Chapter Seven
Posey
“So…” Amaya prompts, nudging me when I don’t react.
“What?” I ask, cutting through soap I removed from the molds earlier. Dealing with Emily slowed me down and now I’m trying to catch up.
“Don’t act dumb with me, Posey. You totally jumped down Emily’s throat for flirtin’ with Silas.”
“That’s not true,” I argue, slamming the cutter down harder than necessary. “She touched him inappropriately and made a suggestive comment. I would’ve called anyone out for that.”
“Mm-hmm…” Her tone tells me she doesn’t believe me but the policy is clear. I’m just following it. “Surprised you didn’t fire her.”
“I gave her two options. Get written up and apologize or get fired—same thing I would’ve done for anyone who crossed the line.”
“I’ve touched way more than your arm and you never fired me.”
Freezing mid-cut, I glare. “Maybe I should reconsider. You have smacked my ass before and that’s definitely grounds for sexual harassment.”
“Only ’cause you smacked mine first!”
I bark out a laugh. “Yes, but I did it after work hours. And we were drunk. See the difference?”
“Oh, so Emily can hit on him outside of work and you won’t care?”
“Nope.” I stack the slices of soap to one side before cutting some more.
“You’re such a bad liar.” She chuckles, but I ignore her.
Flirting is one thing, but once it turns into touching and suggestive comments, then it’s a work violation.
After I’ve finished, I place all the bars on a curing rack and grab the next mold.
I wrap up for the day a little early since I don’t want to start something new and not be able to finish it. I’m meeting my siblings at our parent’s house for dinner, so I can’t stay late.
With Silas and I carpooling to work, I can’t leave until he’s done. Ian’s supposed to give me his final report on how Silas did this week, so I walk through the barn to find him.
But then I see Emily giving Silas her phone number and telling him to call her later.
“Silas.”
His eyes meet mine behind Emily, but she quickly notices.
“Bye!” She walks away, leaving us alone.
“Are you done?” Silas asks, walking toward me. “I’m just finishin’ up.”
He’s covered in dirt and straw dust, which is exactly why I make him strip down before walking into my house. The first time I suggested it, he had no hesitations. But then I regretted it. Now, I walk in before him and don’t look back.
“Yes, but we need to speak in my office. Meet me there when you’ve clocked out.”
I leave without another word and sit behind my desk.
“Hey, I’m done now.” Silas comes in five minutes later, and I motion for him to sit. “Is this my week-trial review?”
The corner of his lip tilts up but there’s uncertainty in his voice.
Standing, I grab the envelope with his check and hand it to him. “We didn’t submit your information for direct deposit yet, so I wrote one out for you. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“Thank—wait, what?”
“Today was your last day,” I confirm, sitting back down.
“Why? I’ve done everythin’ you and Ian have asked.
I didn’t fuck up anythin’ and even hand-milked all mornin’ yesterday and today.
In fact, I took Ian’s abuse all week, which I know you told him to fuck with me, but I never complained.
And I let you put goats on my back while I was in positions I’ve never heard of before. What more do you need from me?”
Swallowing hard, I hate conflict but knew he wouldn’t take the news lightly. “I assume my father went over the company handbook or told you to read it? ’Cause I have one with your signature right here…” I hand him the packet of pages.
“Yes, what about it?”
“Employee relations are prohibited. It creates an uncomfortable workplace and isn’t tolerated. And since you’re the one on probation, I gotta let you go.”
“Who is it you think I’m havin’ relations with?”
“Emily.”
“I haven’t touched her.”
“Not yet, but you’ve made plans to see each other outside of work hours, which will then violate the policy.”
“You don’t hang out with any of your employees outside of work?”
I lick my bottom lip and his gaze lowers to my mouth.
“Hangin’ out ain’t havin’ relations with ’em.
And unless you’re sayin’ Emily will keep her hands to herself while the two of you hang out, it’s not the same thing.
Especially if you had plans to bring her to my house.
Employees datin’ is a distraction and makes for an unbalanced team. It’s why we don’t allow it.”
“Were you not the one who told me to get back out there so I could get over my ex? And now you’re gonna fire me for doin’ so?”
“It’s not about that, Silas. Screw all the single women in Willow Branch Mountain for all I care. But not the ones who work here.”
He arches a brow, leaning back in the chair. “Does that include you?”
I scoff. “You’ve just proven my point. Whaddya think happens when employees date and then break up? It brings tension and awkwardness into the workplace, so it’s better to set the expectations upfront.”
“Fine, so if I don’t hang out with Emily, I can keep my job?”
I hesitate briefly. “Yes.”
