33
Sam
My phone screen flashed beside me.There was an email notification and an alert for an appointment.I ignored them both.
An hour ago, I’d read the email regarding the delay and been frustrated.Five minutes ago, I’d received a phone call from the contractor canceling the contract, and frustrated didn’t begin to describe what I was feeling.
As quickly as she’d stormed out, Tiff barrelled back into my office.“That no good, piece of sh—”
“What happened?”I had a fair idea based on the phone call, but I needed to hear it from her.
“Pierce happened.I couldn’t stand the idea that he was messing with you to get back at me, so I went over there to straighten him out.”She dropped into the chair opposite me, fingers gripping the armrests.“Fuck, Sam.I think I just made things worse.”
“You shouldn’t have done that.I can fight my own battles.”
“And just stand by while that fossilized jerkoff slanders your name and messes with the bar?Yeah, ok.You clearly don’t know me very well.”
“This is about more than just you, Tiffany.This is the bar.My bar.My business.Did you think about that at all when you were over there, yelling at him?”
“Of course, I did!Why do you think I went there in the first place?”
“Because for some reason, you couldn’t sit this one out when I needed you to.”
“Excuse me?”
“What did you think was going to happen?That Pierce would apologize and everything would fall into place?Were you even thinking at all?Or did you just react?”
“At least I stood up for you.What were you going to do?Sit back and take it?If Pierce thinks he has you in his pocket, he’ll never let you forget it.”
“There’s a way to do things.There are rules.They might be unfair, but that doesn’t change the fact that I have to play by them if I want to stay in business.”My fingers rubbed over the growing ache in my temple.“Do I want to tell him to back off?Yes.But there are better ways to handle it.Ways that don’t result in me losing thousands of dollars.”
“Like a nicely worded … Wait, what?”
“The contractor called back.Unfortunately, due to threats made by staff, they no longer feel comfortable fulfilling the contract here.They aren’t going to seek damages, but they are going to keep my deposit.”
“That’s bullshit!”
It was.
“Fuck, what do we do?”
“There’s nothing we can do.I’ve been over the fine print twice already.They’re within their right to withdraw their commitment if the working conditions put their staff at risk, and the deposit was non-refundable.”
“But I didn’t even threaten them.We should sue.”
It was an option.But one that would cost considerable time and money that I didn’t have.
“I really wish you hadn’t gone to see him.You need to be able to hold your tongue occasionally.Not all of us can afford to say what we want when we want.There are consequences.”
“You think I don’t understand that?That’s why I went over to Pierce’s in the first place.I didn’t mean to fuck things up further.”
Tiffany’s head hung low; her hands clutched in her lap.All at once, my anger seeped away.
“How did it feel?”
Slowly, her gaze lifted, questioning.
“Telling Pierce off.How did it feel?”
Though she smiled, it didn’t reach her eyes, and I hated Pierce for putting us both in this position.“Not as good as I thought it would.”
Rounding the desk, I pulled her out of the seat into a hug, feeling grounded once she was in my arms.Her breath was warm against my neck, where she’d buried her head.“So, what’s the plan?”
That was a great question.Technically, this meant there was less to do to prepare the bar for the re-opening.It wasn’t a relief.
“We move on.Keep going.”
Disappointment filled me.It would be easy to blame Tiffany, but I should have known better.If I’d stuck with my first instinct, I wouldn’t be in this position.I’d taken the risk.And once again, I was facing the consequences.
