Fallen Woman(31)

“Of course. What’s wrong?” Chipper turned to concerned.

“Can you meet me at Zags? Please? I know it’s the middle of the day, but I just need some company.”

“I’m walking out the door now. What’s going on, Gianna? Hang on.” I heard him talking in the background but couldn’t make out what he said. “I’m back. Is this Jase related?”

“How long will it take you to get there?”

“Gianna, you’re freaking me out a little here. Why is Jase calling me over and over?”

“I don’t know. Answer it and find out. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I hung up before he could say anything. If I’d been smart, I never would’ve told him to answer Jase’s calls, but I didn’t have the wherewithal to think straight. I needed a stiff drink.

I chose a booth at the back of the bar so I wouldn’t have to deal with people and ordered a Jack and Coke. I’d put one down and was on my second when Holland came strolling in the door, followed by his partner in crime. Damn. Just once, I needed Holland alone, and that one time he’d hooked up with my arch-nemesis.

“Damn, Gia. Why’d you storm out of the office?” Jase chastised me, but I glared at Holland.

“Thanks, Holland, you Benedict Arnold.” I sneered his name unfairly.

He held his hands up. “I have no clue what the hell’s going on. I got a call from you on the verge of tears.” Jase snapped his head to stare at Holland who seemed to have just shared that tidbit for the first time. “And one from Jase about to rip someone’s head off at work. You both seemed like you needed a drink, and when Jase asked if I knew where you were, I assumed it was appropriate to bring him to you. If that was wrong, forgive me.”

“Sit,” Jase barked at his friend.

He ordered and then directed his attention back to me. “Wanna tell me why you stormed out of my office when I told you to wait for me?” The rage in his eyes hadn’t calmed down, and his cheeks burned a crimson red to further illustrate his mood.

As calmly as I could manage, I replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t storm out of your office.”

“Seriously, Gia? Are you sitting there waiting on me and I missed it? Allison said you guys were talking, and then you got up and raced out.”

“I bet she did,” I muttered low enough I didn’t think he’d hear me. Wrong.

“You have beef with Allison on top of Dale?”

I didn’t know where his attitude was coming from, but I was about to send it packing. “This”—I waved my finger between myself and Jase but talked to Holland—“is why I didn’t invite Jase. This is why I called you.” Adjusting myself in the seat, I then turned to Jase to break things down for him. “I don’t have beef with anyone. I simply had a question I posed to Dale, but before I could respond to his answer, you took it upon yourself to come play Billy Bad Ass.” My head might have swayed with a little more sass than I’d intended, but he’d gotten my point.

“Let’s get something straight, Gianna. Everything in that building is my business, and I’ll handle it the way I see fit. If you don’t like the way I conduct business, you’re welcome to find employment elsewhere.”

My jaw came unhinged. I couldn’t believe what he’d said. My lip quivered, but I refused to lose control. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. “Is that what you want, Mr. Lane?” At the sound of my formality, he jerked his head up from his drink. “Stings a little, doesn’t it?” I tried to push Holland out of the way to get out of the booth, but the mammoth of a man wouldn’t budge.

“You two need to calm the fuck down. What happened today?” He posed the question to both of us, but I leaned back, indignant. Gnawing on my bottom lip, I crossed my arms and waited on my boss to answer Holland’s question.

Once Jase was done telling his side of the events, which included Dale being terminated, I sat quietly next to Holland on the opposite side of the booth.

With Holland acting as our mediator, he asked me, “So what about that has you upset with Jase?”

“Nothing.” That was true. None of what happened with Dale had me the least bit bothered. I was disappointed I didn’t get the job, but that wasn’t where my issues lay.

Jase slammed his hands on the table, causing the glasses to shake. “Then why the hell did you leave?”

“Holland, could you ask your friend to stop screaming at me? Not everyone in the bar cares about our day.”

Holland didn’t have a clue how to handle Jase or me. He was lost, and I didn’t care.

“I’m not screaming, but I don’t understand why you left, Gia. You didn’t even wait for me to resolve the situation.” His words came out breathlessly as he tried to lower his voice.

“You’re not listening. This isn’t about Dale,” I hissed the words in his direction.

“Then what the fuck is it about, Gianna?”

Too embarrassed to even say the words out loud, I stared out the window.

“Talk to me, please.”

I just shook my head, unable to compile coherent sentences.

“If it’s not about Dale, then what happened with Allison?”

“Who the hell is Allison?” Holland asked, clearly unable to put any of the pieces together.