Read Online A Fluffy Tale 2: Warm & Fuzzy by Ann Somerville - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ann Somerville
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Daniel’s back. Sure, it looked like this crisis could be managed, but
if Noball was prepared to pull a dirty stunt like threaten Daniel’s job over
attending a conference, then there was no limit to what he might try. Spen had
also noticed that Daniel hadn’t mentioned Spen’s ‘accidental’ interruption of
Noble’s late night activities, nor had shown any resentment over it. Maybe
Daniel would never come right out and thank Spen for it, but it looked more and
more as if Spen’s intervention hadn’t been unwelcome—at least by Daniel.
He really needed to involve HR but without
Daniel’s cooperation, there would be little point. Maybe Spen could work on him
while at the conference.
“Here we are,” he said, pulling into a
space in front of Daniel’s house.
Daniel roused. “Oh. Thank you, Spen. I
can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“It’s a pleasure, honest.”
Dee and Alex thanked him too, then ran up the path to the house. Lights went on seconds
later. Daniel went to open his door, but Spen said, “Hold on a sec.” Daniel
looked at him, puzzled. “They’ll be asking who wants to share rooms at the
conference. If you don’t want to share with Tony, I haven’t arranged anything
yet.”
In the light from the street lamp, Daniel’s
expression slid rapidly from surprise to relief. “Oh. I’d like that, if you
wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not. I hate these damn things
and at least I won’t have to worry about some boring junior manager sharing
with me.” Daniel smiled a little. “You know...you can ask for help. It’s not a
sign of weakness.”
“I didn’t have anyone to ask before. I got
used to...you know...not asking.”
“Now you have me. And my parents.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, and Kani can play in
IT anytime. Don’t keep him locked away all day. Kems hate that.”
“I know. I’ll send him down. I know he’ll
love it.”
“So will we. Sleep well, and no more
stressing about Tony fucking Noble.”
Daniel gave him the first truly happy smile
of the night. “No more stressing, I promise. ‘Night, Spen.”
Spen watched him walk up the path, and
waited until the porch light went out. It probably wasn’t a good idea to
encourage the warm glow of happiness that encounters with Daniel so often gave
him. If there was one thing that kid didn’t need, it was another ‘admirer’. But
there was nothing wrong with feeling glad he could help, or the righteous
pleasure at stuffing Tony Noble’s greasy tactics, so Spen would enjoy those
without guilt. With any luck, he’d have the satisfaction of watching Daniel
grow in confidence, and move on from working for Noble into a job more suited
to his talents and intelligence.
Spen sighed and started the engine. Myko
popped out to chirp quietly in concern. Spen patted his head. “I’m okay,
fuzzball. We don’t always get what we want, right?”
Myko squeaked and rubbed against Spen’s
hand. Nice to have someone who understood, and who would
always keep his secrets.
Chapter 7
Two weeks earlier, Daniel had had no
prospect of enjoying his enforced attendance at the company’s national
conference. Even this afternoon, as he said goodbye to Dee and Alex after he
and Spen left them at the Reardons’ house, he couldn’t muster any more than
resignation as he contemplated a week in a dull chain hotel, stuck making
presentations and handouts for Tony, and sleeping in what would probably be a
hard and uncomfortable bed. He’d stayed in a couple of similar hotels on family
holidays, and the novelty had long since worn off.
But now, sitting across from Spen on the
train heading north, he felt something close to cheerful. Dee and Alex were in
safe, kind hands—and in the care of people who would make sure their
schoolwork wouldn’t suffer. Spen’s offer to share a room had given Daniel a
perfect answer to Tony’s assumption that he and Daniel would be sharing. And
now he had the company of a man he
if Noball was prepared to pull a dirty stunt like threaten Daniel’s job over
attending a conference, then there was no limit to what he might try. Spen had
also noticed that Daniel hadn’t mentioned Spen’s ‘accidental’ interruption of
Noble’s late night activities, nor had shown any resentment over it. Maybe
Daniel would never come right out and thank Spen for it, but it looked more and
more as if Spen’s intervention hadn’t been unwelcome—at least by Daniel.
He really needed to involve HR but without
Daniel’s cooperation, there would be little point. Maybe Spen could work on him
while at the conference.
“Here we are,” he said, pulling into a
space in front of Daniel’s house.
Daniel roused. “Oh. Thank you, Spen. I
can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“It’s a pleasure, honest.”
Dee and Alex thanked him too, then ran up the path to the house. Lights went on seconds
later. Daniel went to open his door, but Spen said, “Hold on a sec.” Daniel
looked at him, puzzled. “They’ll be asking who wants to share rooms at the
conference. If you don’t want to share with Tony, I haven’t arranged anything
yet.”
In the light from the street lamp, Daniel’s
expression slid rapidly from surprise to relief. “Oh. I’d like that, if you
wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not. I hate these damn things
and at least I won’t have to worry about some boring junior manager sharing
with me.” Daniel smiled a little. “You know...you can ask for help. It’s not a
sign of weakness.”
“I didn’t have anyone to ask before. I got
used to...you know...not asking.”
“Now you have me. And my parents.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, and Kani can play in
IT anytime. Don’t keep him locked away all day. Kems hate that.”
“I know. I’ll send him down. I know he’ll
love it.”
“So will we. Sleep well, and no more
stressing about Tony fucking Noble.”
Daniel gave him the first truly happy smile
of the night. “No more stressing, I promise. ‘Night, Spen.”
Spen watched him walk up the path, and
waited until the porch light went out. It probably wasn’t a good idea to
encourage the warm glow of happiness that encounters with Daniel so often gave
him. If there was one thing that kid didn’t need, it was another ‘admirer’. But
there was nothing wrong with feeling glad he could help, or the righteous
pleasure at stuffing Tony Noble’s greasy tactics, so Spen would enjoy those
without guilt. With any luck, he’d have the satisfaction of watching Daniel
grow in confidence, and move on from working for Noble into a job more suited
to his talents and intelligence.
Spen sighed and started the engine. Myko
popped out to chirp quietly in concern. Spen patted his head. “I’m okay,
fuzzball. We don’t always get what we want, right?”
Myko squeaked and rubbed against Spen’s
hand. Nice to have someone who understood, and who would
always keep his secrets.
Chapter 7
Two weeks earlier, Daniel had had no
prospect of enjoying his enforced attendance at the company’s national
conference. Even this afternoon, as he said goodbye to Dee and Alex after he
and Spen left them at the Reardons’ house, he couldn’t muster any more than
resignation as he contemplated a week in a dull chain hotel, stuck making
presentations and handouts for Tony, and sleeping in what would probably be a
hard and uncomfortable bed. He’d stayed in a couple of similar hotels on family
holidays, and the novelty had long since worn off.
But now, sitting across from Spen on the
train heading north, he felt something close to cheerful. Dee and Alex were in
safe, kind hands—and in the care of people who would make sure their
schoolwork wouldn’t suffer. Spen’s offer to share a room had given Daniel a
perfect answer to Tony’s assumption that he and Daniel would be sharing. And
now he had the company of a man he
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