the heck we want, no questions, no comments.” Adam smiles. “I mean, it’s Atlanta, home of soul food, pecan pie, and sweet tea. If we never got a chance to eat the cuisine around us, we might choke.” Everyone laughs. “Knowing that their cheat day is coming makes the diet easier for each man. My last cheat day? Pancakes, bacon and eggs for breakfast. Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, seasoned green beans, and pecan pie for lunch. A rib eye, medium-rare, with a baked potato, creamed spinach, and peach cobbler for dessert. Washed down with Gatorade all day and a nice, full bodied Cabernet for dinner.”

The men are drooling.

“Exercise the next three days? One hour on the treadmill, 150 crunches, 100 pushups, 30 minutes on the rowing machine. So I paid for it with two hours in the gym.” Adam shakes his head and the men laugh. He made the point. He had to work it off even as he enjoyed it.

The day proceeds like that. The RangeMen help the new recruits understand how to incorporate this new diet and exercise regime into their lifestyles. At the end of the presentation, as I’m pulling the baked items from the oven, Javier and Adam strip to their boxers and show the men the kind of bodies they could expect to gain from living this way.

I admire the tight bodies. The men admire the muscle definition. Javier’s chest and six-pack is impressive and Adam has rock hard thighs and biceps. More importantly, each man is defined and lean, not overly bulky or muscular.

I miss my husband. He had a tight butt.

Javier and Adam redress and join the men in devouring the baked goods. At the end of the presentation, the men all hug and thank me. Knox, a new recruit, stays to speak to me.

“Maria, I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to hold that presentation for us.”

“It was my pleasure.”

He smiles. “No, you really don’t understand. When I first heard about the diet and exercise, I thought about quitting. It seemed insane and I didn’t see how it was going to be possible. But now, after seeing you put together meals with stuff I know I already have in my cabinets, I’m feeling good about doing this.” He grins. “Plus, did you see the XO’s six pack?” He whistles. “Man, now I can see why women give him double takes on the streets.” I laugh. “He doesn’t even notice, but he and Mack get a lot of interest. I can’t wait to see what kind of interest I’ll get once I tone up.”

“Well, the men did tell you about RangeMan brotherhood, right?” He nods. “That’s a benefit of working here. You’ll meet Lucia soon, but the housekeepers are considered the ‘den moms’. If you need help with the diet, talk to Lucia. Call me. Each RangeMan housekeeper is a certified nutritionist or dietician. We can help you get on track when you slip.”

He hugs me and leaves. I smile.

It’s moments like that when I really love my job.

---

Javier’s POV

I’m stuck. Jorge is at the shore and apparently it’s going well. I knew it would. He just needed to get over his nervousness.

My new issue is Maria.

The men love her. They think she’s great. She’s teasing and laughing with them, showing them how to cook, working out meal plans and diets with them. She’s doing such a great job I’m nervous about Lucia’s return.

They love Lucia but this is insane. The new men pretty much live in the prep room with Maria when off duty. I haven’t had to worry about grocery procedures or health and weight with her around. The men like doing the grocery run with her. They like serving as her taste testers. Apparently she’s testing new recipes in advance of returning to Miami. She’s baking for my men. They’re happy as hell.

RangeMan recruitment is up 26%. I’m getting the best picks because the men have spread the word about the company. Former gang bangers, Wall Street types, a few former cops (those have been segregated until I decide how trustworthy they are. Mack’s helping me on that one), and a lot of military men are sending in their resumes. The men who make the initial cut are thriving in the company. I retain 9 out of 10 new hires.

My branch is growing so fast I’m running out of room!

“Homie, I love Lucia, but any chance we can keep Maria too?” Mack whispers. I shake my head and call Mando. I can feel Mando rubbing his temples.

“Man, don’t keep my housekeeper. I miss Maria.” He laughs. “So, the new Maria is a force, huh?”

“You kidding me? My men adore her. How are they taking Lucia?”

Mando starts laughing hard. I’m wondering what’s up. “Lucia put her foot in Rico’s back at Costco.”

My eyes widen. “You’re shitting me!” I start laughing and still my foot. Gotta work on that.

“Yeah. Oh, the men are watching Lucia like a hawk. Rose threatened to poison them so they have a rotation going to ensure Lucia doesn’t poison them. Lucia caught on and now the men aren’t allowed in her kitchen unless they’re doing KP duty.”

I shake my head. Damn. Miami is full of sexist idiots. “And?”

