Page 39 of Boss

“Meeting a friend for brunch,” she said. She glanced out the window of the cafe and saw Daniel’s car arrive.

“How about dinner?”

“Ah, okay, I can cook for us.”

“That sounds nice. How was your first day?” Tarek asked.

She smiled. “It was okay. Mostly paperwork. Tomorrow will you show me around the office.”

“Yeah, tomorrow. See you tonight.”

“Bye Tarek.”

Kassidy ended the call just as Daniel approached. He wore a deep scowl of anger. The man could never mask his emotions. She was just relieved he didn’t bring that witch Carmen with him.

She stood and hugged him. He kissed her cheek as he always did when they met and sat down.

“I’m pissed.”

“I know. I can explain,” she said.

“Hi, can I get you something to drink?” the waitress asked.

“Coffee black, and a muffin,” Daniel mumbled.

“Sure, we have blueberry, bran, banana and...”

“Surprise me!” Daniel cut her off.

The woman looked shocked. Kassidy tried to offer an apologetic smile before the waitress turned and walked away.

“That was rude.”

“Rude? How about disappearing on me for over two weeks. Three fucking weeks.”

“Things happened fast. I had so little control, I just couldn’t reach you.”

“Bullshit! This is what you do Kassidy. Change the rules or make them up as you go along. I thought you were ready. Committed to our cause. But I don’t know what the fuck you are doing!”

“That’s enough!” Kassidy said. “Don’t preach down to me like I’m one of your worshippers. We both agreed that this would not be an easy job. That it would take work for me to gain Tarek’s trust. And you know what I have. I don’t have to check in with you every fucking minute like some school girl. I’m a grown woman.”

Daniel fumed. He sat back and glared. Kassidy could swear she saw his glasses fog up from the steam over his redden face.

“Here you are,” the waitress said. Neither she nor Daniel spoke. They continued to stare at each other. The waitress turned and left.

“Here’s how it happened. He showed up at my place and...”

“We’re done.” Daniel announced.

“What?”

“I can’t trust you. I don’t know what the fuck you think this is, but if you don’t work for me, then you work for you. So we’re done.”

“You’re making a mistake Daniel.”

He chuckled. “Carmen called it. She said you didn’t give a shit about the oceans, or the environment. She said you were playing me. And that’s how I feel. Played.”

“Does this look like me playing you?” She pushed t him a small black USB drive. He stared at it while she spoke. “In that is the proposal to push LuxeOil out of Deadhorse Alaska and move in MGS in. I was there. Three men died. I don’t know how, or why but they’re dead. And it is all about a Russian family named Kovalevsky and their company that wants drilling in Alaska.”

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