Read Online Sinful Too by Victor McGlothin - Free Book Online

reservations. “I’d like to come and check that net later.”
    “I’d love to work late tonight,” she answered seductively. “Should I prepare dinner?”
    “No, don’t bother. I’d rather have you instead.”

Seven
    You Changed
    F our thirty that afternoon, Richard sat in the pastor’s chambers. Moments before, he ended a tenuous phone call with the president of a major construction company, who offered discount pricing on a job to pave one hundred acres of land adjacent to the church complex. Several construction firms submitted bids for the project but the others wouldn’t lower their fees as an incentive to be awarded a potential building contract. Richard’s shrewd business acumen proved sound in the past; he had saved the congregation millions by brokering the best deals possible. He was overwhelmingly responsible for the boom in church membership, and seven elders and five deacons followed his lead. At M.E.G.A., Pastor Dr. Richard Allamay, PhD, cherished a well-earned reputation for levelheadedness and a moral compass beyond reproach. His opinion surpassed that of all others; his word was bond. It was utterly inconceivable for him to put his own desires before the welfare of his family and friends.
    Deacon Phillip Hunter, Richard’s closest friend of ten years, was a serious man with a dark complexion, shorter in stature than most and rather thick in the midsection. His full-time position, presiding over the DVD ministry, was a coveted job given to him after his former employer rightsized him out onto the streets. There was an insignificant amount of grumbling when Richard convinced the elders to pass over more qualified applicants. Phillip was happily married to Rose, Richard’s first cousin. Although it hadn’t been voiced aloud, the leadership board knew that Phillip backed Richard’s every decision, without question. Phillip’s loyalty had been bought and paid for. “I thought I heard you in here,” he said, as he stuck his head into the pastor’s office. “How’d the conference call go?”
    “We’re getting closer to the final numbers. I set a meeting with Tatum and his right-hand man for late next week. You should be there too. I’ll get Dawn to send out notices to each member of the building committee. Based on the information I received from our banker, we can also break ground on an elementary charter school without additional paperwork.” A church-owned primary education facility was Phillip’s idea. He couldn’t believe it was becoming a reality.
    “A real school?” he asked excitedly. “When, how did all of this happen?”
    Calm as usual, Richard grinned. “It was nothing really. Dangling the right carrot pays off every now and then. I thought you should be the first to know. Tatum Construction wants to win our future business, unlike the others who handed in inflated projections because they knew we could afford them. Good stewardship is so important when you’re dealing with the Lord’s pocketbook.”
    Phillip rushed over to thank his best friend. “I always said you were the best thing that ever happened to this church. You’re a good man, Richard, solid to the core. M.E.G.A. owes you so much.”
    Richard shook his hand then held it for an extended period. “Sound relationships built on trust, Phillip — that’s the cornerstone of success. It started with the disciples and it still works today. Do us all a favor and keep the school business under your hat. I haven’t ironed out all the particulars yet.”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my mouth shut but I’ll be popping off on the inside. Hallelujah, Brother Pastor, hallelujah!”
    “Amen. You mind closing the door for a minute? I have another phone call to make.” Phillip left Richard alone in his office, which was nicely decorated with mahogany wood furniture and expensive oil paintings purchased by the church at Richard’s behest. His discretionary budget was five thousand dollars a month and attached to a