It’s not that I want him to be without a job but seeing him every day is wearing me down when I’ve spent all these years trying to pretend he didn’t exist. That made it easier to forget his rejection.
And the spiral of rejections I had after him.
He shakes his head. “She’s the only person who was nice to me this week. It’s not like I was plannin’ to fuck her.”
My spine straightens at his blunt words. “I was nice to you.”
“No…you barely tolerated me. And you weren’t exactly subtle about your dislike about me being in your house and workin’ here. Ian didn’t even say my name, just called me New Boy whenever he wanted to get my attention.”
I hold back laughter because I didn’t know Ian did that.
“I’ll talk to him about that,” I reassure him. “And tell him to ease up.”
“So I can return on Monday?”
“Yes, as long as you don’t violate the rules.”
“Do I still gotta participate in being your goat yoga guinea pig?”
I smirk. “Surprisingly, the women like you. Class nearly doubled on Thursday than what it was on Tuesday.”
“Fine.” He sighs, dramatically rolling his eyes. “Wait, whaddya mean surprisingly?”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “A couple of ’em posted videos about you and it brought more attention to the class.”
“So that makes me like…a pimp. A goat yoga pimp. I should definitely be gettin’ paid.” He crosses his arms.
Sighing, I lift my shoulders. “Fine. I’ll add it to your next check. Happy now?”
“Are you gonna kick me out if I let Michelle cut my hair or we grab drinks after?”
“No.” I furrow my brows in confusion, although I don’t think he needs a haircut. “I don’t care who you’re romantically involved with as long as they don’t work here.”
“You don’t?”
“As long as you don’t bring ’em to my house,” I quickly add.
“Ever?”
“Never,” I confirm, my skin boils hot at the thought of hearing him with another woman. I’d have to cut off my ears. “Either go to theirs or wait until you have your own place.”
“Fine, I can respect that. It is your house.”
“Exactly.”
He squeezes the arm rests. “Anythin’ else?”
“Yes, we’re due for family supper in forty-five minutes so we need to clean up.” I stand, grabbing my bag.
“I’m invited?” His face lights up.
“My mother told me to tell you, so yes. We’re hostin’ a weddin’ for my cousin next month and it’s all hands on deck to get it ready, so we’re discussin’ it tonight.”
“Sweet, let’s go.”
As soon as we’re home, I take a quick shower and dress in leggings and a tank top. We don’t get together for dinners very often anymore since everyone’s always busy with work or enjoying their downtime, so I’m looking forward to seeing them.
Even if Silas’s there and they’re going to bombard him with questions about working with me.
“You ready?” I ask, knocking on his door.
He opens it wearing only his boxer briefs.
“Why aren’t you dressed?” I ask, looking up at the ceiling to avoid staring at his tattooed chest. “We gotta be there in five minutes.”
“I couldn’t figure out what to wear. Can you help me?”
“It’s just supper.”
“I know but—” There’s insecurity in his voice, so I look at where he’s holding up two shirts. “It’s still respectful to dress appropriately when invited as a guest. So which one?”
“Well, now you’re gonna make me look underdressed.”
I study both shirts, one a casual green button-up that goes nicely with his eyes and the other a black silk dress shirt that’s far too fancy.
“The button-up will do,” I tell him. “Wear it with dark washed jeans and your nicer boots.”
“Great, thank you.”
“Mm-hmm. I’ll meet you in the truck.”
I haven’t driven my car all week, and I’m already getting too used to him driving me—which I shouldn’t—but it’s still nice.
We’re the last ones to walk into my parents’ house so everyone stares and claps, making a big dramatic deal about us being three minutes late.
“I can’t believe you’re still alive,” Warren taunts, standing to greet Silas when we walk around the table. “I was about to go search for your dead body.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask offensively, taking a seat next to Bellamy.
“It means I know you.” Warren raises his brow at me. “You don’t play nice.”
“Still breathin’ but she did try to fire me earlier.”
Dammit, I should’ve told him he couldn’t bring that up.
“What?” Gasps echo throughout the room, and my eyes land on Maisie who’s smirking wide because she knows more details than anyone else here.
Dad walks in and kisses me on top of the head. “Nice try, sweetheart. You can’t fire him without reasonable cause.”
“Which I had,” I confirm. “Employee relations.”
Everyone’s gazes snap toward Silas who’s sitting between Warren and Colton.
“I didn’t do anythin’…” He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “A girl gave me her number and I said we could hang out.”
“Ooo…” Everyone winces, shaking their heads.
“Yeah, yeah…I turned her down now.”
“Weren’t you just engaged last weekend?” Bodie asks.