Read Online Jace: The Pride of the Double Deuce by Kathi S. Barton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathi S. Barton
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him. When Mr. Snow answered the phone, Jeff felt his anger surge forward.
“I was told that no one was working today. What are you doing there?” There was silence and he tried to think how to reword his question. “I mean, you can’t be in there all alone, sir. What if you needed something?”
“I’m quite able to care for myself, Hardgrave. I’ve been doing it a very long time.” Jeff knew the man was pissed. Why he was, Jeff wasn’t sure. “When or if I need someone, I will call them in.”
“Yes, sir.” Jeff clenched and unclenched his fist, trying his best not to let his own temper get the best of him. “I tried to call about Holly and I can’t seem to get through to her. Is she doing much better?”
“She’s fine. She’s dating someone.” Jeff sat down. “And they’ll more than likely be getting married soon. The reason I’m telling you this is because I was made aware by Sharon that you called her this morning and got short with her. I cannot allow you to upset my staff, Hardgrave, not even those that work with my daughter.”
“I assure you, sir, that I was only inquiring about her health.” Snow said nothing, and Jeff felt the need to continue to explain. Lie, really. “Maybe Miss Guest took my inquiries the wrong way. I care a great deal for Holly and…well, sir, I don’t think Miss Guest likes me overly much.”
“Be that as it may, don’t call her again. Or my daughter. As I’ve said, she’s getting married and you need to back off now. Holly said you were becoming a nuisance anyway. If it continues, I will have to terminate your services. I’ve not been overly happy with other reports I’m getting about you either.”
“Reports?” Jeff wanted to go to the man’s office and demand that he give him a list of the complainers. “Sir, I have no idea what sort of complaints you might be hearing, but I assure you that I am your most loyal employee.”
“Loyal or not, I will not have you harassing the rest of the staff that works for me.” Jeff nodded but said nothing. It would do him no good to lose his temper now. He might not be able to marry his daughter just yet, but things could go badly for the young man. “And you’re to stay away from Holly and Jace. They’re going to be happy and you shouldn’t think to interfere.”
“Yes, sir.” After he hung up the phone, Jeff sat there for several moments before he picked up the lumpy pillow and covered his face with it. Screaming out his frustrations didn’t help that much, but it was a start. He couldn’t do any more damage to the apartment or he’d lose that as well.
Jace somebody was going to have to be taken care of. Not that he would kill him. No, he’d never take someone’s life, but he had to do something…like get him into trouble with Holly. But how? He didn’t even know the jerk’s last name or what he looked like. Unless it was the hick from that afternoon. That could be it, he supposed. The guy probably had some dirt on Snow, and he used it to get to the money.
Jeff wished now that he’d thought of that. It was a brilliant plan. But he really didn’t know anything bad about Snow. The man was nice, he paid well, and he took care of his business like it was family, something that Jeff had been surprised to find out. The man was saintly, it seemed.
Jeff lay back on his sofa and tried to think. He’d have to be extra careful at work from now on. One false move and he’d be out on his ass, and that just would not do. He’d done a lot of research on Snow before coming to work with him and he’d not let that go to waste. Then there were the things he’d had to do to get his foot in the door. That had not made him feel very good about himself, but then it had been justified when he’d gotten his first interview, and then eventually the job.
He pulled out his little notebook and began reading over the list of things he’d done so far that he’d written there. Jeff was quite proud of himself up
“I was told that no one was working today. What are you doing there?” There was silence and he tried to think how to reword his question. “I mean, you can’t be in there all alone, sir. What if you needed something?”
“I’m quite able to care for myself, Hardgrave. I’ve been doing it a very long time.” Jeff knew the man was pissed. Why he was, Jeff wasn’t sure. “When or if I need someone, I will call them in.”
“Yes, sir.” Jeff clenched and unclenched his fist, trying his best not to let his own temper get the best of him. “I tried to call about Holly and I can’t seem to get through to her. Is she doing much better?”
“She’s fine. She’s dating someone.” Jeff sat down. “And they’ll more than likely be getting married soon. The reason I’m telling you this is because I was made aware by Sharon that you called her this morning and got short with her. I cannot allow you to upset my staff, Hardgrave, not even those that work with my daughter.”
“I assure you, sir, that I was only inquiring about her health.” Snow said nothing, and Jeff felt the need to continue to explain. Lie, really. “Maybe Miss Guest took my inquiries the wrong way. I care a great deal for Holly and…well, sir, I don’t think Miss Guest likes me overly much.”
“Be that as it may, don’t call her again. Or my daughter. As I’ve said, she’s getting married and you need to back off now. Holly said you were becoming a nuisance anyway. If it continues, I will have to terminate your services. I’ve not been overly happy with other reports I’m getting about you either.”
“Reports?” Jeff wanted to go to the man’s office and demand that he give him a list of the complainers. “Sir, I have no idea what sort of complaints you might be hearing, but I assure you that I am your most loyal employee.”
“Loyal or not, I will not have you harassing the rest of the staff that works for me.” Jeff nodded but said nothing. It would do him no good to lose his temper now. He might not be able to marry his daughter just yet, but things could go badly for the young man. “And you’re to stay away from Holly and Jace. They’re going to be happy and you shouldn’t think to interfere.”
“Yes, sir.” After he hung up the phone, Jeff sat there for several moments before he picked up the lumpy pillow and covered his face with it. Screaming out his frustrations didn’t help that much, but it was a start. He couldn’t do any more damage to the apartment or he’d lose that as well.
Jace somebody was going to have to be taken care of. Not that he would kill him. No, he’d never take someone’s life, but he had to do something…like get him into trouble with Holly. But how? He didn’t even know the jerk’s last name or what he looked like. Unless it was the hick from that afternoon. That could be it, he supposed. The guy probably had some dirt on Snow, and he used it to get to the money.
Jeff wished now that he’d thought of that. It was a brilliant plan. But he really didn’t know anything bad about Snow. The man was nice, he paid well, and he took care of his business like it was family, something that Jeff had been surprised to find out. The man was saintly, it seemed.
Jeff lay back on his sofa and tried to think. He’d have to be extra careful at work from now on. One false move and he’d be out on his ass, and that just would not do. He’d done a lot of research on Snow before coming to work with him and he’d not let that go to waste. Then there were the things he’d had to do to get his foot in the door. That had not made him feel very good about himself, but then it had been justified when he’d gotten his first interview, and then eventually the job.
He pulled out his little notebook and began reading over the list of things he’d done so far that he’d written there. Jeff was quite proud of himself up
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