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He didn’t play those games and he didn’t like to be around others that did.
“That is right. And then you made sure she didn’t have the opportunity to do it again. But before that, you were Jell-O, right?”
He let out a sigh. There was no getting over this. “Beth resigned,” he said.
“If you say so,” she said.
He didn’t talk to Hadley about it again. Beth came into his office and asked if she was going to be terminated. He asked her if she wanted that on her record and she said no. He asked her what her choice was going to be then and she said she quit and walked out the door. He didn’t have much more to say.
He wouldn’t have had any problem firing her but gave her the choice. Was she badmouthing him on the island? Yep, she was. But his reputation stood up to it and he couldn’t care less.
“Hadley, what do you want me to say? I’m not sure how we went from that call you just got to where we are now. I want to know about that.”
“I’ll tell you in a minute. But first I want you to stop trying to save me. I want to tell you to stop trying to help me too, but I know you’re going to keep doing it.”
“Help you how?” he asked.
“Do you think I’m not aware that my business cards for my cakes are in Duke’s and now at your cousins’ hotels? Places where weddings are held? I know The Retreat takes care of the cakes themselves, but Atlantic Rise and the Casino don’t necessarily do that.”
He shrugged. He figured she’d put that together. More so when she got a call last week about someone eloping at the Casino and wanting to know if they could get a cake that day.
Hadley hadn’t wanted to turn them down and he’d been with her when she’d gotten the call and he’d told her to do it. She could be a little late at Southside. Someone would cover the hostess counter.
“It’s good for you for business,” he said. “I don’t see a problem with helping my girlfriend’s business out.”
“I know,” she said. “But maybe I want to make it on my own too.”
“You are,” he said. “I’m not making the cakes. You are. Bella could barely stop at two pieces of the cake at the cookout two weeks ago. I heard her asking you about your business and for some cards.”
He knew Hadley had been a little intimidated by it and maybe he was wrong to take some of her cards from Southside each week and pass them around, but he wanted her to keep growing. To build her confidence.
“She was. But how do you think that makes me feel? Maybe they only did it as a favor to you. I won’t know that now.”
“Come on,” he said. “My family is good that way, but they’d never do it if your product wasn’t good enough. And it’s not like you asked. Bella asked you. You didn’t give the cards. The next time I talked to Eli about something, Bella was in his office and she asked me. I swear to you, she did.”
“I guess that makes me feel better,” she said.
“You are doing this all on your own,” he said. “You really are.”
He wanted to move closer to her for a hug but wasn’t sure he should tempt it. “I’m trying. It’s hard to stop all the doubt. And then when things like getting that call last week for the wedding at the casino, the doubts are there. There was no other way for them to get my number or card if it wasn’t from you.”
“And I told you how it happened. Why didn’t you ask me then?” he asked. “Why let it fester?”
It just made him feel more like crap. Should he have told her he’d done it? Maybe, but he didn’t think it was that big of a deal.
“I don’t know,” she said. “This goes back to me not always being able to speak up.”
“You’re doing a great job of it now,” he said dryly.
“Good. And I’m going to continue. No more, Duke.”
“I’m sorry, Hadley. I love you and I’m going to do what I can and help those I love. That doesn’t mean it’s out of pity. I think that is part of your problem. You can’t differentiate the two, and until you can, nothing ever changes.”
36
Rise To The Top
Hadley didn’t like having the mirror shoved in her face that roughly, but what Duke said was absolutely the truth.
