AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ted.”
She looked ready to run.
“Everything going okay here at the lodge for you?”
“Yes, thank you. Is there a problem, Mr., ah, Ted?”
“No problem at all, and you let me know if you need anything, Jackie.”
He left and was sure she exhaled loudly.
Great, she’d probably resign now because he’d terrified her by being friendly.
“Good morning, Brian,” he said to one of his waiters.
“Good morning, Mr. Hosking.”
“Ted.”
The man’s face wore an identical look to Jackie’s.
Damn, Mandy was right.
He made himself talk to any staff he encountered; all looked like a deer caught in a hunter’s sights. Ted had believed he was the right mix of employer. Tough, yet fair. He’d missed out the empathetic part, it seemed.
He tracked Niki down in the kitchen. She was discussing something with his head chef, who didn’t look happy, her expression tight.
“Can I have a word with you please, Niki?”
Kirby looked relieved to see him, Niki worried.
“Of course.” She followed him to his office in silence and sat across him.
“Would you like some coffee or tea?”
“No, thank you.”
“Niki, is everything all right with you?” Ted asked, remembering what Mandy had said. “Are you happy here?”
To his horror, she burst into noisy tears.
Chapter 13
Mandy woke in her single bed as she had every day since moving here as a child. She looked at the soft pink walls. She’d taken down the posters over the years and replaced them with paintings. This had been her haven, but it was time to move on now. For her sake and her aunts’.
Showering, she thought about Ted. Had she been wrong to speak her mind about his staff? It was strange how she felt comfortable doing that with him, especially as she knew she’d annoyed him. But he’d never hurt her. Ted was a gentle man deep inside. She knew that and maybe always had.
Her aunts were seated at the breakfast table when she went downstairs.
“Morning, darling.”
“Morning.” Mandy kissed soft cheeks. Taking her seat, the same one she’d had since they’d lived here, she knew that today was the day to talk to her aunts about what she’d decided to do.
“How would you feel about me moving out?”
They both burst into tears.
“I don’t have to!” Mandy rushed to add. “I’m sorry, I thought you’d be happy.”
