Page 47 of Don't Bet On It
“How do you figure that?” Zach challenged. This time, when he reached for Olivia’s hand, she didn’t pull away from him. His relief was palpable as he brought her hand to rest above his heart. “How is it that you believe you’re in the right here?”
“Because I am,” Kyla replied simply. “My sister was next in line. That job should have been hers.”
“It’s not an automatic placement,” Zach argued. “You would’ve had to push that through Human Resources, and they would’ve been alerted to her being your sister. It’s not a given that she would’ve gotten the job.”
“Well, she definitely didn’t get it thanks to your ‘friend,’ did she?” Kyla used sarcastic air quotes for emphasis.
“Knock that off.” Zach’s tone brooked no nonsense. “I get that you’re disappointed for your sister. Guess what, though? I make the decisions in my family’s casino. If you don’t like it, you know where the door is.”
My breath caught in my throat. Was he actually going to fire her? I didn’t want that. I hadn’t even realized I’d gone stiff until Ronan reached over and carefully pried my fingers off the arm of my chair. He seemed surprised by my reaction, his gaze searching. He managed a small smile as he placed my hand in my lap.
It will be okay,he mouthed.
I wasn’t expecting him to be so soft with me. I was the reason he was here in the first place, even though that was difficult to admit. He was trying to assuage my fears, though, despite that fact. I had no idea what to make of it.
“There seem to be multiple issues,” Candy interjected. “The first involves Kyla’s sister. It’s understandable that she had her heart set on one thing happening and then it never came to fruition.”
“Except that wasn’t a given,” Zach argued.
Candy held up her hand to still him. “It wasn’t, and it was unreasonable for Kyla to assume that her sister would get that position.”
“She was next in line,” Kyla barked.
Candy gave her a pointed look. “It wasn’t a given, and you holding a grudge against Tallulah seems unfair.”
“Thank you!” Olivia threw her hands in the air.
“You fighting all of Tallulah’s fights for her also seems unreasonable,” Candy said to my best friend.
“Well, Tallulah isn’t going to do it for herself.” Olivia folded her arms over her chest. “She feels guilty for how she got the job even though she needs it. I’m not going to let my best friend be treated like trash.”
Candy opened her mouth then seemed to catch herself. “Is that what you’re worried about?” she asked after a beat. “Are you afraid that your best friend is being mistreated?”
“I know she is,” Olivia replied. She didn’t sound as if she had a single doubt. “Kyla has been on her from the start. She built a file full of false nonsense to try to get her fired. Tallulah will never fight for herself on stuff like that.”
“I believe there’s a pitcher of water that begs to differ,” Candy said with a small smile.
“That was just Tallulah being at the end of her rope,” Olivia said. “She’ll allow others to heap abuse on her until she reaches her breaking point. Then she just loses it. That’s the way it’s always been. I was trying to keep it from reaching that point this time.”
I sent her a sharp look. Was that true? Of course it was true. She’d always been my greatest champion. To my surprise, I cleared my throat and drew Candy’s attention. My plan had been to remain quiet until the conversation was over. That didn’t seem to be an option any longer.
“I just want to do my job,” I said. “I’m sorry that my getting this particular job hurt Kyla’s sister. I’m not going to give up the job, though, and it would be great if I could work without constantly worrying about what my boss is plotting.”
Kyla narrowed her eyes but didn’t dispute my take on things.
“I apologize for the water,” I said. “All I saw was my pregnant friend getting upset, and I reacted.”
Candy arched an eyebrow. “That’s why you threw the water? It wasn’t because you wanted to hurt Kyla?”
“Of course not,” I scoffed, and that was true. “Olivia is the only person who has been in my life for the entirety. She’s having a baby. I didn’t want her getting so worked up she made herself sick.”
Candy looked momentarily thoughtful, then she nodded. “I think maybe the smart move will be for me to make regular stops in the lounge for the foreseeable future, at least the next week ata minimum. I would like to see how everybody interacts when they’re on the job.”
Zach agreed without hesitation. “I think that sounds like a great idea.”
“Maybe Mrs. Stone can take a break from her visits,” Candy added.
Olivia glowered at her. “You’re not the boss of me.”
