Untrusting Hearts: A Contemporary New Orleans Romance (23 page)

Chapter 17

Ty’s car perched at a jaunty angle in Maylene’s driveway, one tire on the freshly mown lawn. The sight of it seemed to renew Gage’s anger as he pulled in behind it and slammed on the brakes. “Good. The bastard’s here. We’ll get to the bottom of this right here, right now.”

He went around to open the car door for Jade, but she’d already gotten out and gathered her things. Without a word, Jade hurried to the porch and up the steps. She heard his heavy footsteps behind her as she ducked inside the front door and dropped her belongings on a table. This confrontation could get physical and she wanted nothing to do with it, but Gage gave her no choice. He took her arm and propelled her down the hall toward the sound of an argument in progress.

“What are you doing?” She tugged, trying to free her arm.

“Giving you a chance to present your side of the story.”

Ty’s voice carried from the parlor. “I told you weeks ago I was going to take a more active role in HR.”

“I don’t recall that at all,” Maylene said.

“Well, no offense, but your memory isn’t what it used to be.”

“Young man, there is nothing wrong with my memory.” Fury hovered just beneath the surface of Maylene’s measured words.

Gage guided Jade into the room and stepped in after her. Ty sprawled in a chair opposite the sofa where Maylene sat.

“HR is not within the scope of your responsibilities, Dubois.” Gage spoke quietly but with steel in his tone.

Ty sprang to his feet. “Ah, great. This is all I need. You couldn’t keep him there just a little longer, Jade? I imagined you were more creative than that.”

“Don’t pull me into this, Ty.” Jade glared at him before turning to give her aunt an imploring gaze. “I feel like I was tricked. I thought Ty was preparing some kind of proposal and needed Gage out of the way so he could prove his worth.”

“That’s what I was led to believe,” Maylene said, “but Ty was less than honest with me. He indicated only that he was working on a presentation.”

“And I did,” Ty said.

Maylene’s blue eyes hardened. “But, you didn’t tell me everything. I had no idea you were going to interfere with personnel. If I hadn’t stopped by the office, I wouldn’t even know about it now. Were you ever going to discuss it with me?”

“It was spur of the moment,” Ty said with a cavalier wave of his hand. “I made an executive decision, one that was long overdue.”

Gage took a step forward. “Everything you did yesterday will be reversed as soon as I get to the office today. You know that, don’t you?”

Ty edged toward the bar. “It’s too late to undo anything, Pichot. Sadie’s in the corner office, Warren’s at the end of the hall where he belongs, and payroll has already been notified of the salary and benefits changes. Sadie deserves this promotion, you know.”

“She deserves to be fired. She’s unqualified for the job she had, let alone Warren’s position.”

“Sorry. It’s a done deal. Better get used to it.” Ty slid behind the bar, as if trying to keep an obstacle between him and Gage.

Maylene rose to stand beside Gage. “Is it possible Ty was correct in assuming that Sadie is better suited to the job than Warren?”

“If he thought that, then he’s an idiot.”

“Hey!” Ty slapped his hands on the bar. “She’s got all kinds of talent.”

“That might be true, but not the kind that makes her a good employee.” Gage glanced at Maylene. “Sadie’s just another girl he’s been chasing after. I’m sure he thought a promotion might work in his favor.”

“What?” Maylene peered at her nephew. “But Ty, you know our policy about that sort of thing.”

“That fraternization rule is stupid,” Ty said petulantly. “Especially in this day and age. It’s completely unreasonable.”

“This really has nothing to do with me,” Jade managed to interject. “I’m going to excuse myself from this discussion, if you don’t mind.”

“Hold on a minute,” Gage said. “You’re in this up to your pretty little neck. We still haven’t discussed the money your
aunt
so generously set aside for you.”

“I told you, I didn’t know anything about that, either.” Jade’s lips began to tremble and she willed herself not to cry, which sometimes happened when she was very angry. And right now she was angrier than she’d been in a long time.

