Chapter 25 The Attempt On Greg
“Alright people, that’s a WRAP. SHUT IT DOWN. PACK IT UP! Cincinnati is behind us and a well deserved break back home in Kansas City awaits us before our Holiday Season ending of the tour! Break it down!” James called as Greg approached him. “Where’ve you been?”
“Were you looking for me?”
“Yeah. Carry couldn’t reach you either. We need a Veronique get together back in Kansas City.”
“We could barbeque at my place if you want.”
“Good, we can do the presentations there too,” James mused.
“Presentations?” Greg asked, confused.
“Veronique Employee Awards,” he replied. “V thought it would be a morale builder.”
“It definitely builds team morale, inspiring team-members to higher performances. They work harder to achieve things they thought were difficult.” He paused as he watched the crew disassembling the gear on the stage.
“So, we can use the outside patio,” he paused, thinking things through in his head.
“Or if the weather goes bad, my house is still big enough.”
“Works for me. I’ve got to oversee this, so,” James was saying when he suddenly stopped. “NO! The AMP goes first. Then you get that big speaker back behind the keyboard.” He shook his head. “See what I mean. Would you go tell Carry and V?”
“Sure thing, James,” Greg said with a pat on his shoulder then he pivoted and walked away. “Hey Billy, walk with me?” he called.
“But the break down,” he started to protest as Greg wrapped his arm around his shoulder, turning him around.
Greg shot him a look and Billy just shook his head lightly.
“Alright, but I’m not taking the blame if this goes south.
” They kept walking slowly away from the stage area, Greg taking a moment to form the wording he wanted to use.
Billy waited patiently, then finally nudged Greg.
“That sermon yesterday, and the bible study last week. That’s had me thinking. I can see that you and Carry are getting closer. I don’t want to sound like a jealous man, but she’s really getting too close to you for my comfort.”
“It’s not up to me. I am just doing what I’m told,” he deflected. “Carry said you told her to date me to find out if anything could develop, and now,,,”
“Now I am wondering if it was the right choice of wording. But I’m not going to blame you for my own mistakes. I just want you to know that I still love her too.”
“Fair enough,” he answered in acknowledgement. He shook his head then tipped his Stetson back on his head. “Greg, I don’t know what to do about this situation. I’ve tried not falling for her because I respect you, but,,,” his voice trailed off.
“But she gets under your skin and you can’t help but love her,” he said with a smile and a soft laugh. “I’m just glad that you can make her happy too. That’s really what matters to me. I just don’t think I am ready to walk away.”
“I’m not asking you to,” Billy protested.
“I know, Billy. But I think she’s starting to fall for you too, and I have to admit that kind of scares me a bit.”
“Yet, you can date Veronica?”
“That’s why I agreed to this. It’s only fair for her and, quite honestly,” he dropped his head then slowly lifted it back up. “If I’m completely honest, it’s only fair for you too. It’s just not easy for me.”
“I’ll say. Not that easy for me either,” he laughed. “How about a beer before we go?”
“I wish I could, but I’ve got to tell V about the Veronique Awards meeting at my house. Oh, by the way, consider yourself voluntold – your grill-master.”
“Alright. That I can do,” he laughed. “Maybe I better go help break down.”
“Alright, Billy. I’ll catch up with you later.” Greg strode away.
“Girls, let’s pack it up,” Carry called. “We’re heading back home for our break before the final leg of the tour. It’s going to be nice to go home. I’m sick of hotels.”
“So am I,” Cassie said. “I really can’t wait to get back to the manor.”
“Yeah,” Wendy said. “It will be nice to get some home time, right Katie.”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to get home again.” Katie looked up. “Greg?”
“Is Carry in here?”
“I’m over here,” she called and waved her hands high. “Come on over.”
Greg wound his way through the chaos as the girls packed away the bottles of the scents they hadn’t sold. He finally got over to Carry, who was bent over to pick up a final package of Vanilla Rose. “Now, that’s quite the sight,” he observed.
“Still looking at my ass, Greg?” she fired at him tongue in cheek.
“Do you blame me?” he said slightly defensively.
“No,” she chirped. “It’s perfect. AND, if you play your cards right,” she said standing up, “Maybe you can beat Billy out for it.”
“Ouch!” Cassie said. “You just got dissed!” She moved over by Carry. “Did you only come to stare at my cousins backside?”
“No,” he said. “That was just a bonus. I’ve come to deliver a message from James.”
“Alright,” Carry said as she snapped around, crossing her arms. “I’m listening.”
