Page 11 of Sinful Boss

“Sure, sure, you betcha. I could do that.” She looks relieved but still a bit tense with us in here.

I glance at my Rolex. “I need to get to another meeting. We’ll finalize all the new implementations next week after your staff meeting. I’m looking forward to hearing about that, and if anyone has seen anything.”

“Okay,” Quinn says. “Were the other reports okay? The food discrepancy and the beer silo report?”

“Yes, they were fine. Losses were at a usual minimal level.”

“You’re doing a good job, Quinn,” Roman says, throwing me a filthy look before smiling at the bar manager.

I clear my throat. “Yes, yes, you are. We’ll get this liquor situation figured out. I know how much this job means to you.”

Her eyes widen and she replies, “Yes, sir. It means everything to me. I won’t let you down.”

“Glad to hear it,” I say, turning and leaving, Roman trailing behind me.

Once we’re in the backseat of the Bentley and Lucas starts driving us down the road, my cousin looks at me.

“What?” I ask when I feel his eyes on me.

“You didn’t have to threaten her fucking job, geez.”

I look at him, confused. “I did no such thing.”

He gets a sour look on his face and says in a silly voice, “I know how much this job means to you.”

Roman’s irritating me already, just like he has my entire life with his aloof attitude and how he never seems to take anything seriously. “First off, I don’t sound like that. Secondly, that was in no way a threat. It was a compliment, actually.”

“The hell it was. Trust me, it sounded like you were telling her she better figure out who’s skimming the booze or her job is on the line.”

This surprises me, and I become a little defensive. “No. No way. That’s not what I meant at all. I was just telling her we know she values her job and will do better at finding out who the culprit is.”

Roman sighs. “Yes, Linc. That’s kind of threatening. Think about if someone had said that to you. You might not get a little defensive?”

I ponder his question and then nod. “Well, I suppose, when you put it that way.”

His face softens. “Look, I know with your… uh, I know you take things literally, and therefore, that’s how you speak. But sometimes, we need to, well, especially around women, soften our speech a little—”

I cut him off. “I don’t like to talk about it, so please don’t. It’s just how I am.”

“Okay, okay, cuz.” He smiles and pulls a toothpick from his jacket pocket.

I look down at my phone when it chimes, reminding me of a meeting I have in thirty minutes with a prospective business I’d like to take over. I look at my cousin. “You ready for the meeting at three?”

He nods. “Sure, sure, that’s fine.”

I suck in a breath and shake my head. “No, really. I need you there. These guys… they’re not going to want to sell. It’s going to be a tough one and it might get, well, heated. You in?”

Roman pulls the toothpick out of his mouth and grins. “Hell yeah. I’m there.”

Five

Quinn

I let out a sigh and head back out to the bar area. I had no idea the booze bottles were low. And honestly, I’ve been relying way too much on Carter to keep everything on the up-and-up. Now, I need to have an uncomfortable conversation, and I’m dreading it.

I scurry through the kitchen, throwing a hello at Rick and snatching a chicken strip from the huge plate he’d just piled the freshly cooked ones on, and find my way to the bar where Carter’s cleaning underneath the slotted rubber mat that holds the cleaned, drying glasses.

“What’s up, girl?” he asks, spraying another layer of cleaning solution. “What did the big-wigs want?”

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