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“Her mother and father separated six months ago and then her father had a stroke. Niki is looking after her two brothers and her father.”
Ted stopped rowing.
“Her income pretty much supports the family.”
“How do you know this?”
“Her little brother Sydney does some work for us at Tea Total. It’s been a tough few months.”
Ted rowed a few strokes while he processed what Mandy had just told him.
“She, Niki, has been stressed out, and her boyfriend broke up with her to make matters worse.”
“How do you know this stuff when you supposedly don’t make friends and talk much?”
“People talk to me sometimes.” She shrugged “Especially when I’m serving them.”
“Because you’re quiet and a listener. Like now, actually. It’s a lost skill. Most people don’t take the time anymore. They’re too busy talking about themselves.”
She wasn’t comfortable with his praise.
“I just thought you should know what you’re dealing with.”
“So why is she being such a bitch then? I mean, if she needs the job so much?”
“Maybe you should ask her that? I don’t know her well, but I do know that those kids were spoiled when they were young. They had everything they wanted and more. The mother leaving changed all that, especially with Mr. Leigh being unwell.”
“I think you should be the one to talk to her,” Ted said, getting off the rower.
“What? Why would I talk to your staff?”
“Because I don’t want to. I hate the personal stuff.”
“And yet you’re her boss.”
He huffed out a breath. “I don’t like to get too close to my staff.”
“Why not? You work together, and they are the face of your business. Surely you need to have some form of relationship with them.”
“No. I’m the boss; I don’t need to be their friend too.”
She got off the bike and stood beside him. She was frowning again.
“So all those rumors are true then.”
Don’t say anything, you don’t want to know.
“Okay, I’ll bite. What rumors?”
“Ted’s an ice man. We have to take three sedatives to ask him for anything personal.”
“I never thought you capable of exaggeration,” he said to give himself time. Ted had never really thought about how his staff saw him. He was the boss, they worked for him, and as long as they did their job everything ran smoothly.
“They respect you but fear you also. Is that what you want? This is not the 60s. You need to communicate with your staff, Ted.”
She had her hands on her trim hips now. The frown was darker too. Ted liked the look on her, even if it was his character flaw that had put it there.
“Don’t get all PC bullshit on me, Mandy. I’m fair, and my staff don’t complain…that I know of.It works. The lodge is successful, and—”
