More Than Lies (More Than #1)(54)

“So far, everything I’m hearing from you is sitting okay with me,” Jon continues. “What else?”

“I’m going to meet with each of you on an individual basis at some point today, going over what my expectations are, answering any question you may not want to voice in this room, and getting an idea of who is staying, and who’s going.” I huff, breathing out air and taking more inside. “However, what I will say to all of you, here and now, is that if you want to continue working here, I expect your loyalty—to the business as well as to me. When I said some of you will not make it, I meant it. This studio will not put out low quality work. Every person employed here will give one hundred percent from the moment you walk through the doors until the moment you walk back out.”

The end of today can’t come soon enough. All in all, I’m glad Adam decided to get this over and done with.

“Are you saying we don’t give a hundred percent now?” Tyler asks. He’s standing near Hunter. They are good friends and goof off together. Tara thinks she isn’t qualified, but she is, a lot more than I am. I need her, and I see that now more than ever. She brought a lot of things to light for me—especially Tyler and Hunter.

“I’m not saying everyone isn’t,” I laugh because frankly that’s all I can do. “Several of you don’t even put in fifty percent around here. That will change. Know that, and believe it. There are those of you that never have a full schedule. If you aren’t going to make the studio money, then I don’t have a place for you. Is that clear enough for you, Tyler?”

“Crystal, boss,” he bites back.

Yeah, he will not be here much longer.

“One last thing I want to announce before you all get back to work is that I’ve made Tara the official studio manager, so she’ll—” I’m interrupted before I can finish.

“Wait a minute, that’s my job.” Sabrina jumps off the table she was sitting in.

I glance in Tara’s direction. I never actually got around to telling her that small detail. Her eyebrows are raised.

“No, that was never your job.” Adam barks at her. “Your job is to greet customers, make, change, and cancel appointments. Answering the fucking phone is your job. Run the cash register is your job. Never in your job description did it mention management.”

“Adam,” she calls out.

“Enough. I think I was clear, but to finish what I was saying, Tara is the studio manager. She’ll continue doing payroll, order supplies, and everything else she’s been doing. Nothing with Tara is changing; I’m just making it official. You all feel me?”

“Yeah, brother, we hear ya.” Kenny answers for himself and everyone else.

“Good deal. Y’all are free to get to work.” I lean off my table and walk toward the back office. I need a breather, away from these people.

When I reach the door, I open, walk through and shove the door with minimal force, but enough so that it’ll close behind. As I make my way to my desk, I realize the door never shut. Before I sit down, I see Tara propped up against the frame.

“Yes?” I question as I plop down. She just stares at me. “It’s just a title, you know. You were already doing the duties.”

“I know.” Tara turns and leaves without another word.





By the time the sun goes down, I’m ready to get the hell out of here, but I can’t. I have roughly three hours left. My last client should be here in about an hour and since I finished the last one earlier than I thought, I have an important detail to wrap up before then.

Sabrina Gold.

“Hey, you texted me to come back?”

I look up from where I was cleaning my station to see Tara. I had sent her a text message thirty minutes ago, asking her if she could return to the studio tonight. Tara told me earlier today that she had decided since she’s been making more money working here that she doesn’t want to continue working at the bar. She spoke to Mac and gave her formal notice effective immediately.

“Yeah, I need a favor.” I tell her in a low voice so that no one else will hear our conversation. I wave her closer and Tara obliges. The sweet and spicy scent of her perfume envelops me, but I keep my expression neutral, not allowing her to see the effect she has on me. Thankfully she doesn’t know how strongly I’m affected by her.

“Sure, what do you need?” Her eyes dart all over the room. Trying to determine why I’m keeping my voice low, I’m sure.

“I’m about to fire Sabrina. Adam has agreed to be in the room with me, but I need you in there too.”

“Me? I don’t know anything about firing someone, Shawn.” Confusion is written all over her face.

“I don’t need you to actually do anything except be in the room.” I don’t know a whole lot about owning a business, but Chance made it clear, do not fire her without witnesses. He was adamant about at least one witness being a female so that in the event she tries to claim sexual harassment or anything else, I’d have people to cover my back.

“Oh.” Realization dawns on her. “You just want me to witness in case she tries to start something later?”

“Exactly. You okay with that?”

“Sure, it’s no problem, but what are we going to do about the rest of the week. Who’s going to work the front?”