Page 47 of Finding Love

Lindsey Jackson was fifty-something years old and had more degrees than Mark and a far better job history. The woman had worked for some of the top business in the area. He’d lucked out when she’d applied for the job a few years back after the man his father had hired had retired a year after Ryder had taken over.

She was one of a handful of employees at Gallant that Ryder had hired personally. Regardless of her actions, it was obvious from talking to a handful of other employees in the last week that Mark rubbed more employees wrong than Lindsey did. Actually, after talking with her team, he hadn’t heard one negative thing about her. He couldn’t say the same thing about Mark.

“Mark, I was going to wait for the board’s opinion on this, but the truth is, I don’t need their permission or thoughts on the matter. You’re fired.”

Anger flashed in the man’s eyes, and his face turned an even darker shade of red.

“You can’t fire me!” he screamed as he moved forward.

“Actually, I can. Even without the boards say so.” He said and instantly tensed, seeing Mark’s next move coming. Watching Mark’s arm pull back and his fist head towards his chin, Ryder decided to let it play out. After all, he’d been punched before. This move just sealed his decision.

He could have easily stopped the man’s blow by either catching his fist or ducking it. But then he wouldn’t have the satisfaction of watching the man be hauled away in cuffs fifteen minutes later.

After Mark’s first swing, Ryder had easily gained control of the man and held him while Leslie had called the police and gotten him an ice pack for his eye.

When he stepped into the boardroom, five minutes late with an ice pack held to his left eye, the news of what had happened had already spread.

“Was it worth the black eye?” Harry Trillian asked with a chuckle.

“Totally. First things first,” he said to the room. “If anyone here disagrees with my move, say so now.” He waited and when no one said anything, he moved on. “Second, I’m recanting the offer for Roy Gusset to take the accounting department from Lindsey. I’ve also given Lindsey back her old office. For now, I’m letting the new mothers use Mark’s office.” He smiled when several board members chuckled.

“I’m having the IT department remove Mark from the system.” He shrugged. “Now that all the fun topics are done, let’s discuss the missing ten grand.” He opened his laptop.

By the time Ryder walked into the house a few hours later, his left eye was swollen shut and a dark shade of purple. He was getting used to coming home to Brook and Willy. The last couple evenings they had spent taking walks or swimming until the stars had come out.

Since it was the weekend, he figured they would take the boat out for a short weekend trip. She’d hinted several times about wanting to go out on it.

He’d had Benjamin arrange for the crew that was always on stand-by to prep the yacht for the weekend trip. Since his father’s death, he’d only taken the boat out three times, looking to escape the pressures of the job.

This would be the first time he’d taken someone with him and the first time that the trip didn’t feel like an escape.

He’d spent the last year of his life trying to escape. After meeting Brook, everything had changed. No matter where he was, what was going on, escape wasn’t running to the beach or hitting the waves. Instead, he found his reprieve by simply being with her. Looking into her hazel eyes somehow made all the bad things seem not so terrible.

He knew that she’d been relieved when the police had caught the man who had attacked her and the other woman. He’d been homeless and was now locked away where he couldn’t hurt anyone else. The blood on Brook’s car window had matched that of the man’s other victim, so they knew that he’d attacked her first.

Still, he understood Brook’s anger at herself for not holding it together after the attack. Each day, she spent time in the yard doing yoga or Tae Kwon Do. Sometimes at night, he would join her, and she’d show him a few basic moves.

When he parked in the garage, Willy and Brook were out there to greet him. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her until he felt all of the stress of the day slip away.

“What happened?” she asked, pulling back and touching his face gently.

“I ran into a work hazard,” he joked. He bent down to give Willy his attention.

“Are you okay?” she asked when he stood back up.

“Yeah, it’s just a black eye.” He shrugged. “Are you ready for our weekend plans?”

She smiled. “Yes, I’m so thankful you thought of it.” She hugged him again. “I’m all packed. Willy was so excited today that he barfed up his lunch.”

“Is he okay?” he asked, frowning down at his dog, who currently looked happy and tired.

“Yes. Benjamin thinks he’s adjusting to the new food.” She bent down to pick up the dog. “When do we leave?” she asked eagerly.

“First thing in the morning.” he answered, setting his laptop down on the desk in his office as he passed by. But then he pulled his laptop out of the heavy case and carried it with him into the kitchen.

He’d had a conversation with Parker Clark the previous week about some ideas for the house on Ocean View. He was set to close on the place on Monday and wanted some of the work to start immediately.

Parker had visited the home and had come up with a list of structural or mechanical items that would need to be dealt with first. He’d also emailed Ryder several design drawings earlier that day that he wanted to share with Brook over dinner.