Page 87 of He's the One

“Is your father aware you know the man who’s going to do the work on the folly?”

I see trouble ahead.“Yes.”Sort of.“I bought the stonemason’s promise at the auction as a surprise for him.”

“Was that wise? You’re aware he hates surprises.”

Fuck you!“I thought he might like this one. Turns out he’s delighted.” Slight exaggeration. “My father suggested Col should work two days on the garden, three on the folly.” Not quite, but…“He should be paid the going rate for a stonemason for those three days a week.”

“That’s not going to happen. Although James might handle the employment of those working in the grounds, any extra staff he takes on have to be on basic pay.”

“But that’s not fair when Col will be doing a more skilled job.”

Dastardly shrugged. “That’s not my problem.”

“You could make an exception and change the rules.”

“I won’t be doing that. You arranged for this man to be employed here without consulting me.”

So this is revenge for me daring to do something on my own?“But as you said, you don’t handle staff working in the grounds. James does. Why would I need to ask you?” Theo’s heart was thumping. He rarely spoke to Dickhead in this disrespectful way. It was better to keep quiet, but it wasn’t fair for Col not to be paid what he deserved.

Dastardly smiled—not a nice smile, but then those aimed at Theo were never nice. He had the horrible suspicion he knew what was coming. It was something he should have thought about before he asked James to give Col a job.

“Does your father know that you and this man were rolling around in the woods on the day of the show?”

“Who I roll around in the woods with has nothing to do with you.”

Dastardly snorted. “You have a position to upkeep. Your behaviour has to be exemplary at all times. Anyone could have come across the two of you.”

Theo thought fast. He had a lot of stuff he could have said, but instead he dropped his voice and said, “Please don’t say anything to my father.”

He hated begging for anything but if Dastardly told his father about him and Col, then Col’s employment wouldn’t last long. And giving the guy a hold over him might not be a bad thing because it might cause him to let his guard down.

Dastardly didn’t respond.

Theo was determined to fight for Col. “Col’s a brilliant stonemason. We’ll be getting his services cheaply. The folly’s not safe. It’s a chance to bring it back into use.”

As Dastardly sat at his desk, Theo made sure he was in sight of his keyboard.

“Hmm.”

Theo just caught the keystrokes. Kris10Oh fuck. I need to write that down.

“Let’s see how it goes,” Dastardly said. “Keep away from him or I’ll have to speak to your father.”

“Since I’m in charge of the renovation of the folly, I can’t keep away from him.”

“You know what I mean.”

Theo stood up. “I’m going back to the garden.”

“No, you’re not. Work on the ball information.”

Theo dropped down and wrote Kris10 in Notes.

He didn’t get the chance to leave the office until one, when Dastardly went to lunch with Muttley. On the way to change out of his suit, he called Col.

“Hi.”

Col’s voice made him want to curl up and purr. “Have you eaten?”

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