Chapter Twelve
The rest ofthe week passed uneventfully. Gunn and Jocelyn fell into an easy routine. He’d moved her desk into his study and set it up beside his.
He found that he got lonely when she wasn’t near. And really, he was wrong in his decision to tuck her away into an old storage room.
They’d spoken regarding her employment and come to an agreement that they were no longer boss and employee. Thankfully. That never sat well with him anyway. But he had offered her what he thought she needed at the time.
Instead, she was reviewing his ledgers out of interest. It was clear now that Theodore was stealing from him. The man didn’t have a clue that Jocelyn had uncovered his unsavory acts. They agreed to keep it that way.
For now.
When she’d told him of Theodore’s visit, Gunn was ready to go to Theodore’s house and show him with his fists what would happen when he threatened Jocelyn.
But she held him back. Reminding him that she hadn’t finished her review yet. That there might be more items to uncover.
He sighed.
Gunn needed to wait until he and his friends were together and come up with a plan of action. For now, he was biding histime. Keeping a close eye on Theodore and questioning every act he did and word he said. Even more so now.
Currently, Theodore was taking stock of the pub’s inventory.
It pissed Gunn off. He didn’t want the louse anywhere near his pub, let alone taking inventory, and sure as hell not anywhere near Jocelyn.
“It looks like we are going to need to order more scotch,” Theodore called from behind the bar.
“Dinna we have some in storage?” Gunn was quite sure they did. It took extra effort to keep his face neutral when he spoke to his once trusted friend.
“I dinna believe so. I clearly remember grabbing the last bottle. Mayhap we should place a large order to save on cost,” Theodore suggested.
Gunn harrumphed.I’m sure he would like that.“I canna afford a large order.”
Theodore approached the table where Gunn sat. “I ken funds are tight. But ye have to remember ye have more assets at your fingertips.”
“Nay. My estate finances are separate. I will no’ mix the two,” he stated for the umpteenth time. Gunn could only assume since Theodore bled the pub dry, that he now wanted to get his hands on Gunn’s estate finances. Thankfully, when he’d put him in charge of the Thistle & Pig he hadn’t also charged him with his estate upkeep. If he had, there was no doubt that Theodore would be pilfering what he could from there as well. Which, as of now, was naught. But he wasn’t going to let Theodore ken that. Let him keep believing that he had lots of money in his other properties.
He didn’t ken why his longtimefriendwanted to bankrupt him, but he wouldn’t allow it. Nay longer. He’d done enough damage to his business. And when he got to the bottom ofhis scheme, Gunn would ensure he would be unable to find employment in all of Scotland.
“I understand ’tis no ideal, but what will ye do if ye canna serve scotch to your patrons? ’Tis your most popular offering.”
He narrowed his eyes at Theodore, assessing him, but not saying a word. Thoughts of punching that smirk off his face hit him hard and he shook his head to clear the image.
The man seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. Eyes darting around the pub nervously.
Aye. Theodore was definitely up to no good. How had Gunn not seen it before? His friend was shifty. Nervous.
Mayhap he was so wrapped up in trying to figure out why people stopped coming that he didn’t notice his friend’s change in demeanor.
And whilst the lack of customers surely had an impact on why no money was coming in, why had they stopped coming? Had Theodore done something to make them stop coming so he could use that as an excuse as to why there was no money?
Could it really be that simple? It would indeed be a simple, yet conniving, plan.
“I’ll have Thomas get a bottle of scotch. Only the one. I canna afford any more.”
“Surely, one bottle willna be enough. Let me take care of it. ’Tis my job.”
Gunn lifted a brow in question. “Is it? ’Tis your job to ensure we have patrons, but yet, looking around, I dinna see any. Do ye?”
Theodore laughed nervously. “Nay, but ’tis early still.”
