Page 39 of Viper

“There wasn’t really anything more to tell.”

Thedingof the bell above the door made them both look over.

“Oh, here we go,” Mia muttered as Dionne’s mother strode into the store looking like she was sucking on a lemon.Knew this would happen, she added telepathically.

We’renotrehiring Dionne no matter what this woman says, Ella stated.

Maxine appeared at the counter, her chin up high. She wasn’t a hellcat like her daughter and mate, she was a harpy. And since people generally swerved from getting on the bad side of a harpy, the woman was used to getting her way and not dealing with resistance. So used to it, in fact, that she’d come to feel entitled to it. Which meant she could be a pain in the ass at times,especiallywhen things didn’t pan out like she wanted.

“Ella, Mia.” Her voice was as sharp and cutting as broken glass. “I heard you fired my daughter yesterday.”

Ella folded her arms. “I did.”

The harpy’s lips flattened. “And just what makes you believe it’s fair or acceptable to fire someone for having frequent migraines?”

Whoa, wasthatwhat Dionne had told her? “That isn’t why she lost her job. She’s lazy. Frequently late. Wanders off to check her phone notifications. And, just yesterday, she also helped herself to cash from the register.”

Maxine’s shoulders tensed. “The latter is a very serious accusation.”

“Not an accusation, a fact. And before you try to pressure us into giving her back her job, know that it won’t be worth it. You run a business, Maxine.” A very successful clothing store, in fact. “Would you keep such a worker on your team?”

Maxine’s eyes flickered. “She is young and has much to learn.”

Which did not answer Ella’s question. In fact, it was a clear evasion.

“She could learn working foryou,” Mia pointed out.

“I would be thrilled to have Dionne as one of my staff,” the harpy claimed, “but she has no interest in fashion.”

“She has no interest in working here either.” Another good point by Mia.

The bell above the door went again. Another woman walked inside—this one equally familiar, but more welcome. Ella cast her a quick smile before refocusing on the harpy.

Maxine’s eyes narrowed. “Does your aunt know that you let Dionne go?”

“Of course,” said Ella. “The decision to fire her was a unanimous one.”

The harpy’s gaze hardened. “Knox will not like this.”

“Not like what?” asked the woman behind Maxine.

The harpy whirled to face the dark-haired, long-legged nightmare. “Oh. Piper.”

Ella bit back a smile at the nervous tremor in Maxine’s voice. She had probably planned to embellish what happened here on reporting it to Knox, whose name she often wielded like a sword. But now she couldn’t lie. Because Piper would be able to tell him it was pure bull. And, as Levi’s mate and a close friend of Harper, Knox would take Piper’s word over Maxine’sanyday.

The harpy flicked a hand. “Nothing terribly important. Do say hello to Levi for me.” With a dignified haughtiness, the woman left the store.

“What was that about?” asked Piper.

Mia puffed out a heavy breath. “We had to fire her daughter.”

Piper’s nose wrinkled. “It’s a pretty frequent thing. She always tries intimidating Dionne’s ex-employers into giving her ‘one last chance.’ You know, personally, I think Dionne purposely gets herself sacked just to get at her mom.”

Ella cocked her head. “Like an attention seeking thing?”

“Maxine is a workaholic who doesn’t have much time for her daughter,” Piper reminded her. “I think Dionne sabotages every job both because she’s determined to be the opposite of her mom but also because it’s the only time Maxine really notices anything that’s happening in Dionne’s life.”

Mia sighed. “It’s kind of sad. I feel sorry for Dionne, but we can’t keep her on.”

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