Page 6 of Dark Promises

I thought about what Dawn said. Maybe she had a point, but I’d have to talk to Ryan first and see where his head was, and if he was contrite about his undignified behavior in my private office.

I blew out a large breath. “I do what needs to be done, and Ryan is fucking up in my professional opinion, and as his boss I have to consider what you’ve said also. I need a manager willing to work and keep his private life private and give me time to have a life. I do need to do something with that puppy Cole left me a few years back, and abandoned Sam.”

“Daniel, he’s not a puppy, you’ll never have a life if you don’t take Sam to a trainer.”

“I have that covered, Dawn. I’ve made arrangement for that today. Now, tell Ryan to come to my office. He’s sitting outside according to the monitor.” Dawn turned and raised her eyebrows, slanted her head, reminding me I wasn’t good at getting rid of people and things.

Chapter 4

Daniel

“Come in, Ryan, sit.” He looked nervous and disheveled, his hair appeared to have been raked several times with his fingers, his shirt needing to go to the laundry or cleaners, not at all his dapper, no-wrinkles-anywhere self. What was going on with him? Ryan trotted reluctantly to the chair in front of my desk. He sat on his hands with a grim look on his face. “What’s the matter, your cat died?” I knew that wasn’t appropriate, but I wasn’t feeling like being proper, or giving a suitable greeting or small talk about the weather or any such things.

“No, but my fish caught something and they’re in trouble of being wiped out as we speak. Now my fish tank is almost empty of my prize and expensive fish. I think I only have one expensive fish fighting for his life. I love looking at those fish when I’m nervous like now, because I know you’re going to fire me, and if you do, Jay’s going to think I’m a loser, and well, leave me.”

Now wasn’t the time to get caught up in Ryan’s love life or the lives of his fish. I had enough problems of my own. Ryan glanced over at me with hooded eyes, “Are you going to fire me?”

“Who said I was going to fire you? I just need to talk to you to see if you’re on the same page with me, and whether I can count on you to take more interest in this job you claim to like so much, and whether you want to work for me... I asked you over and over again not to do things in my office that I didn’t approve of, but you continued. For example, not to have your boyfriend Jay hang around here, and you kissing him in front of customers and not doing your job. You’re my right-hand man, Ryan. I depend on you a lot, and now I’m feeling as if I can’t count on you at all.”

“That was just one time, Daniel. You know me, I’m a hard worker and I want to learn the business, so I can get a club of my own someday. I want to ask Jay to marry me and if I can’t make this work, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t lose Jay.”

“From what I understand, you can’t lose the job either. What’s it going to be?”

“This managerial position pays good money. You pay more than most bars and clubs in the area, and I want this, and I can keep Jay. One day we can open up a pub together.”

“What about Jay’s friends? They’re coming in, drinking as if drinks are on the house. They’re not. They cost money.”

“Who told you that?”

“Never mind who said it. Is it true?” Ryan began fiddling with his fingers and twirling his curls, and I knew the truth. If he lied to me, then his ass was gone.

“It’s true. But I told Jay he couldn’t hang out here if he’s going to have his friends over and not pay for their drinks, and they can’t pay their bills and he can’t pay them, because they’ve just been laid off from their tech jobs. I tried to pay their accounts, but I couldn’t keep up... I’ll pay you back everything that’s owed, Daniel.”

Reaching and presenting Ryan with the bill, he glanced down and placed his hand over his mouth, “That much?”

“Yes, that much. It seems they have expensive tastes too.” I knew I couldn’t let him go, because he owed me too much money, and maybe I could get him to work it off.

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