“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Schultz from Accounts Receivable.”

“What about him?” I asked with a frown.

Her jaw worked silently for a moment. I could tell that whatever she was about to say I was not going to like the sound of it. Or she thought I wasn’t going to like it.

“Jenna, please, just tell me what’s going on with Schultz. He’s not dead, is he?”

“No, he’s not dead. His kid has some kind of thing going on with his appendix. Schultz is taking him to the emergency room rightnow.”

“That’s rough,” I said with a frown. “I had my appendix out when I was a kid. It hurt like hell until they cut it out of me.”

“Well, he wants to know if you can wait until tomorrow morning or later tonight for the shareholder’s report.”

My eyes widened, and I fixed her with a stalwart gaze.

“You get on the phone, and you tell Schultz that… right now he needs to concentrate on taking care of his family. I’ll make do without the report or get someone else to do it if I really have to.”

“Yes, sir.”

I checked the time and then stood up.

“It’s time.”

She nodded and started closing down all of my devices for me as I headed for the door. I slipped my phone into my pocket and rode the executive elevator down to the garage.

I climbed into the back of my limo. I called my head butler Chavez to remind him that everyone was to be in attendance for a special meeting. All of the house staff gathered in one place at one time.

When I arrived at the manor, I was surprised that Jenna had beaten me there. Then again, she drove herself and didn’t have a gigantic limo to maneuver around, so I shouldn’t have been as surprised as all that.

Jenna fell into step beside me as I entered the manor house. I made a beeline for the north conference room. When I walked in, I was pleased to see that Chavez had gathered all of the household staff together for me, just as I requested.

They projected an air of stoic readiness, but I could see beads of sweat and anxiety dancing in their gazes. I walked up and down the line of them in silence for a few moments, gathering my thoughts.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’ve been gathered together here. There is a serious issue we have to discuss.”

Some of the staff glanced nervously at each other. More than a few paled to the same shade as a vampire.

“And that issue is this… Melissa is having a grand baby, and she needs two things. Congratulations, and gifts.”

The staff seemed shocked. At least, most of them did. I think a few of them had been informed by Melissa about the baby already.

The doors opened, and a crew of delivery men started bringing in presents. Melissa was flabbergasted by the generous pile that formed in front of her. Then her eyes went wide when I had a cake brought in, along with a huge tub of ice cream.

“Everyone make sure you get some of the ice cream. Oh, and Bill, I know you’re lactose intolerant, so I have some nice gluten-free pastries for you, since you can’t have the ice cream or the cake.”

I hung out at the impromptu party for a little while, but I kept checking the time. I had somewhere very special I had to be. Once I was sure that no one would be offended, I took my leave of the party and headed back outside. My driver hadn’t parked the limo in the garage. He’d listened to my special instructions to the letter.

“Hey, Jimmy,” I said. “Thanks for working late tonight. I know you’re trying to study for your big final.”

“No problem, Mr. Jones. I think it’s for a damn worthy cause.”

“Isn’t it, though?” I chuckled softly. “And you can call me Evan. Mr. Jones makes me feel like I’m at the office.”

“You’ve got it, Mr… that is, Evan.”

“How’s your mom doing? Did she ever get that bunion surgery?”