Pink Velvet Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 9 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) by Carol Durand, Summer Prescott Read Free Book Online

me that she didn’t care what your wishes were in
regard to her wedding, and that there was no way in the world that she was
going to work with me. Having met with her, I have to say that I agree it would
be best if we part ways and forget the idea of me helping out,” Missy stared him
down.
    The
smile dropped from the mayor’s face and he blinked rapidly, once, twice, three
times. “I don’t believe that you understand the situation, Miss Gladstone,” he
said, taking out his handkerchief to wipe his brow. “My daughter is getting
married in just under a year from now, she will have a perfect wedding, and
you’re the one who’s going to make certain that folks are still talking about
her wedding decades into the future,” he commanded, leaning forward. “Now, I am
fully aware that my daughter can be a bit…headstrong, but I’m absolutely
certain that a woman of your caliber is more than qualified to provide my
precious Prissy with the guidance that she needs in order to…harness her
creativity in a positive way,” Felton insisted with a determined smile.
    Missy
didn’t quite know how to respond. She had always believed that honesty was the
best policy, but how does one go about telling the highest elected official in
the parish that his precious Prissy is an ill-mannered, spoiled brat? She knew
that she would have to present her views strongly to withstand the smiling
tempest in a teapot who sat across the table from her, but she opted to go with
tactful diplomacy rather than brutal honesty in consideration of his love for
his venomous offspring. “Mr. Mayor…Felton, your Prissy and I have a serious
personality conflict that cannot be overcome to a degree that planning her
wedding together would be possible. We are gasoline and flame, and I really
don’t think you want that kind of volatility overshadowing this special time in
her life,” Missy smiled triumphantly, figuring that she had won.
    “Now,
Miss Gladstone, I’m sure that you as an adult, will find a way to reach out to
my lovely daughter and help her to see things from a reasonable, adult
perspective. I know you’ve been enjoying tremendous success in your business
lately, and I, for one, would hate to see a decline in your customer base if
word happened to get out that you, Melissa Gladstone, were in the habit of
committing to projects that you can’t finish, or making promises that you can’t
keep,” the politician clucked his tongue and shook his head as though
disheartened by the thought.
    Missy
admirably held her tongue, not saying the things that were screaming inside her
skull, relating to manipulation, entitlement, ill manners, etc… Since diplomacy
didn’t work, clearly she’d have to be more direct. “Felton, your daughter
refuses to work with me. Her exact words were, “You’re fired.” There’s no grey
area there, her meaning and intentions were quite clear. She was angry that you
hired me, and more than willing to get rid of me at the earliest opportunity.
She threw her dog at me for goodness sake!” Missy exclaimed.
    “Yes,
she’s a spirited female, you’ll need to get used to her sense of humor. She
told me that she had given you the dog since you were so taken with the
creature. She has such a generous side to her,” the mayor smiled. “So, you
choose a date when the two of you can get together again, and try to get some
actual planning done this time. That girl is so hard to pin down, I can only
imagine how challenging it must be to try to brainstorm with her, but I’m
confident that you’ll make it happen. Oh dear, look at the time,” he pursed his
lips, glancing at his watch. “Sugar, you order anything you like, lunch is on
me, but I’ve got a speaking engagement that I’m going to be late to if I don’t
shake a tailfeather,” he said, standing and moving toward the lobby. “Great
talking with you again, glad we could come to an understanding,” he called over
his shoulder, waving a pudgy hand in