19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
T he mid-morning sun pulsed in rays as the pair held each other on the sofa. They could have forgotten about responsibility and the world outside for an eternity but the high-pitched ring of a cell phone forced them back into reality. Eliza jolted out of Judas' arms, clamoring toward her blazer, still draped over the leather side chair.
Scrambling to pull it out of the pocket, her face visibly fell when she saw her father's name on the screen.
"Shit," she muttered before answering with a flat, "Hi Dad."
Judas could hear Paul's muffled voice from the edge of the couch. Rising, he met Eliza as she paced a small path between the bar and living room before kissing her on the top of her head. "Tell your dad I said 'hi'," he whispered with a breathy voice in her ear and winked.
The comment elicited a stifled giggle and a wide-eyed look of fake admonishment. She was glad he couldn't read her mind because she might be embarrassed to admit to him that the tenor of his voice also brought a delightful shiver down her spine that made her damp moisture bloom between her thighs. Eliza forced herself to refocus her attention on what her dad was saying.
"Betsy. Are you listening to me? Where are you and what time will you be in the office? We need to talk about last night."
She sighed, watching Judas' tight ass as he pulled together ingredients for more coffee, "Yeah, Dad… I'm listening. But… I don't think we have much to talk about. I meant what I said last night…either pay Georgia what she deserves or you can find yourself another coordinator."
"Elizabeth Catherine! Don't you dare threaten me—"
A mix of shock and anger poured over Judas's face at Paul's bellowing. He stepped forward with his hand out; to do what, he wasn't sure. The reaction felt naturally reflexive but Eliza shook her head gently, pursing her lips in a look that told him 'I've got this.'
"I'm serious, Dad. Put in the paperwork this minute or I'm finished. I'll end my leave of absence and go back to my salaried career. It's a good deal, Dad. Because you won't find anyone that will take over my responsibilities for the amount I'm compensated." She disconnected the call.
Judas stood in shock. He watched this woman cater to, placate, babysit, and manage her father for weeks but never to the level he just witnessed. It was impressive.
"He's already typing the pay adjustment. I'll check with payroll after I get there to make sure they back-pay," tossing the phone on the bar, Eliza turned on her heel and walked to the bedroom.
Judas followed, "What was that with your father?"
He leaned on the doorframe, watching her dress.
Sighing, Eliza plopped on the end of the king-sized bed to button her shirt, "I was looking over the campaign accounts from last month. I noticed something weird with the payroll, so I did a little digging. Turns out, Georgia, the intern that… caught us…"
She looked up just as Judas's cheeks flushed.
"She's being paid three dollars less an hour than the other intern… who, of course, is a guy. I confronted him about it, which just devolved into an argument about how my worldview is skewed because of my liberal college education," jumping from her seat, she pulled on her jeans. "Among other things." Her voice trailed off.
"What do you mean, other things?" Judas retrieved a towel from his walk-in closet, wrapping it around his hips.
She tucked her blouse into her pants, and rolled her eyes, "Just shit he always says. I don't understand how the world really works. She should be grateful that she even has a job. If she were more of a ' good Christian girl '’, she could find a good man to marry her and she wouldn't need to work."
Judas was taken aback. Paul's words seemed to be not just insults about Georgia but about his own daughter as well. Judas himself came from what could literally be called old school thinking and he never— in his exceptionally long life— thought the same way as Paul did. Her father's attitude was at best, wholly disrespectful of all human beings and at worst, dangerous in the worst ways. Why would anyone want a person like him in charge?
Why? Because a lot of people were just like him. They hated women because they feared them.
Looking at Eliza's fierce expression and knowing her unwavering dedication to serving those around her, Judas thought to himself, if he were Paul he would fear this woman for certain. This woman was dangerous in all the right ways.