“Darling, I know you’re unhappy about the check I issued for you, but I felt you needed help to ride out your job search.” Maylene held up a bejeweled hand. “Please understand, I don’t regret doing it. Not for a minute. However, I
am
sorry I didn’t include you in the decision.”

Admitting her impropriety couldn’t have been easy for Maylene; after all, Jade doubted if the woman usually had to explain her motives. She softened her tone. “Yes, you
should
have discussed it with me, then I could have rejected the idea.”

Maylene said, “That was exactly Ty’s argument for having me do it while you were away; we both knew you’d balk at accepting the money and our way seemed so much easier than trying to convince you of the reality of your situation.”

“So you
were
involved in it?” Gage looked at Ty. “Just as I thought.”

Ty shrugged. “I figured she was owed something for her help.”

“My help?” Jade demanded. “You’re a master at twisting things around, aren’t you?”

“Now, don’t be upset, honey.” Maylene wrung her hands. “He didn’t mean it the way it sounded. Did you, Ty?”

“It is what it is,” Ty said with a nonchalant toss of the head.

“Alright! That is enough. Everybody, just calm down,” Maylene scolded. “There is absolutely no need to be confrontational. Let’s sit down and discuss these matters like mature adults. We’ll have something to drink; I’ll call Ciana.”

“I can’t. I have to go straighten this mess out.” Gage started toward the door, then paused. “Don’t show up at the office today, Dubois,” he warned, “unless you’d like to leave in an ambulance. In fact, it would be better for your health if you just take the next few days off.” He spun on his heel and left.

“Did you hear that? I believe he just threatened me,” Ty said with grim amusement. “You two are witnesses.”

“Can’t you please be serious for once?” Maylene reached for Jade’s hand, clutched it in her own as if for moral support, and turned tearful eyes on her nephew. “Why do you do these things? I just don’t understand it. You’ve been given so many opportunities and you find a way to waste every one of them. I really wanted you to succeed this time. I don’t know, do you deliberately sabotage your best chances, or do you even realize that’s what you’re doing?”

“You know what?” Ty’s eyes were bright with resentment and his lips thinned into a cold smile, one that reminded Jade of a weasel’s sly sneer. He reached for a bottle from the stocked bar. “I think I’ll take you up on that offer of a drink, after all. But I won’t have it here being snipped at; I’ll have it to go. I suddenly don’t feel welcome.”

As he stormed past, Maylene reached out and snatched the bottle from his hand. She thrust her chin out stubbornly and held his stunned gaze. “If you insist on drowning your sorrows with alcohol, you can at least buy your own.”

“Good day then, ladies.” He gave a sardonic tip to an imaginary hat, barely hiding his anger. “I’ll come back later, when you’ve had a chance to cool down.”

After he was gone, Maylene released Jade’s hand and carefully set the bourbon on the table. She looked at her niece apologetically. “I need a few moments to collect myself. Why don’t you go freshen up and then we’ll have a nice talk.”

“Okay.” Jade retrieved her things from the entryway and climbed the stairs to her room.

A short time later, the two women met at the door leading to the back porch. They settled at a table with their refreshments.

“I was surprised you and Gage stayed the night in Baton Rouge.” Maylene sipped her sweet tea delicately, as if trying to get a feel for Jade’s mood. Jade was sure her distress was still obvious, but Maylene seemed to have reverted to her usual unruffled, poised self.

“Gage’s meeting was postponed until late and after sightseeing all morning we were both tired; it simply seemed the thing to do.” Jade’s tone was tight. She was unwilling to give away any details. “Can we talk about this money you supposedly have for me?”

At a nod from the older woman, Jade continued, “I know you think you’re being helpful, but Aunt Maylene, you knew I had money saved back for expenses while I search for work. Grandma had life insurance that more than covered the funeral costs. I’m okay.”

“I know, dear, I know! You’ve done an admirable job with your resources. But in this terrible economy...” Maylene dabbed her lips with a pristine cloth napkin. It was late morning and the two were enjoying the light breeze. “Please accept it in the way it was intended. As a gift. Motivated by genuine affection and concern.”

