Page 214 of Force Play
“I’m so happy right now, Ari.”
“And I’m happyforyou, Lucia. You deserve this.”
I kiss him hard, just so relieved that everything is okay.
“Am I always going to find you two with your tongues down each other’s throats now?”
Ari sets me down, and we both turn to face Logan.
“I’m sorry that you find love so repulsive,” I shrug.
He scoffs at me. “I have a girlfriend.”
“How much did you have to pay her?” Ari snickers, and Logan fumes.
“Why are you two so happy right now anyway? I have a meeting in ten minutes with Dr. Coltrain, and I can’t imagine you’ll be smiling after that.”
“Oh, I beat you to that, Logan,” I grin, smug satisfaction coursing through me. “I just had my own meeting with Dr. Coltrain. I told him about Ari and me, and I was assured that it wouldn’t hurt my consideration for the position. He’s selecting on merit.”
“Then you don’t have a fucking chance,” he sneers.
“Say what you want, Logan, but I’m damn good at my job, and I know that. I’ve also been mentoring Nathan and Greg.”
“And they don’t have a clue what they’re doing, do they?”
Ari subtly nudges me with his elbow to bring my attention to something. I quickly realize what he’s meaning, but we both keep quiet.
“I’m also, with Dr. Coltrain’s support, speaking to young women to help them gain interest in our field.”
Logan rolls his eyes. “The last thing we need ismorewomen around here. I’m so fucking tired of women trying to take everything away from us. Go cook or something and leave the work to the men.” He rolls his shoulders and stands upstraighter. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure Dr. Coltrain realizes what a mistake it would be to let someone like you become Head Trainer.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Logan immediately pales as he turns around to face Dr. Coltrain, who used one of the back doors to get out of the training area. Logan never saw him leave his office and was completely unaware of his presence.
“Dr. Coltrain!” he says as happily as he can. “I was just coming to meet with you.”
Dr. Coltrain crosses his arms and stares at Logan with a hardened gaze. He’s always been warm and kind, so seeing him like this is jarring to say the least.
“As I said, that won’t be necessary.”
“I-I’m not sure what you mean,” he stammers, and I can see him shrinking in on himself.
“I mean that the only reason we would need to meet now would be to discuss your employment, Logan. The abuse you hurled at Lucia and the insults to her, Nathan, and Greg are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
“I’m only speaking the truth,” he claims, trying to steer the conversation in his favor.
Dr. Coltrain sighs. “To say I’m disappointed in this display would be an understatement, Logan. I’mappalled.How can you expect to remain part of this team when you have no respect for your coworkers?”
“Because I’m good at my job,” Logan asserts.
“So is Lucia. So is Nathan. So is Greg. And so are so many others who would be more than happy to take your place.”
“You’re not firing me,” he throws back. “I’ve been here for nine years.”
“Well, unfortunately for you, Logan, the call is not yours to make. It’s mine, and I don’t accept any abuse of my staff. You’re going to need to vacate the premises.”
“You’re joking.”
