Protecting What’s Mine (Alpha Security 2)

“No. I have already taken care of it. I will finish the job. I will just go back when Kevin isn’t working, no big deal.”

He looks at me worriedly. “But are you okay? I can…”

“Mike. I’m fine. There is nothing to take care of. I can take care of myself. I will go back and finish the job.”

“No. I will put Johnny on it. He will take care of it.” He runs his hand through his hair.

“You can’t send someone else. Surely I have proven to you that I can handle it. I will take care of it. It will be done before close of business tomorrow. Now, is there anything else you need? I have work to do.” I appreciate him wanting to help me, but I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it a long time.

He hesitates, wanting to say more. “No. That’s all.”

I walk out of his office and toward mine. Wow, it’s been a long day.

Brody

Opening a new business is stressful. There are a hundred things on my list and I take joy in checking things off.

Today, the new security system was supposed to be installed. And it wasn’t.

Kevin said that Charlie, a new representative, was here but left before the job was done. I instantly called Mike, one of the owners of Alpha Security. He assured me that Charlie is not usually like that and something must have come up, but he guaranteed that the install would be complete by tomorrow.

I move security system to tomorrow’s list and start looking at what still needs to be finished today.

Frustrated when the phone rings, interrupting me, I answer it gruffly. “Hello.”

“Brody. This is Mike, with Alpha Security. I wanted to let you know I talked to Charlie. She explained why she left before the job was complete and I wanted to talk to you about it.”

“Sure. So Charlie is a woman?”

“Yes. She is one of our best installers, actually. That’s why I was so surprised that she had left before the job was done,” he tells me.

“Okay, so I’m pretty busy, and I don’t have time to gossip, Mike. What happened?” I try to rush him along.

His tone changes instantly. “Sure, I’ll get right to it. Your manager Kevin harassed her and she left. However, I assure you that the job will be done by tomorrow at close of business. Charlie insists that she will complete the job, but if Kevin is going to be there, I will have to insist that someone else take over your install.”

It’s like my mind closes down after he said ‘harrassed.’ I sputter, “What do you mean ‘harrassed’?”

Impatient now, Mike grunts into the phone, “Well, he touched her breast and then grabbed her ass when she was bent over in the office trying to install a new modem. She kept trying to politely turn him down, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. So she kneed him in the nuts. Which I might add, he deserved. So all I need to know is, will he be there tomorrow?”

I put up with a lot from people, but I never allow someone to get away with mistreating a woman. My hands clench and unclench, my heart pounding erratically. “I assure you, Kevin will not be here tomorrow or any day after. I do not permit such things in my restaurant and I definitely don’t ever permit anyone to treat a woman in such a way. Please, have her come tomorrow. I will be here.”

Mike is quiet on the other end for a moment, until I hear him take a deep breath. “I thought you would say that. Thanks, Brody. Honestly, she can take care of herself, but I didn’t want to put her into that situation. She will be there tomorrow.”

Once I hang up, incensed, I rise from my seat and walk to the kitchen in search of Kevin. He’s sitting in the break room with an ice pack pressed against his privates. My blood boiling, I tell him, “You have three minutes to get your things and get out. You are fired.”

“Fired? What for?” he sputters at me.

“Why are you holding an ice pack to your dick, Kevin?”

His face turns red and he can’t wipe the guilty expression off his face fast enough. “Look, she was into it.”

Grabbing him by the collar, I’ve heard enough and I tell him so. “That’s it. No more. I won’t tolerate you treating a woman this way. Get out. You will be lucky if I don’t convince her to press charges.”

“The fat bitch wanted it,” he snarls in my face and I stare him down, barely holding on to my anger.

“Out. Now.” I drag him to the back door and throw him out into the alley.

It takes a long time to calm down, but when I finally do, I know that I owe a big apology to Charlie. I forget about my list of things that need to be done and I go home.