Hunter's Fortune (River Jewel Resort Series Book 2) by Madison Sevier Read Free Book Online

shortly before the old man passed away and I’ve watched the company and the livelihood of the employees dwindle ever since. I held on this long thinking we’d finally get a good bonus. I know the place has landed a ton of contracts this year. But, once again, the drivers got screwed. Golde Trucking is a damn joke. There is n o gold standar d . And the President is as fake as a three-dollar-bill.”
    Hunter had mistakenly chosen to take a sip of her cocoa as the man announced his employer. She sprayed cocoa all over the table and Lee.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Mortified, she coughed and sputtered as she tried to clean up the mess.
    “Really? What is wrong with you?”
    “Must’ve gone down the wrong pipe. I’m really, really sorry.”
    Once the cocoa was wiped away, Lee continued and Hunter felt lower and lower.
    “So, this year I had enough to pay our electric bill and buy a few groceries. Ever since Morgan’s mom took off, it’s just been her and me.”
    Morgan’s mother leaving struck a chord with Hunter. “That poor darling.”
    “Yeah, well, her mom couldn’t handle being with a trucker. Or so she said. We haven’t heard from her in two years. Not even a damn birthday card for Morgan. The only blessing in all of it is that I never married her. So, I don’t have huge lawyer fees from a divorce.”
    “That’s awful!”
    “Well, we can’t all be made of money.” He snapped.
    “What makes you think I’m made of money?”
    “I saw you yesterday, remember? I know your car and I saw your fancy clothes, your purse. I may be a man, but I know expensive things when I see them.”
    “I’ll have you know, I’m not rich. I was. But it’s gone. So, you can roll back your self-righteous indignation now.”
    “Oh? So, you lost your money and now you’re slumming with the little people today? Nice.”
    “What the hell is wrong with you? I offered to buy you and your daughter a hot chocolate and now you’re acting like an asshole! Maybe your boss has a reason to be a bitch if she has employees like you.”
    “Whatever.”
    Hunter was so shocked at the turn in conversation, she found herself on the verge of exploding at this man. Who did he think he was!
    “Y’know, you rich folks are all the same. I’m not some charity case.”
    “I never said you were.”
    “You’re nosy. Eavesdropping on my conversation with my daughter and butting in where you have no business. What did you hope to get out of this meeting? Did you think being nice to some poor strangers would change your karma, get your money back for you?”
    “No, actually. I thought it’d be nice to sit with someone and enjoy a friendly conversation. But you know what, forget it. I’m outta here. It’s no wonder Morgan’s mom left you. You, sir, are a jerk!”
    Hunter tossed payment for the cocoa on the table and rose to her feet. As she reached the door, she spun around and marched back to the table.
    “You know, I wasn’t going to say anything and risk you hating me more, but I believe we are beyond that now. So, Mr. Michaels, I’m sorry you didn’t like your calendar. I thought it would be a way to remind the employees who cannot seem to keep themselves on schedule, that we have deadlines. And I di d sign authorization for every employee to get a check for five-thousand dollars this year for Christmas. I was under the assumption that each and every family had been given their bonuses. In fact, I believed I was the only one who wouldn’t be having a great Christmas because my company was robbed, every dime stolen except for what I believed I’d paid the drivers and office staff.”
    Lee sat there, mouth wide open and Hunter rambled on.
    “Furthermore, I am not a bitch. I may have had to take over this company, but I didn’t want it. Like you stated, I was handed the job. I try every day to run things like my father did and being a woman in this position isn’t easy. Not everyone is like Morgan’s mom. Maybe if you weren’t so