“Veronique Awards Barbeque will be at my house during the break.”
“Good. We have a venue. Cassie, you have the decorations and Wendy and Katie have music.”
“On it boss,” Wendy and Katie said happily.
“You really have grown into the role,” Greg observed.
“I earned my spot here with hard work and determination,” she asserted.
“Indeed. And you have grown. You weren’t as confident when you started with me, but you believed that you could learn and be the best.”
“And I am the best,” she said firmly. “Now!”
“With my help along the way, as well as many others.”
“Are you trying to take something from me?”
“No, Carry. Quite the opposite. I’m trying to recognize how much you’ve grown as a leader and worker. I admire that.”
“Oh,” she said, suddenly changing her tone. “You really mean that you like how I’ve become the manager of Veronique.”
“I wish you were still at Pimico with me, but,” he sighed. “Yes. I am proud of the woman you have become.”
“Have you informed V?”
“Not yet. Do you know where she is?”
“Performers lounge, back in the right,” she said thumbing over her left shoulder. “I can tell her.”
“No, I promised James I’d deliver this message myself,” he said, then leaned in close and whispered. “I still love you, and if I could, I’d kiss you right now.”
“What’s stopping you?” she whispered back.
“You,” he said barely audible. “I don’t want to do something you don’t want.”
“I’ll allow this, because you said you still love me,” she said, turning and kissing him deeply. “I do still love you too. Don’t forget this.” Then she placed a single finger on his nose. “Boop. Go tell Veronica.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a smile and worked his way to the performers lounge.
“Well, it’s about time, Mr. Garrelson,” Veronica called from behind the changing screen. “What took you so long?”
“Mr. Garrelson?” Greg asked in astonishment then heard Veronica start laughing.
“I knew that would get you,” she said as she continued laughing. After a moment she stood up straight as she finished switching dresses. “Seriously, Greg. What took you so long?”
“Your manager,” Greg chuckled. “He asked for me as I was heading your way.”
“What did James want?”
“We’re going to do the Veronique Awards Barbeque at my place back in Kansas City. Billy will be the Grill Master and I’ll just enjoy the time with everyone.”
“Greg, that sounds rather non-committal.” She stepped out from behind the curtain. “We’re two thirds of the way through the tour. There’s only the Holiday Season left. I’d have thought you’d have made up your mind by now.”
“So would I, but that whole thing with the Mini-Limo still lingers in my head.”
“What do you mean,” she asked, perplexed.
“I mean I’ve had a lot on my mind, but I keep going back to that night when we were shot at. Something doesn’t add up. It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
“What’s not sitting right with you? We’re running K1 just like Keith has been overseeing, but ‘The Enforcer’ has been a no-show, Greg.”
“That’s what bothers me so much. For weeks we’ve been dangling the bait and he’s not taking it. Something is off.”
“Maybe he was hurt worse than we thought, Greg,” she replied as she came around with her phone. “Aunt Janet sent this,” she said and showed him her screen.
‘Lance Marsden – 26 – of Overland Park, Kansas succumbed to the coma he’d been in for almost four weeks last night. The pioneer of Marsden’s Imports suffered a near fatal crash when his car was run off the twelfth street bridge at night…’
“Lance died?” he asked.
“It appears that way. Maybe ‘The Enforcer’ hasn’t shown because he can’t. I don’t know but tell me something else that makes sense.”
“Veronica,” Greg started then glanced back down at her screen. “Did Aunt Janet share that with Keith or anyone else?”
“Yes, she sent it to the whole group you set up for her. You should have received the notice too.”
“I would have if my phone were alive.” Greg grimaced as he saw Veronica turn and eye him closely.
“My charging block died last night, and I didn’t know it.
I couldn’t find my portable backup supply, so I was trying to limp it by, but before I could get the replacement charging block, my phone died. ”
“You can recharge it now,” she offered.
“No, I’ll do it on the plane. There’s been nothing outstanding for the past week.”
“Just remember that our Holiday Season begins in Columbus, and James is trying to negotiate a stop in Cleveland, then Indianapolis, Chicago and finally back home in Kansas City for Christmas. I’d like my gift to be your heart.”
Jenny walked through the manor with her head down.
She knew Suzy was distraught after Lance had died.
She hadn’t even spoken to anyone since the funeral.
She checked with Suzy, but she was still sitting silent in the corner where she usually was laughing.
No, she wasn’t laughing now. She was hurt and maybe even angry.
“Suzy? Are you alright?” Suzy sat there for a long time in silence.