Page 78 of The Holy Grail
At that, Evelyn and Everett exchanged a curious glance, which Jules ignored as she left the table and made her way behind the bar to pour herself a cup of coffee. She took her time adding sugar and creamer, so she could totally eavesdrop on the low conversation now taking place in her absence.
“Seriously? That’s your accountant?” Everett demanded.
“Yes,” Evan replied.
“Are you banging her?”
“What? No, I’m not banging her. But even if I was, it would be none of your fucking business.”
Finished with her coffee, Jules carried her cup to the table and took a drink before setting it down. She knew Evan had given his brother and sister the barest amount of information—that he’d hired an accountant to help them with the business, and that was it. Jules also knew they weren’t happy about it, especially Everett.
With three pairs of eyes watching her, Jules began. “First, I’d like to thank you for coming—”
“We didn’t really have a choice,” Everett cut in.
“Jesus,” Evan muttered. “Quit being a prick and listen.”
“Yes, Everett, quit being a prick and listen,” Jules repeated, locking gazes with him. “I know you don’t want to be here, but I promise I’m not wasting your time. Iama managerial accountant, with a real degree and everything, and I’m really good at what I do. So, hopefully you’ll start taking me seriously and not demean me by thinking of me as someone your brother might be banging.”
Jules let that hang in the air for a few seconds before continuing. “Now then, Evan hired me three and a half months ago—”
“Three and a half months ago?” Evelyn asked, shocked.
“Yes, to go through the company books—”
“You’ve been through the books?” Everett looked both dumbfounded and aggravated at that. “When? How?”
“Mostly on weekends, late at night, when Evan was working. He gave me full access to the files and the computer.”
Everett glared at Evan. “I can’t believe you did that, without asking me first.”
Evan glared back. “I own one third of this place, or have you forgotten? I don’t need your permission.”
Jules took a drink of her coffee and waited until she had everyone’s attention again. “So, full disclosure … I casually met Evan two years ago—in this very bar, actually—and we then became friends after our mutual friends, Paige and David, got together again and remarried. On the night Evan hired me, I was here having a drink and noticed some things, which I questioned him about.”
“Like what?” Evelyn wanted to know.
Sensing a bit of an ally in the other woman, Jules turned her attention that way. “Like the fact Evan works insane hours and yet admitted he’s barely getting by. And by barely getting by, I mean he sometimes relies on tips for income.”
Evelyn glanced at Evan, looking like she wanted to say something to him, but turned back to Jules, instead, and waited. Everett, however, didn’t stay silent.
“You’re making $36,000 a year,” he said. “Why are you barely getting by?”
“Because after taxes, his salary barely covers his living expenses,” Jules answered, aggravated with Everett for being under the impression that $36,000 was making bank. Reaching into her briefcase, she pulled out three sheets of paper and placed one in front of everyone. “That will change, though, as soon as this new pay schedule goes into effect in two weeks.”
The three of them looked it over, with wildly different reactions. Evan looked stunned, Evelyn looked mostly neutral, and Everett looked like he was going to flip a chair.
“What is this?” he demanded.
“Like I said, it’s the new pay schedule for the three of you. Evan’s salary is going to be raised to $65,000, Evelyn’s will remain the same at $55,000, and yours will be lowered—”
“To $49,000?”
“Yes, but only temporarily, until everything gets equalized—”
“Are you out of your mind? Where are you getting these numbers?”
“I’m so glad you asked,” Jules said, pulling several more sheets of paper out of her briefcase and passing them out. “This shows the initial investments made by each of you for the renovations when you inherited the bar. Now, while I agree that since you—” she looked at Everett, “—provided the most capital up front, you should have received a higher return reflected in your paychecks. However, that higher return shouldn’t have been quite as high as it was, and should have diminished over time, as your investment was repaid.”
