Hearing his devious voice through the phone made her skin crawl. She never understood why Keebler Hills kept re-electing Brent Burns as their mayor. Did they not see that he was…creepy!
“Mayor Burns, I’m not interested in taking over my father’s roll with the fire department.” She hated to be so blunt with him, but he needed to know where she stood with things. “I’m not interested in coming back to Keebler Hills. Not now, not ever!” If that wasn’t clear enough, she wasn’t sure what more she could say so that he understood.
“Oh,” he hesitated for a moment. “But I thought…your father…you needed…”
She cut him off. “My father would love more than anything for me to return to the town I called home for nearly eighteen years. What father wouldn’t?” She spoke assuredly into the phone. “He’d also love for me to take over as the fire chief, a position that he dedicated his life to, a position that he held such high regards for, a position that molded him into the man he is today.”
“What exactlyareyou interested in then, Ms. Jenson? Because I’m a bit confused.” The sleazy tone returned to his voice. “What you don’t seem to realize is that I can help you achieve the very same things that your father did. I can also help you where my son is concerned.”
She eased down into the chair, nearly dropping the phone. Had she heard him correctly? The fact that he’d brought up his son, proved he wasn’t the only one who had an agenda. So had Colton. Which explained why he’d disappeared sometime in the middle of the night and she hadn’t heard from him since.
“Mayor Burns, I believe our conversation is over. I have nothing more to say to you.” Before he could get in another word edgewise, she ended the call.
She didn’t know if she should feel angry or hurt. She didn’t need favors from anyone when it came to her future, and she certainly didn’t need any help when it came to men. Including Colton Burns!
She’d gotten to where she was now by working hard, enduring sleepless nights and countless hours of sheer determination. She’d earned her position the right way. No one had ever cut her any slack for being a woman and she’d certainly never expected them to.
If Mayor Burns wanted to play dirty, then she could play games, too. She’d challenge him as far as he wanted to take matters. As for Colton, he didn’t know who he’d messed with this time. How dare he!
That old saying, likefather, like son…well, she’d show them both!
Chapter Ten
With so much pent up frustration, she hardly slept at all. In fact, her jaws ached from where she’d clenched her teeth while she’d restlessly tossed and turned. She’d never been one for playing games, especially not where work was concerned, but Mayor Burns had gone a little too far this time. She’d show him. Right along with that scumbag son of his. She didn’t need his help getting a job and she damn sure didn’t need his help where Colton was concerned.
She logged onto the City of Keebler Hills website then scrolled down until she found the list of positions they were hiring for. Being a tight-knit community, city jobs were always few and far between. There simply wasn’t much turnover and when someone left a position, it was usually due to retirement. Such as the case with her father’s position.
As she scanned the list of opportunities, she found it odd that the fire chief position wasn’t listed. Despite how adamant Brent Burns has been about it. Could be that the position just wasn’t open to potential candidates yet and that the mayor was holding off going public with it until he’d had a chance to discuss it with her. Or, was he so confident she was going to take it that he hadn’t bothered to have it listed?
She typed up a letter requesting a formal interview and attached her resume to it. She’d talk to him, make him think she was interested, then when he was all set to offer her the position, she’d politely tell him where he could shove his damn job. She knew in her heart that she didn’t want to leave Gorman Valley, but no one was going to challenge her and get away with it. Not Mayor Burns. Not his son, Colton.
She closed her laptop then leaned back in her dining room chair. To think that she’d thought Colton had changed!
The next few weeks went by in a blur. She simply hadn’t felt like herself since the weekend she’d gone home. Not to mention, the silence where Mayor Burns was concerned heavily weighed on her. Had her plan backfired?
On Tuesday morning, she’d just gotten out of the shower when her phone rang. Seeing the 823 area code on her phone, she contemplated letting the call go to voice mail. Instead, she answered, ready to go to battle with whoever was on the other end of the line.
“May I please speak with Blayze Jenson?” The woman’s voice was pleasant and not one that she recognized.
“This is she. May I ask who’s calling?”
“Ms. Jenson, this is Barbara Allen, the Town Clerk with the city of Keebler Hills. We received your inquiry about the fire chief position and Mayor Burns, along with the city council members, would like to set up a time for you to come in to discuss it further. Is the position something that you’re still interested in?”
Unable to say anything, she held the phone loosely against her ear.So, they’d fell for it and Mayor Burns wanted to talk to her about it.
“Ms. Jenson?” the lady asked again.
She cleared her throat then replied, “Um, sure. I’m definitely interested.”
“We’d like to set up an interview for next Friday. Would that work for you? Say, ten o’clock?”
She walked to the calendar she kept on the refrigerator, the one that she kept her work schedule posted to. “Yes, that time works well for me.”
“Perfect. We’re trying to line up as many interviews as we can in one day. We’ll see you at ten.”
The idea of seeing Mayor Burns again and sitting in a room with him and the city council members sickened her. Literally, she felt like throwing up. She bent over and placed her hands on the tops of her knees. Her palms were sweaty, and her forehead had a sheen of moisture on it.
Damn you, Mayor Burns! You won’t play games with me and get by with it!
