He came around the desk, and she hugged him. “I’ll go with you.”
Stunned, Jake held her away from him and saw the sincerity and steely determination in her eyes. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
She kissed his cheek. “You didn’t.”
After she left, he forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand. The person he had to terminate was a financial consultant accused of lying about investment potential to one of their long-time clients. In addition, he’d spent a significant amount of time surfing the Internet. The phone calls were all recorded, but when Oliver had given him a printout of the computer sites accessed, Jake paused and knew he needed more information.
The man, in his late twenties, came in with his eyes downcast, and stood as if waiting for his sentencing from the executioner.
“You can have a seat, Mr. Mannis.” He did as asked but still couldn’t meet Jake’s eyes. “Do you understand why you’re here?”
Mannis nodded. “Yes,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry you got caught, or sorry for what you did?” Normally Precision had a zero-tolerance policy on fast-talking employees, but Jake wanted to hear what Mannis had to say.
The young man jerked his head up, and Jake narrowed his eyes. A faded yellow-and-purple bruise ringed his eye, and Jake noticed some bruising on his neck as well.
“I’m sorry for what I did. I thought I was giving a good tip—”
“That would give you a big commission?”
He flushed. “I needed the money,” he whispered.
“Because you’re being abused?”
Mannis’s eyes grew wide. “H-how…?”
“Your computer. Now. Who’s hurting you?”
Mannis pressed his lips together and hung his head but remained silent.
Jake left his chair to sit next to him, and put a hand on the younger man’s arm. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me. I know people, and we can help you get away.”
Several minutes passed, and Jake waited patiently, hoping Mannis would speak.
“He doesn’t mean to. Greg is so tired when he comes home. He’s a surgeon, and his job is much more important than anything I could ever hope to do. He just needs to blow off some steam.”
Barely able to contain his anger, Jake gritted out, “On you? He hits you, and you think it’s okay?”
“I did something stupid, and he got mad. But he loves me. So I thought if I could get this big commission and show him I could contribute something, then he’d be happy.” Mannis’s large brown eyes blinked rapidly. “But you’re going to fire me, right? That’s what everyone said when you called me in. ‘You’re going to see the Axe Man? You’re done, Ricky.’ I’m sorry. I’ll pack up my desk.” He rose, but Jake held on to his arm.
“Sit. If I told you I could get you help and someplace away from your boyfriend, would you take it? I saw you’ve been looking at safe houses and therapists online.”
“I…I don’t know. H-he loves me.”
“People who love you don’t hit you. Words can be hurtful enough, but once you become physically abusive, it’s game over.”
Mannis trembled, and Jake softened his tone.
“Just say the word, and I’ll get you the help you need.”
“He’s going to get so angry at me,” Mannis whispered.
“You’ll be with people who can keep you safe.”
“But you’re firing me.”
Jake squeezed his arm and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “I didn’t hear anything about anyone getting fired. Let me make some phone calls.”
