That was the thing about Deshawn. The kid had a way of pulling you fully into whatever he was talking about because he talked about everything like it mattered completely. And Marcus had long ago decided that one of the best things he could do as a father was take that seriously. When your kid thinks terosaur aerodynamics matter, you make them matter. Because what you're really teaching him is that the things he cares about are worth caring about.
Marcus had not had a father who did that. He intended to be the father who did. Tuesday morning, he arrived at the building on the west side at 8:45. Patricia Okafor met him at the front entrance, mid-40s, natural hair pulled back efficiently. Work boots under her slacks, a tablet in one hand and a set of keys in the other.
She looked at Marcus the way people look at a person they haven't decided about yet. Fair. He respected it. Patricia, she said, extending the hand without the tablet. Marcus Reed.
He shook it. I know who you are, she said, not unkindly, but directly. Mrs. Bennett told me. She said, you're coming on as operations manager pending the 90 days.
That's right. Patricia nodded once. I've been managing this building's maintenance side since March without a manager above me. She held his gaze. I want to say that plainly because I'd rather you hear it from me than figure it out later and wonder why nobody mentioned it.
Marcus looked at her. I appreciate that. What does that mean in practice? It means I know this building better than anyone. And it means I've been doing two jobs for 3 months and the only thing that's kept the wheels on is that I actually know what I'm doing.
She said it without arrogance. Just fact. I'm not difficult to work with, but I need a manager who's going to listen more than they talk. At least at first and I need to know that being passed over for this role. She paused.
I wasn't considered for it because you don't have the management credentials, Marcus said. Because I don't have the management credentials, she confirmed which Mrs. Bennett is more flexible about for some people than others. Apparently, there was a charge in that sentence. Marcus let it sit for a second.
I'll be straight with you, he said. I came in under circumstances that are unusual. I know that and I don't know this building yet and I don't know property management the way you know it. So for the foreseeable future, I'm going to be learning from you more than the other way around. He looked at her.
What I can offer is this. Anything that goes right in those 90 days, I'm going to make sure it's clear where the expertise came from. And if it doesn't work out with me, I'll tell Mrs. Bennett that this building needs someone who already knows what they're doing and I'll point at you specifically. Patricia held his gaze for a long time.