Page 6 of Five Midnight Moment
She was glad because she couldn’t move if her life depended on it. “Good night and thank you,” she said, her voice slightly slurred. A couple of minutes passed and Valencia heard the click of the front door. The man didn’t play fair. A smile curved her lips.And I don’t even care.
Chapter 3
Tuesday evening, Dwayne spotted Dwight seated at a small table in the crowded bar and grill, and started in that direction. “Hey,” he said, sliding onto the opposite stool. Almost immediately, a server approached. “I’ll have a White Russian, please.”
She gave him a smile. “Coming right up.”
“You’re working later these days.” Dwight tilted the beer bottle to his lips and took a swig.
“It’s the end of the year, so there are several reports that need to get done. But you wouldn’t know that since you never leave that office. I don’t think one person even knows you work at the firm.” How Dwight managed to slip in and out of the building unseen never failed to amuse Dwayne.
“I don’t know how long I’m staying. I only came on board because you asked, but I’m still taking care of things at the construction company. The good thing is because of the weather, things are slower and Terrell can handle most of it alone.” Dwight and Terrell Murray had been best friends since college and both had worked in construction. When Terrell proposed starting his own construction company three years ago, Dwight hadn’t hesitated in signing on.
“Have you talked to Dad?”
“No, but I will. I’ll be here until you find out who’s trying to steal from the company. But it’s not like you need my help. You’re every bit the troubleshooter I am.”
“That may be true, but I do need your help.” Dwayne could easily track down the culprit on his own, but he wanted it done in secret, something impossible with his administrative assistant having access to his computer. “No one knows what you’re doing except me. They’d find out if I started investigating them.”
“Your drink, sir.” The server placed the glass in front of Dwayne. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you.” He waited until the young woman walked away before continuing his conversation. “How are you doing really?”
Dwight gave him a small smile. “How did I know you were going to ask that? I’m good, just like I told you the last hundred times you asked. It’s been three years and I’ve moved on.” He took a long drink from the bottle.
He studied his brother. After losing the woman who’d been one of his best friends and whom he had never had the chance to tell of his love, Dwight had become almost a recluse. Dwayne had felt his brother’s pain as if it were his own. Only in the last few months had Dwight began venturing out again.
“And stop looking at me like that.”
“That’s what big brothers do.”
Dwight snorted. “Big brother, my ass.” They shared a smile. “So, what’s up with this woman you’re supposed to be dating. You’ve never been this closed-mouthed about a relationship before and I don’t see why it’s complicated. Either you’re dating her or not.
He idly stirred the cream in his drink, then took a small sip before answering. “It’s complicated because she works at the firm, and there a no frat policy.” One that he regretted putting into place.
“Since when? I don’t recall Dad having any rules about dating and I know for a fact that a couple of folk who work there are married.”
“He didn’t. I put it in place at the beginning of the year.”
“I bet you’re regretting it now,” Dwight said with a chuckle.
“No shit.” He took another gulp of his drink.
“Why now? Did you have some harassment issues between the employees?”
“Just one.” Dwayne shared the details of what happened. “I fired her and sent the memo out the next day. But this is different.She’sdifferent, and I have no idea how to make this work. She’s worried about losing her job and I can’t let that happen.”
He shook his head. “Come on, bro. It’s simple. You’re the boss and you have the final say onallmatters. Change the damn rule.” Dwight fell silent for a moment. “If you care about her, don’t wait. You don’t want to end up where I am,” he added softly.
Dwayne contemplated the advice. No, he didn’t want to end up in that same place. Though Elena had passed away from complications of Leukemia, if he lost Valencia, he imagined the loss would feel the same. “You’re right, I don’t.”
“Who is she?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Tonight would be the second night of his plan and by the time New Year’s Day came around, he intended for everyone to know. He decided to change the subject. “Let’s order dinner and you can tell me how you plan to get Dad over to your side.”
Laughing, Dwight said, “By doing the same thing I did the first time—outright telling him I’m going back to construction.”
Over dinner they laughed and talked about everything. Both had been so busy that it had been over two months since they’d hung out together and Dwayne missed him. He had a couple other buddies, but he was closest to his brother. Once they finished eating, the two lingered over their drinks a while longer before going their separate ways.
