Page 121 of Playing for Keeps

“I don’t know. It’s just that Kevin’s girlfriend was called Steph. They broke up though, I think. She used to hang out here a bit. I couldn’t stand her. But she also had a son … he was around eighteen or nineteen. He’d hang out at the bar sometimes and he always made leery comments at me. He’s called Jake, but that’s probably just a coincidence, right?”

Allie patted the edge of the bed and Daisy sat down. “I’m guessing it’s probably not a coincidence.”

“I can find out,” Daisy said. “I think Jake friended me on social media. I accepted the request before I realised how awful he was.” She fell quiet as she searched on her phone. “Jake Mills.” Her head shot up to Allie. “Oh my god.”

“Maybe he’s not such a wet blanket after all,” Allie muttered, still not quite able to process the fact that Kevin could be so devious.

“Oh my god,” Daisy whispered again as tears began to slip down her cheeks.

“Hey,” Allie said, taking Daisy’s hand. “Everything will be okay.”

“But I trusted him,” Daisy said desperately. “I thought he was a nice guy. He was always saying how terrible the owners are, and he was so grateful to me for working so hard … but all that time he was lying? And profiting from my hard work?”

“It seems like it.” Certainly, all the signs pointed to Kevin.

“So I’m not going to lose my job?” Daisy asked, her shoulders shuddering as she cried.

“No,” Allie said, squeezing her hand. “You’re going to get a pay rise and a colleague to share your workload.”

She cried harder at that. “And Grandad can keep his house?”

“Yes.”

She sniffed. “Even though he struggles with all the physical work?”

“We’ll figure something out. I promise.”

Daisy dropped her head into her hands and sobbed. All Allie could think, as she rubbed Daisy’s shoulder, was that if she’d have taken an interest in the business sooner, they wouldn’t be in this position.

“I’m sorry,” Daisy said, sitting up straight and using her sleeve to mop up her tears. “I’ve been so scared of losing my job and of Grandad losing the house.”

“I promise neither of those things will happen,” Allie told her. “I’m sorry you’ve been under all that pressure.”

“You really think Kevin did this?” Daisy asked. “I can’t believe it.”

“I think he did.” Allie wanted to seem completely in control of the situation to put Daisy at ease, but her mind was racing with what she needed to do. “What time would Kevin normally get to work today?”

Daisy checked her watch. “Between nine and ten.”

“That gives us a bit of time, at least …”

“I don’t think I can face him,” Daisy said.

“I’m hoping you won’t need to. Do you think you can work today? Or do you need some time off?”

“I can work,” she said defiantly.

“Good.” Allie patted her arm. “I’m going to need you for a little while, if you can manage it. But I promise that as soon as we have everything straightened out and have a full staff again, you’re taking some holiday time. We owe you money for all the extra hours you’ve worked too. Did you also pay Freddie to help you?”

“No. He helped me but he wouldn’t take any money for it.”

“At some point we’ll sit down and figure out how much you’re both owed for the extra hours.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“It’s only what you’re owed. You’re not allowed to argue with me about it.”

“Thank you.” She sniffed.

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