Page 4 (1/2)

"I decided I needed to have Jorge help with the spell work on the vans"

"You decided you needed? And you didn’t see any reason to check with e? Huned Jorge to him precisely because he could cast a protection spell in case there were booby traps Which there were, so now I’ve got an injured ave me "the look" It was an expression I’d seen far too much of over the past couple of weeks: superior to the point of condescending Theun to runthem, and to obey his orders before h addressing a child … or at least that was how it felt "You hired me for my expertise"

Really? When did I say that? "No, Creede, I hired you because you have good ht you were capable of following orders Apparently I rong about the last part" I spoke softly, but h to frost the s, despite the Mexican olden eyes, filled with ly "We both know you needed to hire me, Celia You’re not qualified to handle this kind of project Bodyguard, sure But a full-fledged evacuation with a reed to handle the evacuation without a soul to back you up Remember, you called me Hired me to cover your ass so you didn’t embarrass yourself in front of the clients"

E no "I called you because you had people available Maybe I didn’t mention you weren’t my first choice I called because your business has sucked lately Remember that part? That I said on the phone I wanted to do you the favor of a quick paycheck? But screw it You’re fired Get your Miller & Creede people together and get your butts back to LA"

"You wouldn’t dare," he said in a dangerous, venoic building in the roo water

Idown "I’ll have Dawna cut you a check for the days you’ve actually been on the assignment"

In a fit of pique, he’d taken both vans and all the contractors except Maria, Luis, and Lorenzo It had floored me that he would risk people’s lives that way Totally unprofessional

And very likely unforgivable

But I’d gotten them all out By myself The only person ould be e to be figuring out how to get the word out that I’d succeeded without "taking the credit" That little bomb hit me as I stared at the eht me back to the present "Are you okay? You look … odd"

I didn’t feel odd I felt hurt, sad, humiliated, and pissed John and I had been fairly serious I’d really thought he respected me as a person and as a professional, and that we’d be able to ell together Apparently I’d been wrong It hurt A lot

She passedcoffee "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not yet" Again, maybe never

The eyes that met mine orried "Okay" She sounded doubtful "If you say so"

"I do"

I was spared further discussion by Ron’s baritone bellow from downstairs "Dawna!"

"Oh hell," she muttered Ron may not be my favorite tenant, but Dawna loathes him Of course, since she’s the receptionist, she bears the brunt of most of his bad behavior More than once he’s driven her close to quitting or to violence He thinks his law degree makes him superior to the rest of usbully, but he pays his rent on ti maintenance without too hed "Good to see soht"