Page 42 of Lilly's Little Labor Day

Or the babygirl who was under his care for the weekend.

They’d have fun.

“You there?” Holly said.

“Sorry. Got distracted for a minute. What’s up with Lance?”

“He was snooping around your office. I had left for the weekend but ran up here because I’d forgotten some things. Anyway, he was at your desk.”

“My desk?”

“Yes. And on your computer.”

“It’s password protected.”

“Is there any way he could hack it?”

“Not a chance,” Edward said. “Lance’s arrogance doesn’t match his skill.”

“You sure?” Holly probed.

“I know people. Lance isn’t half as good as he thinks he is. I won’t underestimate him. He’s diabolical, sure, but he couldn’t get past my encryption.”

“Well, he said you had asked him to go in there. Something about that Boulder proposal. I’m guessing that was a lie,” Holly said.

“Nothing gets by you,” Edward said.

“You’ve got that right. This is grounds to fire that little twerp. I’m tired of his crap.”

Edward laughed silently. Holly was feisty. She had a point, too. Snooping around anyone’s office was wrong. Snooping around your boss’ was just plain stupid.

Still, Edward hated to fire anyone. Lance deserved it. Sure. But he was still talking about taking someone’s livelihood away. Yes, Edward could be shrewd. He had that reputation. But he didn’t trample on people. When a decision affected someone’s life, he didn’t take it lightly.

Yet something told him the problems with Lance would only get worse. He needed to act to head this situation off before it escalated into a full-blown crisis.

“Do you want me to do anything?” the assistant asked.

“No,” he said. “I’ve got a plan. All I need from you right now, though, is to go home and enjoy your weekend. Take the holiday, Holly. Do something fun.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Ha! It’s weird when you call me that,” Edward said.

Indeed it was. While she worked for him, he almost looked at her as a counselor and advisor more than an assistant. She knew it, too, and was already ready with sage advice.

“Over and out. Have fun, wherever you’re at, boss.”

The call ended and Edward instantly followed it up with another one. Greg Snow, the company’s general counsel, answered on the fourth ring.

“What’s up?”

“We have a developing situation.” Edward went on to tell the attorney what was going on.

“He was snooping in your office?” Snow asked.

“Comes from Holly herself,” Edward confirmed.

“Then it’s solid. You want me to get HR in and start drawing up the termination paperwork?”

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