Page 46 of Don't Bet On It
“Oh, that is such crap,” I said.
“No, it’s not crap,” Kyla fired back. “You’ve been full of yourself because of how you got the job since the moment you walked into my lounge.”
“That’s not how I remember it.”
Candy held up her hand to head off further argument before Kyla could respond. “Let’s talk about that,” she said. “How did you get the job?”
I bristled at the question and the way she looked at me. “I was hired, and I started in the lounge,” I replied darkly.
“Yes, you were hired.” Kyla rolled her eyes in theatrical fashion.
“Was there anything odd about how you were hired?” Candy asked. Nothing in her tone was accusatory, but I didn’t like the question, regardless.
“She got the job even though she didn’t earn it,” Kyla answered for me. “There were numerous people lined up for that job, but it was handed to her on a silver platter because she’s the boss’s wife’s best friend.”
Candy studied my reaction, but I was careful to keep my face expressionless. The key was never to give these people anything to work with. I could play that game all day. “Is that true?” she asked finally.
I merely shrugged.
“It’s not true,” Olivia replied. She was always going to be my biggest champion. “Tallulah is a hard worker and a stellar server. She’s done great at that job.”
“Shouldn’t I be the judge of that?” Kyla snapped.
“No, because you’re mean to her.” Olivia shook her head. “You’ve had it out for her from the very first day.”
Candy opened her mouth but didn’t say anything because Zach was clearing his throat. He raised his hand to draw her attention.
“Technically, Tallulah did not go through the normal hiring process,” he conceded. “I made arrangements for her to get the job in the lounge.”
“Ha!” Kyla jabbed a finger at him, then seemed to realize she was poking the boss and not a fellow employee. Her shoulders slumped immediately, but she didn’t apologize.
Zach gave her a pointed look, one full of warning, before continuing. “It’s no secret that Tallulah is a friend. She’s a good worker on top of being a friend.”
“Do you think she’s a good worker?” Candy asked Kyla.
Kyla, of course, snorted. “No, she’s a terrible worker.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “You’re just saying that because you wanted the job for your sister, you big hypocrite.”
“Livvie.” Zach reached over to gather his wife’s hand, but she leaned away from him. He might have been her greatest ally, but Olivia was in no mood to play nice with him or anybody else.
I had to say, I was right there with her.
“Let’s break this down into the basics,” Candy suggested. She turned to Kyla. “Did you want Tallulah’s job for your sister?”
“She was next in line,” Kyla replied. “That job was supposed to be hers. She waited forever for an opening.”
“That doesn’t mean the job automatically goes to her,” Zach fired back. “While I’m sorry for your sister, the fact of the matter is that I get to have input on hiring in my casino.”
“It’s not just your casino,” Kyla fired back.
“If you would like me to get my mother down here, I can arrange that,” Zach said.
“Oh, right,” Kyla sneered. “Like she’s going to say anything against the woman carrying her grandchild.”
Olivia had always been easier to get along with than me. Her personality was simply bubblier. She was as pleasing as punch, as my grandmother—the three times she ever deigned to visit— used to say. Today, however, nothing was sweet or charming about the glower Olivia sent in Kyla’s direction. “You need to get over yourself,” she gritted out.
“Excuse me?” Kyla’s eyes flashed. “I’m in the right.”