“No one peels potatoes faster than Juan.” Mando sounds amused saying it. “Nacho is a pro at juicing citrus and Mario’s knife skills are being shown off every time he has to debone chickens. Best one?”

“Yeah?”

“Lucia bought 100 pounds of seafood at the docks. The men organized to separate it into 100 pound bags, and I approved buying a vacuum sealer. Lucia’s been on a ball buying fresh fish. Every man has been stuffing shrimp, scallops, conch, grouper, you name it, Lucia bought it and they’ve been stuffing it into the vacuum bags. Lucia turned around and grilled seafood for them, and they’re learning that if they cooperate with the housekeeper, they get cooperation and love back.”

“Your men prepared to make changes?”

“I think so. Mario and Deuce have taken over the office. They made it clear that if you can’t be respectful of the housekeeper, stay away from her, and they meant it. Mario’s been taking men to the mats for disrespecting Lucia.”

“Isn’t that your job?” I frown.

“Yeah, the first few times I issued mat time, Lucia came to me and said I needed to hand that off to Mario. She wanted the men to regulate themselves. They know I’ll thrash them for stupid shit, but Mario and Deuce taking them to the mats for even suggesting that Lucia should do their laundry? The men are shocked and learning to live by the housekeeper’s rules.”

“Wow….”

“Yeah. This branch is going insane. Self-regulation is a beautiful thing.” He laughs and I grin. Mando sounds relieved. I’m happy for him. Bro has been living in hell for a long time.

“You think you can get Maria back?”

“I don’t know,” he says quietly. “At the moment, Lester says she’s still coming out to San Antonio for a month. He and Ella want her to experience what it would be like to take over that branch and be the first housekeeper there.” He snorts. “What they really mean is that they want to make sure Maria understands that she shouldn’t stand for Miami’s shit. If she goes to San Antonio and works there, it will be filled with old and new RangeMen, some who know her and some who don’t. She’ll get to dictate her needs to the men and they’ll reciprocate because they won’t know any different.”

Tap tap tap-tap tap tap tap-tap. I still the pen. “In other words, if she feels comfortable giving orders to the San Antonio men then she’ll be able to go home and give orders to the Miami men, right?”

“Exactly.”

---

Zero arrived yesterday to establish a baseline with the men. Maria is also there, teasing the men and taking the notes. Zero looked thrilled to see her.

“Maria!”

“Zero!” They hug. I throw deuces to Zero and leave.

All day I hear about the physicals. Most of the men are doing well, losing weight, bulking up, getting stronger. Zero places a few of the men on probation, telling them to get their weight down and the running up. Those men are a dejected bunch, mostly Wall Street bankers. I hide a smirk; Zero has no love for their excuses.

“Standards are standards,” he says coolly. “Every man in the military has to meet them. We don’t accept excuses.”

“We aren’t military,” James ‘Tater’ Tate says snidely. I haven’t exactly enjoyed his attitude and I’d prefer to bounce him. “My specialty is finance. I hire people as bodyguards.” I think I will, so I’m surprised to hear Maria chime in, cold as ice.

“I wasn’t military either, but I still had to meet military standards. I’m still checked for range time, weight lifting, and driving skills like every other man here and my range scores and weightlifting percentages are better than yours.”

Mack and I look at each other and look at the door. Damn! Go Maria!

I walk through the door to find Tater looking at Maria, shamefaced. Zero looks ready to break the needle in him.

“My apologies, Maria,” he says quietly. “That was rude.”

She gives him a small smile. “Rough adjustment?” Tater nods. “This isn’t like Wall Street, dear, where you can mess up and someone will pay to make it all go away. This company is different. You have skills we can use but at the end of the day, we can hire someone else for your position.” I lean against a wall and hide my smile. Zero looks at Maria with hidden amusement. Maria turns to Zero. “Done with him?” Zero nods. “Good.” She turns to Tater. “Go to my prep area and wait. I’ll be with you in a moment.”

He leaves and she turns to Zero and me. “All the former Wall Street men having a problem?” Zero and I check the list.

“Yes,” I reply. “You have an idea?”

“I think so,” she replies. “They’re late-nighters. I’ve seen them raiding the pantry when a report is due. They’re accustomed to snacking mindlessly while pushing out reports and doing Wall Street things.” She shrugs. “They don’t realize how many calories they’re consuming because they don’t consider that ‘food’.” She grins. “Time for diet diaries.”

She leaves and Zero and I look at each other.

“I hate diet diaries,” Zero mumbles.

“So do I,” I reply.

Miami has no clue. This Maria is not the same woman. No one is ready for her.