Page 6 of Set Me On Fire

Millie’s lips pursed, and I knew what she was going to say, so I got in first.

“Beanpole, Skeletor, therealSlim Shady, that’s what they called me.” I held my arms wide, those schoolyard taunts no longer able to hurt me. “Let’s just say I wasn’t half the man I am now.” I smiled to let Annie know it was OK. “I’m shocked Millie even recognised me.”

“I recognised you.”

She wasn’t smiling, instead looking tired, sooty, and just as beautiful as she always had. No, more.

“Not so slim now.”

Annie looked me up and down, but it wasn’t her attention I craved. Millie, she was the one I wanted inspecting every inch of me. Instead, she shook her head slightly, the muscle in her jaw popping.

“Damn, Noah?—”

This was what I had dreamed, fantasised about, Millie looking me over, seeing the man I was now, not the boy. It feltlike it’d taken forever for me to fill out, but doing the necessary training to qualify as a firefighter had helped that process. I’d followed my personal trainer’s diet and exercise regimen to the letter, and after what seemed like an eternity, my hard work paid off.

“Amelia!” Millie blinked, as if casting off a spell, and I felt a very particular kind of satisfaction, because I was the one that mesmerised her. He stormed over, an older man with the red face of a habitual drinker. “Amelia…” He had more to say, but whatever head of steam he’d worked up on his way over dissipated when he saw the state of the pub. His mouth fell open, his jaw working, but no words came out, just animalistic grunts. The man recovered quickly, spinning on a heel with a snarl. “You’re fired!”

That look on his face, it had me seeing red. Then he had to go and raise his hand, didn’t he? It turned out this was to stab a finger in her direction, but he didn’t get that chance as I stepped smoothly in between them, his finger tapping my chest and not getting real far with it.

“You right there, mate?”

People overseas thought the fact we used mate all the time was a cute thing, but they didn’t understand. It could be a term of endearment or the title you’d give your worst enemy, only tone determining which. The prick’s eyes flicked up and met mine, widening for a whole other reason. He thought he was a big man yelling at a woman, but he was rethinking his life decisions now. I watched him step backwards, Charlie and Knox moving closer on automatic. They had no idea what the fuck was going on, but they’d be right there by my side, backing my plays.

“You one of the firies?” The man flushed when he took in our uniforms, making clear how redundant that question was. “Why the hell does my pub look like that?”

“We’re about to begin the investigation—” Knox replied in his best arsehole-whisperer tone. His voice could go cold as ice when needed.

“Fired?” A feminine voice came from behind us. “Fired?”

“Seems like someone is a little hot under the collar?”

Charlie was a dickhead, but he was always good for a laugh, so everyone in the fire station liked him. Suddenly that was an issue. I’d seen how girls threw themselves at his feet and never really cared until now. I shifted closer, subtly angling my body so it started to push into the space between us and Millie’s back, but Charlie just shifted sideways, watching the argument unfold with a smile.

“I’ve been flat out all evening,” she snapped, showing she did not need our protection at all. “Criminally understaffed and dealing with drunk dickheads?—”

“Oi!” came a protest from the crowd clustering closer. By the look of the guys, they were the aforementioned dickheads. I crossed my arms and scowled, making clear there’d be no more input from them.

“But I dealt with it,” Millie continued, forcing the owner of the pub to take a step backwards. “I sold people drinks and made you lots of money and then put out a damn oil fire caused by the cook you insisted I hire.”

The owner’s face went almost purple then, his piggy eyes bugging.

“An oil fire? An oil fire!” If anyone in the crowd wondered how this had all happened, they didn’t now, the prick’s voice getting louder by the second. “I paid for that training session?—”

“And I’m the only one still working for you that attended it, Jim.” Millie’s hands went to her hips.

“Holy shit, this girl’s on fire…” Charlie hissed.

“The turnover of staff has been huge…” Millie continued. There was an unspoken implication there as to why that wasthe case. “And subsequent training sessions haven’t been organised.”

“That’s what I pay you for.”

This arsehole puffed himself right back up again, thinking he could push a woman around real easy. Not while I was standing there. I knew a bully when I saw one and there was no way I’d stand by and watch this prick try and tear her down.

“Not anymore, right?” Millie tore her apron off and threw it at him before turning to us. “Who’s responsible for ensuring employees have proper work health safety training?” Millie asked, but that was largely rhetorical. She knew.

“A manager ensures that all staff members do the required training,” Knox drawled, crossing his massive arms. “It's the owner of the business who’s responsible for making sure proper WHS protocols are put in place.”

“Then what do I need a manager for?” Jim shot back.

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