Page 467 of Seasons of Love
“Frank, Brian has been a major contradictory force in the team. I’ve been managing him, but I wasn’t able to pinpoint the reason for his behavior other than him having a sour feeling toward me for getting the job he wanted.”
John stood up. “Brian has been overlooked for promotion more times than I care to count. He’s given years of dedication to your company, and he’s gotten peanuts back. Then you hire someone like him,” he said, pointing at me. “Who then goes and betrays your trust by getting involved with your nephew.”
His voice got louder as he continued. “And as if that’s not enough, his husband is also in on it and seduces your nephew too. Hell, at this stage, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were all in some kind of disgusting threesome. When I came into this information, I wanted to advise you as a friend. If anyone should run the resort, it’s Jacob, but now I doubt even he’s going to do a good enough job if he lets what’s in his pants get in the way of his work.”
“John, out of respect for our friendship, I’d like you to go now,” Frank said.
“I will go, but I’ll just leave you with this…if you want to keep the reputation of the resort, you will promote Brian, who’s happily married to a woman, with one child and another on the way. He’ll do a good job because he’s focused, and he wants it. Do that, and the contract is back on.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Good luck finding a contractor to do the job. This is a small island, and the world outside of it isn’t that big.”
And with those parting words, John left the room.
Frank stood up and went over to the drinks tray by the window. He poured scotch into a glass and drank it straight up.
“Pardon my French, but what the fuck is going on?”
22
JAKE
I looked into my uncle’s eyes and saw nothing but disappointment.
I’d done everything right in my life until I hadn’t.
Bile rose in my stomach, and I had to run.
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t stop until I got to the nearest bathroom and emptied the contents of my stomach down the toilet until there was nothing but dry heaving.
“Hey, are you okay?” Gabe asked. “You didn’t drink that much. Are you getting sick?”
I shook my head.
Standing up was a challenge, but I made it with his help so I could rinse my mouth.
He opened the cabinet over the sink and passed me the small bottle of mouthwash. I took it and mixed some of it with water from the glass.
“Jake, you’re shaking.”
I looked at him.
“And you’re crying.”
Was I? Maybe that’s why Gabe was a little blurry.
“What happened? I was walking the last guest to the door when I saw John leave and you run out of the office.
“Everyone left?”
“The game finished, but Sam is still here. He, Zak, and I were going to watch a movie, but I can send him home.”
“No, no, you should do that. You’ve been studying too hard. You need a night off.”
He smiled. “You really are the best big brother-slash-cousin anyone could ever ask for, aren’t you? Tell me what’s wrong. Did you fight with Griff and Mal?”
