That's not a skill you find on a resume. Marcus was quiet. He looked at the folder again. The photographs of the building solid reel a little worn around some edges. He could see from the photographs which systems were going to be the headaches.
The HVAC unit on the roof that looked like it was one summer away from a serious conversation. The parking structures drainage that wasn't quite right. Small things but the kind that became big things at the worst possible moment. What's the scope? He said she told him day-to-day operations, vendor management, facilities, staff, supervision, tenant, liaison, budget, oversight for maintenance expenditures.
A probationary period of 90 days during which he'd work alongside the facilities coordinator. Full onboarding with a contractor who knew the building systems. He asked about the salary. She named a figure. Marcus kept his face still.
It was not a modest figure. He looked at the folder, looked at Viven. Why are you doing this? He said, I told you Friday night. You saw character, Marcus said.
I heard you, but there are people with character who also have property management experience. You didn't need to come to me. Vivien was quiet for a moment. Something moved across her face, private considered. Then she folded her hands on the desk.
My husband, she said, died 22 years ago, unexpected heart attack at 56. She said it without looking away. He left me with a business that was barely holding on and two employees and more debt than I'm comfortable telling you. Every person I knew at the time told me to sell. Told me I didn't have the experience to run it alone.
Told me that the sensible thing figured it out because I didn't have the option of not figuring it out. She held Marcus's gaze. You remind me of that version of myself. The version that was behind on everything and terrified and still getting up in the morning because there was someone who needed them to. Marcus held that.
It sat with him differently than he expected. Not like charity, not like pity, like something that had been identified clearly by a person who knew what it looked like from the inside. I'd want to meet the facilities coordinator, he said. Before I give you an answer, and I'd want to see the building, Vivien almost smiled. Of course, and if I take this and it doesn't work, if the fit isn't right, I'd want that said directly.
Not managed out, said directly. I will always tell you the truth, Vivien said. Even when it's inconvenient, I expect the same. Marcus nodded once. They stood.
She extended her hand, and he shook it different from Friday night when she'd been measuring him. This was something else. The handshake of two people who had agreed to find out what they were actually dealing with. Tuesday morning, she said. I'll have Patricia take you through the building.