At ten the next morning, Aiden was upstairs with Cade, Brody and Ella. Nic was in the kitchen and Abby on her way, scheduled to work in the pub kitchen…if she even showed up.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to have them both downstairs?” Aiden asked Ella. “Maybe I should have had someone cover Nic’s shift until this is over with.”
“Are you kidding me? I haven’t seen a cat fight since college.”
Aiden turned to blast Cade for saying that, but Ella beat him to it by punching Cade in the arm. “Ouch,” Cade said, rubbing his bicep.
“Do you ever learn?” she asked him.
“It was funny,” Cade said. “Come on, Brody. Admit that was a funny comment.”
Brody grinned and shook his head. “Sorry, Cade. It was funny in high school, but not now.”
“Can we be serious, please?” Aiden asked. He was dying inside right now, waiting to see how the next hour was going to play out. “Do you think she’ll show up?”
“I called her and said I needed her to sign paperwork before her shift. Either filing the claim or releasing us from it. One or the other. It had to be documented either way, just like all falls and injuries are.”
“She said she’d be here?” Aiden asked again.
“Chill out, dude,” Brody said. “Once Abby pulls in the parking lot, I’ll go down and make sure she and Nic are separated.”
“So you think Nic will say something to her?” Aiden asked. He knew it was a bad idea.
“If she is anything like Aimee she would, so I’m not giving them a chance,” Brody said, laughing this time.
“There she is,” Ella said, when they saw the car pull into the back parking lot on the monitor. “I told you.”
Aiden looked at the computer monitor closer and saw Abby get out of the car, then walk confidently toward the back door as if the past few days never happened. As if his life and reputation weren’t on the line. Nic was right—what a bitch.
“I’ll bring her up to your office, Ella,” Brody said, then walked out.
“Let’s go in the conference room, Aiden,” Cade said. “Bring her down when you’re done, Ella. We’re all set up in there.”
“Stop fidgeting,” Cade said to Aiden as he walked around the conference room. “Have a seat and relax. It’s not going to be much longer.”
“This isn’t your reputation though,” he argued. “I’ve got a right to be nervous.”
“Don’t be selfish. It’s all of ours. You didn’t do anything wrong and we know it. But it’s not all about you. It’s never been about just you. Why can’t you see that?”
Aiden narrowed his eyes at Cade, not liking the tone. “That’s not fair.”
“Nope, it’s not. Just like it wasn’t fair when Brody got mixed up with Craig, but he was innocent. Or when Aimee had issues with her ex. It’s always been about all of us together, not one of us independently. We’d never survive that way.”
Maybe Cade was the smart one all along.
It’d taken Aiden years to figure everything out. All those years he’d spent traveling and learning everything he could. He’d said he was doing it for himself. But he was really doing it for the business. Him being his best would make them all great. It was for them as much as it was for himself.
“You’re probably right.” When Cade went to open his mouth, Aiden pointed his finger. “Don’t say it.”
They both turned when there was a knock at the door, then Ella pushed it open. “Come in, Abby.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, looking at Aiden and Cade in the room. Ella walked in behind her and ushered her to a chair, shut the door, and took a seat at the table next to Cade. Aiden sat on the other side of Cade, all three of them facing Abby now. “I didn’t fill out the workers’ comp papers. I’m fine. I just told Ella that I tripped trying to show Aiden something on his computer and fell into his chair and to the floor.”
“That’s the story this time?” Aiden said.
“Aiden,” Cade said, reaching his hand over. “Abby, we called you in here to talk about your other accusations.”
“What are those?” she asked, frowning and looking confused.
Wow, she was good. Playing it up for the camera. If she only knew.
“That you came on to me and when I asked you to stop, to get off my lap and your lips off of mine, you threatened me with sexual harassment.”
She looked around the room surprised, her eyes filling with tears. “Aiden, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never said any of that. Maybe you just misunderstood when I fell into your lap.”
“I thought you fell against the chair and then to the floor. Not Aiden’s lap,” Ella said.
“I don’t remember,” Abby said quickly. “It all happened so fast. First I was trying to see what he was showing me on his computer and the next thing I’m on the floor.”
Aiden clenched his fists on the table and then caught Abby’s glance as it landed on him. Her eyes were glistening but she smirked. It was the smirk that set him off. “You know damn well what happened in my office.”
“I just told you what happened, Aiden. I guess it’s your word against mine,” she said, her voice cracking, more with smugness than fear. More with victory than nervousness, or even remorse, let alone guilt.
“Actually, that’s where you’re wrong,” Ella said.
“Before we get to that,” Cade said, “let me ask a few questions. Abby, have you ever had any relations with employees at Fierce?”
“That’s none of your business,” she said.
“Well, it kind of is. At least for the context of truthfulness. So have you ever been involved with any employees at Fierce?”
“I don’t need to answer that,” she said, pushing her chair back to stand up.
“Sit down,” Cade said sharply, causing both Ella and Aiden to glance over. Aiden didn’t think Cade had it in him. Damn.
Abby sat just the same, but pressed her lips closely together.
