Robert decided to give Daniel a day or two, but then he’d be there for the kid. No matter what. Even if it meant facing his own demons and picking up the guitar, he hadn’t played for five years.
Chapter 29
Patrick ducked into his office and slid into his desk chair. He was almost an hour late, but he doubted anyone had noticed, except Tina. She’d scowled at him, then flipped him off before walking the other way.
She’d been angry when he dumped her a couple weeks ago and had badmouthed him to their coworkers ever since, calling him unfaithful and an adulterer. Normally, that would tick him off and he’d even the score, but he had bigger things to worry about. Like keeping his job.
He turned on his computer. Between the week he spent in the Adam’s County jail and the few days he’d take off over the course of the last two weeks to go to Providence, he’d almost exhausted his personal time off. He had to figure out where Jessica was. After frequently tailing Sylvia and the sheriff—in different rental cars each time—he figured out Jessica was staying at a ranch called the Double Diamond.
What a pretentious name.
That’s why he was late getting to work today. He hadn’t gotten home until almost two in the morning and had overslept. Once he’d figured out where Jessica was, he’d lingered as long as possible to try to figure out the best way to get to her.
He’d watched the place from a distance long enough to know that two couples lived on the ranch—one older, one younger—and a half dozen ranch hands. Not to mention Sylvia and Winters, who came and went frequently.
Patrick’s phone rang before he could check his email.
He picked it up. “Pendleton.”
“Mr. Pendleton,” Eleanor Turnbaum’s nasally voice came through the phone. “Mr. Matthews wants to see you in his office right away.”
Patrick bit back a curse. Eleanor was the big boss’s executive assistant. “Thank you. I’ll be right there.”
Patrick pounded a fist on his desk before walking out of his office and down the hall. He buttoned his suit coat as he neared Mr. Matthews’s office. Eleanor ushered him into the corner office so fast Patrick didn’t have time to prepare himself mentally to face the shrewd executive. A week wouldn’t have been enough time.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Patrick stood erect, hoping the older man didn’t detect the tremor in his voice or the stubble on his jaw. He should have taken the time to shave this morning despite oversleeping.
“Sit.” Mr. Matthews didn’t smile, didn’t shake Patrick’s hand, and didn’t offer him a cup of coffee. He simply stared at Patrick from underneath bushy eyebrows.
Patrick dropped into a chair and stared right back, resisting the urge to fidget.
Matthews rose and stood behind his chair, towering over him. Patrick recognized the intimidation tactic; he’d seen his father do it enough.
Patrick clenched his jaw when his pulse kicked up a notch.
“When I hired you, I thought I was hiring an aspiring, goal-oriented broker who would give one hundred percent to this firm and our clients.” Mr. Matthews leaned forward.
Patrick squared his shoulders. “You did, sir.”
“But I got a call four weeks ago telling me you’d been arrested for assault and battery.”
Patrick leaned forward too, his defenses rising. “I told you it was all a misunderstanding.”
“You did, but you’ve yet to inform me that you and your wife have worked things out.” The older man’s eyes narrowed. “Instead, I get another call from your lawyer telling me you’re in jail again. This time for aggravated assault.”
“Those charges are bogus.” It was all Patrick could do to stay in his seat.
“Right.” Mr. Matthews gave a clipped nod. “That’s why I approved you taking some time off to get things sorted out.” He pointed a finger at Patrick. “As long as you kept up with your accounts.”
“I have been, sir.”
“Then why did I get a call from Henry Rosenberg this morning telling me he lost two million dollars yesterday because you didn’t sell the stocks he’d requested?”
Patrick swore under his breath. He swallowed hard before speaking. “I’m sorry, sir. I was out of town, and the motel I stayed at had unreliable Wi-Fi. I couldn’t complete the transaction.”
He hadn’t even tried, hadn’t even bothered to check his email, but Matthews didn’t need to know that.
“That’s unacceptable, and you know it!” The veins in Matthews’ forehead stood out much like Patrick’s father’s did when he got angry.