Jade relented. “Alright, I will. And thank you.”

Maylene sighed, as if preparing to tackle an unpleasant but necessary task. “I’m dreadfully sorry about that earlier scene. It was so ugly. A terrible misunderstanding, really. I wish those boys would get along. The constant friction between them wears on my nerves. Sometimes I just don’t know what I’m going to do with them.”

Jade had plenty of ideas in that regard, but kept her thoughts to herself.

“I was hoping Gage would stop back by. Maybe it’s taking longer than expected to put things in order.”

“He’s been fairly busy keeping me company lately. I would guess he’s also trying to catch up on his work.” Jade played along with Maylene’s innocent act, not wishing to drive a wedge between the two friends. Whether Maylene elected to acknowledge it or not, Gage was livid over what had been done in his absence and at his perceived notion of Jade’s part in the fiasco. She was sure he wouldn’t show himself at the house until she was gone. Well, he wouldn’t have long to wait, for she’d decided to cut her vacation short. She’d be going home in less than twenty-four hours, not soon enough as far as she was concerned.

“Maylene,” she said gently. “I want you to know how much I appreciate your hospitality. And I’m so happy we were able to have this time together and get to know each other.”

The older woman looked at her, realization dawning in her blue eyes. “You’re leaving already, aren’t you?”

Jade nodded. “I do have a return ticket.”

“Tickets can be changed.”

“No. It’s time I went home.”

“But it hasn’t been two weeks yet.” Maylene leaned forward slightly.

“I hate to go already, Maylene. But I feel I’m in the middle of something I don’t belong in. I’m uncomfortable. You can understand. Can’t you?”

“Oh, my.” Maylene’s eyes grew glassy but she shed no tears. “Yes, I guess I can understand, though I hate this happening. But Jade, you know you are welcome to stay as long as you like?”

“Yes, and it means a lot to me. In fact, I can’t thank you enough. Still…” Her voice trailed away.

“I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” Jade hated that her trip was ending on a sour note; she had so enjoyed learning about unknown relatives, becoming familiar with New Orleans, and spending time with her aunt. She flushed at the bittersweet memory of the passion she’d shared with Gage. But now so much of what she’d found pleasurable had been ruined, and through no fault of her own.

“Right now I think I’ll start packing. I don’t want to wait until the last minute.”

She wandered upstairs and pulled her suitcases from the closet, but she didn’t begin filling them immediately. She sat on the side of her bed, holding the little steampunk bird Gage had given her on their first outing. A tear tickled her eyelashes and she quickly blinked it away. Rising, she set the small figurine back on the dresser; it wouldn’t be making the trip home with her.

After a quiet lunch, Maylene retired to her room for a nap. Jade took her cell phone out on the wide front porch to call Jeff, but instead of making the call, she sat staring into space. She was so deep in her misery, she didn’t hear Ty return until he spoke.

“Well, Jade! You don’t look very happy this afternoon. You should take a lesson from me. I don’t let things bother me for long. I bounce back.”

“With a little help from your friends,” she said.

“Who?”

“Johnny Walker, Jim Beam, and so on.”

“You got that line from Gage. Funny.” He flopped into the chair next to hers. “I’m not drunk, just relaxed.”

Jade rubbed her temples lightly, fighting back a derisive retort.

“Don’t mope around. It doesn’t suit you. Look, I don’t care what Gage thinks about the money Maylene gave you and you shouldn’t either. It was my idea and I think it was a brilliant one.”

“Oh, yes, absolutely brilliant.” Jade wished she would have remained in her room. She glared at Ty with undisguised loathing.

“I wish I could have seen Gage’s face when he heard. I’ll bet he was beside himself.”

“I think you’d best avoid Gage for awhile. He’s as upset with you as I am, maybe more.”

“I know I got under his skin,” he said, as if announcing a great accomplishment. “But why are you so upset?”