“Are you going to answer Cade’s question?” Ella asked.
“No.”
“Very well,” Cade said, opening a folder. “I didn’t think you would have. And if you did, it would have spoiled the look on your face when I show you these anyway. I believe this is a picture of you kissing one of the executive chefs outside the building one night. This is one of you and a line cook in a cozy embrace by the back cooler. This is my favorite, though it’s a little racy. It’s a picture of you with your hands down one of the chef’s pants.”
“How come they aren’t up here for this?” she asked. “Why am I the only one being embarrassed over it?”
“Embarrassed?” Aiden said, laughing. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
“Well, the guy you were measuring with your hands, Tim—in case you forgot his name—no longer works here, so there’s not much we can do about that. The other two are employed and we’ll be talking with them. But that isn’t why you’re here,” Ella said.
“Then why?” Abby asked.
“I wanted to see if you’d be truthful,” Cade said, “but since you’ve been lying all along, it didn’t surprise me that you didn’t answer. The reason you’re really here is this.”
Cade picked up the remote on the table and turned to the TV on the wall and hit play.
There on the screen was the entire five minutes proving Abby made the whole thing up. As Aiden watched, he felt his face fill with embarrassment. Seriously, he held his hands up in surrender like a wuss rather than tossing her across the room like Ella suggested. Not that he would, but it had merit the more he saw this.
“You can’t hear what is being said,” Abby said. “See, I fell when I leaned over.”
“Your lips fell into mine?” Aiden asked, stunned that she was still holding onto this story.
“Very well,” Ella said, reaching for the remote. “Let’s listen in.”
Aiden didn’t know the conversation had been recorded. Ella and Cade didn’t tell him that. What jerks.
“Have you seen and heard enough?” Cade asked after they listened to it.
Abby wasn’t looking so calm now. “Fine. So I came on to Aiden. He’s giving it to that slut in the kitchen. She’s getting all sorts of private lessons now. She hasn’t even been here that long. I’ve been here for two years busting my butt. Why can’t I cash in a piece of that pie?”
“You’ve never known me to do that with anyone,” Aiden said. “Yet you just assumed it with Nic and decided it was your turn?”
“I don’t know what you do or have done in the past. There’s always talk. You know that. But it was pretty obvious with Nic. She kept trying to deny it, but the more she did, the more I saw right through it. So what? It happens everywhere. You’re not the first and neither is she. I just wanted in. It’s the only way to get ahead.”
“Women like you give the rest of us a nasty name,” Ella said, disgusted.
“You can’t just go around recording things,” Abby said. “There has to be some law about that.”
Cade laughed. “Trust me, there isn’t. Our business, our properties, and our rules. Besides, you signed a consent that you were aware there were cameras on the property watching and recording.”
“Only those at the doors and the entrance,” Abby said.
“No. If you read the whole document, it states that there are multiple cameras on all Fierce properties that are rotated at all times. The ones you see are the only ones that stay stationary.”
“What do you want from me?” Abby said, crossing her arms.
“Well, like I said two nights ago, you’re terminated. I want you to pick your stuff up and get off the property,” Aiden said.
“Ella has your final paycheck ready. This is a document that states you understand why you’re being terminated and that you will not attempt to sue Fierce for sexual harassment of any kind. Of course, I guess you could try if you want, but we know it’s all recorded so good luck getting anyone to take your case. Let alone finding another job in this industry in Charlotte after that.”
Abby picked up the pen in front of her. She signed her name, pushed the chair back, and held her hand out to Ella for her check. “I don’t have anything here,” she said, turning to leave. Brody was standing in the hallway when the door was opened and escorted her out.
“Why didn’t I know there were cameras rotated all over the property?” Aiden asked Ella.
“I told you all there were multiple cameras on site at all times.”
“But we didn’t know they rotated,” Cade said. “I didn’t know until Ella showed me yesterday when you walked in. And why didn’t you say it recorded our voices?”
“First off, Aiden,” Ella said, “it was just your lucky day the camera was in your office that week. It hadn’t been the week before. The security team comes in early on Sundays and puts them where I tell them to. Second of all, I’ve never listened in on any conversations. Ever. I don’t have the time or the patience for it. I completely forgot about it myself until the owner of the security company reminded me and showed me how to pull up the old footage when I called him. As for you guys being told, you were. When Mom and Dad decided they wanted to up security and sat in on that meeting, they explained it all. But the problem is, you guys tune everything out that doesn’t concern you.”
“Why does it seem like Ella knows more than any of the rest of us?” Aiden asked Cade.
Aiden watched as she narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you just hear me say you were both told?”
“Don’t ask me. I think she has some secret pact with Mom and Dad and now I believe she is spying on us all,” Cade said, grinning.
She stood up in a huff. “Get over yourself. I’ve got more important things to do than worry if my brothers are getting cozy with someone.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Aiden said, smirking at her now.
“Get out of here. Both of you. I’ve got work to do. And Aiden…” He stopped when she called his name. “Fix it with Nic. I like her. I need more women in this family knowing you guys don’t even listen half the time. The sides need to be evened.”