Cole skimmed over the first page, noting it was a permanent position, that the person who took it would be based at the corporate office but would travel to sites as necessary, and that the salary was almost double what he was currently making. The money was good but not something that would make him drop everything and take it. He made a comfortable living working for Sierra, as his rent was dirt cheap—Winona had barely raised it over the years he’d lived there—and he wasn’t a big spender. But he couldn’t deny his interest was sparked anyway.

“So I’d be the foreman at each project?” he asked, trying to wrap his head around exactly what Mason was looking for. There was a description of duties, he realized, on the second page, and he’d pore over that later.

“More like the supervisor of the foremen. You’ll hire a contractor for each project, and you’ll be the liaison. You won’t be able to be four places at once, but I want you to be in constant contact with all of them and riding them as hard as necessary to make sure everything is done to our specifications on our timeline.”

“And when the four projects are complete?”

“There will be more,” Mason said. “We have a corporate remodel in the plans, and our expansion plan for the next five years is aggressive. You might even need to hire an assistant down the road.”

Cole sat back, holding the offer, flipping between the two pages even though he wasn’t really paying attention to the words on the paper as his thoughts spun.

“I’d report directly to you?” he said as that part of the offer came into focus.

“That’s how we have it structured right now. It could change.” Mason sat back in his chair, studied Cole. “Is that a problem?”

“I don’t know,” Cole said honestly. “I don’t think so, as long as you’re not going to micromanage me and make me wonder why the hell you bothered to hire me.”

Mason chuckled at that. “Don’t hold back.”

“You like to control things,” Cole said.

“I do. But I’ve been at the helm for several years now, and I’ve learned I can’t do everything myself. Not even close. That’s why I hire good people.”

“And you think I’m good people.”

Mason leaned forward, all but getting in Cole’s face. “This is my livelihood, Cole. Our family’s livelihood. And more than that, Dad and Uncle Ham’s legacy. This company means everything to me,” he said passionately. “The last thing I would do is make a mercy hire to a family member.”

“Okay,” Cole said, suitably convinced. He hadn’t seen Mason get so worked up about anything for a while.