“You know I like to scout things out before I go in.”
“Is it that head of marketing, the one you were working closely with?” Michael asked him, ignoring what he had just said.
“No.” He avoided his brother’s eyes for a moment. “I have work to do and I figure that Bart will be able to handle things from there.”
“Bart is a very good interim manager but he thinks he is a ladies’ man,” Michael told him frankly. “Are you sure you made the right decision?”
“He was the only one available.”
“And you had to leave in a hurry. You did not knock someone up, did you?”
“No.” Jason swallowed the beer down with a grimace. “I have been too busy sorting through the mess the company was in.”
“I see you have managed to do that.” Michael nodded. “Dad would have been proud.”
“I miss them,” Jason murmured. Their parents had died from a skiing accident in Aspen two years ago. “Dad always had a solution for everything.”
“And Mom was always there willing to talk whenever we wanted to.” Michael settled back against the sofa and looked back. “I am sorry Michelle and Marley won’t have them around.”
“She would be telling me that it is time for me to get myself a wife,” Jason said with a whimsical smile.
“She would.” Michael laughed as he lifted the can to his lips. “She was one hell of a woman!”
Later that night when he was alone in the guest room that had been prepared for him, Jason’s mind turned unwittingly to . He would never admit it to his brother but he had run away because of what he had felt when he had taken her into his arms and kissed her. He had wanted more and he knew that it had not been a good idea so he had made the difficult decision to leave. It had been better that way! But ever since he had left he kept wanting to call and find out if she was okay. He had almost asked Bart how she was doing but he did not want him to get the wrong idea. Michael was right. Bart had been the last resort but he had been desperate! With a disconsolate sigh he pulled the covers and got into bed knowing sleep was not coming anytime soon.
*****
sat in the darkened bar and sipped her beer, her thoughts troubled. She had been thinking about leaving for the past week and was wondering if that was the right thing to do. She had no doubt that she would get work elsewhere, maybe not as well compensated as she was at Communications Link but at least she would have peace of mind. It had become intolerable where she was and she was getting sick of it. Bart had called her into the office and had told her that the marketing strategy she was planning for the spring was not acceptable.
“I already told you, , I am in charge here and everything goes through me,” he had told her insolently. He had tried to proposition her again and she had turned him down flat threatening that if he continued she was going sue his ass for sexual harassment. She knew what he was doing! He was trying to force her out and he was succeeding! Lacy had told her to take it higher and call Jason Collins but she had no intention of doing that. Jason had up and left and had not even called her, not that he was obligated to do so! But she had no intention of getting in touch with him. She jumped a little as the man sat on the stool next to hers and touched her on the hand.
“I noticed you all the way over there,” he said, the liquor strong on his breath. “You look lonely, honey.” He was middle aged with graying hair and a florid face that indicated his love for alcohol.
“I am not.” She moved her hand away from his hoping he would just go away.
“Come on, honey, don’t be that way,” he wheedled as he came nearer to her.
“Would you please leave me alone?”
“Come on, Tony, leave the lovely lady alone,” the bartender said mildly as he came back to his post.
“We are just having a conversation.”
“Which she does not want to have. Go on home.” The man’s voice was steely as he looked at the inebriated man.
“Okay, fine,” he grumbled and got off the stool unsteadily.
“Thank you,” said gratefully.
“You are welcome. My name is Kevin.” He extended a muscled dark hand to her and she took it. “You look pensive.”
“Just thinking,” she said with a smile. “That trick is not going to work with me.”
“What trick?”
“The one where you ask me an innocent question and I pour out all my troubles,” she told him archly.
“I had a feeling that you were a tough nut to crack,” he said with a grin as he poured a measure of brandy for himself. “So what is a nice girl like you doing in this dump?”
“The beers are good and I have no strong liquor in my house.”
“You should stock up.”
“I should,” she commented. “Thanks again.”
“You are welcome, pretty lady.”
*****
“What’s this?” Bart looked at the envelope in his hand and then up at her.
“My letter of resignation,” told him coolly. “I will work until the end of the week and give you time to hire someone else or Genevieve can take over for me. It is up to you.”