Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“Good morning,” I say as I grab a mug and fill it with coffee.
“Good morning.” Jessie folds her arms and looks at her feet.
I step behind her and squeeze her ass. Oblivious, Macy continues chattering as she eats.
“What are you girls doing for playtime today?” I ask.
“Oh, um. Today is my day off, isn’t it?” Jessie asks. “I just got Macy dressed and fed because she slept in my bed last night.”
I have completely forgotten that it’s Saturday. “Do you have plans?”
“I have some things I need to do in town, so, if it’s not a problem…I mean, if I didn’t misunderstand the schedule…”
After last night, I don’t expect Jessie to want to go anywhere. Day off or not, this is where she should be. If she needs anything, I have more than a dozen men to do that for her. There’s just no reason for her to go out alone.
“You know, if you have errands to run, I could have my driver take care of that for you so you can relax.”
I examine her expression and don’t like what I see. She refuses to look me in the eye and seems to find the floor more interesting.
“No, this is something I need to do for myself. I appreciate the offer, though. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”
The anger begins to bubble inside me. She shouldn’t be hiding things from me. She should never lie. She should feel secure enough here with me to tell me anything. A myriad of thoughts bounce through my mind.
Should I demand an explanation? Should I insist that she stay? No, I’m not a warden and I don’t want a prisoner. If she wants to go, fine, she can go, but I’ll be clear on what I think about her behavior.
I turn my back to her and say, “Macy, you’ll be spending the day with Mrs. O’Conner. I expect Jessie to check in with her before she leaves.”
“Jack…” Jessie calls out to me but I ignore her and take my coffee to my office where I close and lock the door behind me.
My day is like a trip through hell. I find myself snapping and losing my temper at everyone. I’m going to have to speak to Jessie about this when she gets back. What is she hiding? Why can’t she simply tell me what she had to do?
“Are you alright, Uncle Jack?” Macy asks from across the dinner table.
“Yes. I just have a lot on my mind,” I tell her, realizing that my silence has her confused, and excuse myself so she doesn’t have to watch me brood.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out to answer. “Yes.”
“We found her, boss.”
“Where is she? Did you see who she’s with?”
“She’s working.”
“Working?”
“Yeah, as a bartender in a tavern in the city.”
The veins in my head begin to throb. I told her to quit that job. She defied me and didn’t even have the good sense to tell me. Part of me is relieved that it’s all there is to it, but this won’t go unpunished.
“Do you want us to go in and get her?”
“No, just keep an eye on the place. Give me the address. I’m on my way.”
6
JESSIE
There’s a huge crowd at the bar tonight, and the tips are flowing.
I barely have a moment to think, but when I have, I can’t help but worry about my situation with Jack. He seemed so angry with me this morning, and I know I have to try to make things right. I’ve decided that tonight will be my last night at the tavern.
As much as I would love to have the extra money, I agreed to quit and needed to keep my word. He and Macy are already too important for me to risk losing them.
“These two over here are up to something,” the other female bartender on staff tonight says.
I look over and see two guys, maybe a bit older than me, stealing glances at me and whispering to each other. One of them sees me watching them, nudges the other, and they both approach the bar.
“What can I get you?” I ask the blonde one who leans across the bar.
“Your name for starters. Then hers,” he says, pointing to my coworker.
“I meant to drink. What can I get you to drink?”
“Two beers. Now, that name?”
“Jessie.” Without paying him too much attention, I fill two glasses from the tap of house brew, my fingers working on the tap handle. I’ve been working here long enough that I can do it with my eyes closed.
I slide the glasses toward them and grab a white cloth to wipe the polished mahogany.
The man takes a sip of the beer before his heavy-lidded gaze lands on me again. “So, where are we going when you get off tonight, Jessie?”