AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Amanda: Stu will be v late. He’s dialling in for meetings on Scotland time. Would love bestie company before he clocks off at 9, then I kick you out to show my husband-to-be how lucky he is AKA photo book
Me: LOL an early night I can do. Do you mind coming here?
Talking to a dear friend was exactly what I needed. But I couldn’t face running into Tom again. I had to figure out how to talk to him.
Amanda: Can do. I’ll be over in an hour.
Taking a break for a couple of hours to be with my best friend and not dwelling on matters at the vineyard was the pick-me-up I needed. It’s what I should have done yesterday, rather than getting drunk and making a fool out of myself.
With keys in hand, I walked out to the shed, about to lock up for the day. Maria and Dad had abandoned the slasher. Many parts with unknown names lay about on the shed floor in an oily mess.
The marquee for the opera was due to arrive next week, and then the chair delivery was due. Then there was the catering, and the singers needed accommodation, and I hadn’t tidied the small cabin on our property yet. My chest tightened, pondering all that needed doing.
A noise around the corner of the shed gave me pause. Metal on metal, dragging. And a grunt.
No one should be here. Knock off was thirty minutes ago for the last of the staff.
I quietly crept around the corner with my car keys threaded between my fingers like I was Wolverine.
Brayden was loading a petrol can, and several power tools were in the tray of his ute. One had a clear sticker on the side with our logo.
“Brayden, what are you doing?”
He froze, his back to me, and then set the petrol can down slowly on the ground. He turned and said nothing.
“Those are our tools.” I pointed at his ute with my non-key hand, and suddenly I was very aware I was alone with Brayden, who was much larger than me.
And all I had was a set of keys.
“You’re stealing our equipment?” My voice was more resigned and sad than angry. If anything, I was disappointed I had staff stealing from us.
“Your Dad said I could have them.”
“So, if I call Dad right now, that’s what he will say? Because he’s been under the slasher trying to repair it, and I think you were waiting for him and my sister to leave so you could quickly nick our equipment.”
“You can’t prove that,” Brayden spat.
I simply raised an eyebrow and pointed to the ute.
Brayden at least looked guilty now.
“Take out the tools and then leave.”
Brayden looked about to say something but instead, grabbed the tools and threw them down to the ground. There was a sickening crack of plastic on concrete.
“You’re fired, Brayden. This is your official notice. I will forward whatever money is owing to you and a letter confirming your termination for theft.”
“You think you’re some big boss of this place. But your dad thinks I’m better than you.”
I flinched, and Brayden sniggered.
“You have five seconds to leave our property,” I croaked. “There will be no letter of reference for future employers from us. If you are still here when I count to six, I’m calling the cops and pressing charges.”
He spun on his heel and got into his ute, and after a beat, turned over the engine and gunned it out of the shed yard, spraying dirt and gravel.
“Such a big man, Brayden. Well done.”
I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding, and picked up the tools. Sure enough, the motor cover on the whipper-snipper had been cracked by his temper tantrum.
