Always Yours by Kari March Read Free Book Online Page A

opened for business at 4pm. First, I needed to formally fire Tammy, once that was taken care of I would need to get a jump on posting an ad for a new manager—two things I really didn't want to do. Maybe, I could get Shay to finally accept the position. Then I wouldn't have to go through the whole process again.
    Rolling my eyes at myself, I turned on my side and pushed all the thoughts away. I could worry about all of this shit later. Right now, I needed to sleep.

    "I warned you over a month ago about this and now you've missed three shifts in the past two weeks. It's unacceptable and I won't tolerate it any longer," I sternly told Tammy. Even though inside, I was a bundle of nerves. She sat across from me in the office, looking completely dumbfounded and I almost felt bad for having to do this to someone as clueless as her. "I need someone I can rely on in this position and unfortunately, it just isn't working out. I'm sorry, Tammy, but I'm going to have to let you go."
    "What?" she screeched. "You're kidding me, right? I've made this place so much money the past six months and this is how I'm repaid!" The high-pitched tone of her voice was making my ears hurt.
    "Excuse me? First of all, our sales have not increased or decreased since you've been here, Tammy, I can show you the numbers if you'd like. Second, I'm not kidding. Your attendance record speaks for itself," I explained.
    "This is wrongful termination, you know. You can't fire me!" she retorted back.
    "Well, I just did. Here is your final paycheck. Please, clean out your locker and leave the property immediately," I said, handing her the check.
    "Screw you, Cara, and good luck replacing me!" she yelled. Standing up, she snatched the envelope from my hand. She narrowed her eyes at me before quickly exiting the office. I heard her slam the locker door before she stomped out of the bar shouting obscenities and cursing my name.
    "Well, that was fun," I noted as I looked over at Royce. I could tell he was amused. "Don't you dare laugh at me," I warned, knowing that was exactly what he was going to do. That situation couldn't have been more awkward and I'm sure it showed all over my face.
    "Care-bear, firing people is the hardest part of this job, and you did fine, considering who you were dealing with. You stood your ground and remained professional. Just one thing; next time, try not to let your face give it away that you're a nervous nillie." He laughed. I playfully chucked my pen at his head while giving him a dirty look. "Now get to work on hiring a new manager. You need the time away from this place, even if it is just one or two nights a week. I don't need you turning this old bar into your life like I did."
    "Where was that thinking when you decided to take mom on a two months’ vacation? I can't believe you are leaving the bar in my hands for that long." I shook my head at him. Traveling abroad overseas was one of my mother's lifelong dreams and Royce was making it come true.
    "You'll be fine, plus, we will be back for two weeks in the middle of it. So if you mess up with the next person you hire, we can deal with it then." He laughed again as he stood up and walked out the door.

    Just as I was about to hit publish on the ad I had made on Craigslist for the manager position, I heard Shay come stomping through the back door. She was mumbling something under her breath and she sounded pissed.
    "Is Kyle still being difficult?" I yelled out to her. I heard her slam the locker door and I took that as a yes. She released a frustrated groan before she stomped her way into the office.
    "When isn't he difficult?" She plopped down into the chair and started massaging her temples. "I don't even know why I’m arguing with him. He's never going to change his mind about marriage." The disappointment in her voice hit me hard. I hated seeing her like this. It wasn't like her to be this negative. "I mean, what am I even doing in this relationship if it's never going to move