“And would you be able to change Octavia’s shifts, too?” He threads his fingers through my hair.
“I think so, yeah.” I shrug.It shouldn’t be too hard.
Tavie only took the late shift because it was all we had to offer when she started, and she desperately needed a job. I know she’d much rather work during the day. I’ll just need to see if two of our employees would be willing to take the evenings.
He smiles and presses a kiss to my lips. “See, we found a solution.” He then looks back at Julian. “Will this satisfy your royal demands?” he asks with a bit of sarcasm.
“I suppose that could work. But we are still getting her security.” He crosses his arms at his chest.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Yes,” he answers without missing a beat.
“Okay, okay. How about this?” Shane puts up his hands, settling our mini war. “What if she only had someone with her on the days that I’m away? Would that work?”
“Shane, I don’t want some stranger following me around everywhere. It’s just weird. I’m not royalty and it would be a waste of that person’s time when they could actually be working for someone who really needs it,” I try to reason with my boyfriend, since he seems inclined to agree with Julian on this too.
Julian sighs heavily with exasperation. “What if I offered Lionel? You seemed to get along with him.” He’s right, I did get along pretty well with Lionel.
During the time when Ronnie’s ex was a threat to us, Lionel had been appointed to me since I lived alone. I was a bit against the idea of having a man live with me and follow me around, but we ended up forming a friendship. And I won’t lie that I was a bit sad when our time came to an end.
I sigh as well, knowing I’m about to give in. “Only Lionel, no one else. Andonlywhen Shane is out of town!” I point my finger at Julian with newfound confidence to speak my mind that I didn’t have a few months ago. I love all these changes Shane is bringing to me, or maybe it’s just the mother in me finally stepping up.
“Good, then we agree. Starting tomorrow, Lionel will be back in your premises.” Yes, tomorrow, because Shane is leaving again with the team for two days.
I shake my head, ignoring that new level of stress settling it. At least it’s someone I already know. I turn to Shane and kiss him once.
“I’m going to head to the bakery now; I’ll be back before your family gets here.” I turn to Julian with a frown, not pleased with him at this moment. “Julian,” I simply say as I leave the kitchen, not missing the victorious look in his eyes.
A-hole.
Chapter thirteen
Aubrey
The Apples family.
Twenty minutes later, I arrive at the bakery just as the delivery truck parks. The driver nods when he sees me, and I return the acknowledgment with a tight smile. I really wasn’t planning on dealing with him today. I leave him to unload the supplies as I head inside but stop short when I spot a brunette behind the counter.
“Tavie? Why are you here? You’re not on the schedule until later today.” I frown, walking slowly behind the counter when she finishes up with a customer beside Jake, another employee.
“Sasha asked me to take over her shift. She’s apparently ‘sick’,” Octavia informs me, air quoting the word as she turns around to prepare a coffee for a new client.
Jake scoffs. “Yeah, sick from partying too hard last night. I follow the girl on Instagram; she was out clubbing all night.”
“Are you kidding me?” I throw my purse down on the counter, fishing out my phone. “How many times have you covered her shift this week?” Because I know it’s not the first.
“Three,” she answers while finishing with her client, then rests a hip against the edge of the counter.
“And this past month?”
“Umm, I don’t know. Maybe fifteen.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal.
I know Octavia doesn’t mind the extra hours, since she needs the money for her mom, but this is just ridiculous. She’s done at least fifteen double shifts just this month. There’s nothing healthy about that and I won’t allow it any longer.
“Make that twenty more like,” Jake mutters under his breath.
“All right that’s it.” I pull up Sasha’s contact information and tap out a message, since I know she won’t answer my call. She’s one of those employees you can’t count on, but without a valid reason, I couldn’t just fire her.
