page17 (2/2)

“Is so?”

Mari looked up from her crouched position Luca stood over her, his usually s lips flat with disapproval

“Besides careless e hundreds of dollars of crystal? Not at all”

The girl’s eyes filled with tears at the dressing down and Luca’s gaze fell on Mari, steady and disapproving Guilt slipped through her; she knew she’d been out of line with her tone She was er of the Cascade The staff had to know she was still in charge But that didn’t mean she had to be a bully Her, of all people! Shame reddened her cheeks

“Lisa, I’ woman, mollified and contrite “I knoas an accident Please…my tone with you was inexcusable”

“I am sorry, Miss Ross! Please let me do that It was my fault”

“Go back to work, Lisa, and don’t worry, we’ll get this straightened out” Luca’s voice was calmly reasonable, conore his body just behind her and focused on putting broken pieces of glass in the box And all the while a voice in the back of her head was chanting, he’s out, he’s out, he’s out

“Yelling at the staff isn’t the way to get them to work better”

Oh, as if she didn’t already know that Apparently he didn’t understand that the constant changes and adjust twice her normal workload He had no idea of the other stresses she was under, that kept her awake into the dark hours of the night “I don’t need you to tell me how to do my job”

“Leave the glass and come with me”

“God Luca, stop ordering ain and let her eyes flash at him Frustration bubbled up and out “I’m tired of it You’ve bossed me around all week”