CHAPTER SEVEN
“WHERE WERE YOU last night?”
Charlie ignored Dawn and kept typing up the security procedures she wanted in place for guest emergencies. Her keyboard clicked in the silence.
“Charlotte,” Dawn said more loudly, her voice grating over Charlie’s eardrums. “I asked you a question.”
“I was at my new apartment,” she answered.
“Your what?”
Charlie kept typing. “My new apartment.”
“What do you mean? We’ve provided you with an apartment here!”
“Yeah, well. I’m not required to stay here and I found it a little confining.”
“No! You’re supposed to be here, at the resort, so that you can be around for any emergencies.”
“I’m sorry, Dawn, but that’s not in my contract,” Charlie countered, trying to keep her voice level. It wouldn’t do to let Dawn hear the disdain and hate and impatience that were eating her alive.
“Oh, really? You know what is in your contract?” She paused long enough to make Charlie respond.
“What?” she finally growled.
“A morality clause.”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “A what?” When she looked up, Dawn smirked.
“Oh, now you’re paying attention. Clearly you’re aware of what your weaknesses are.”
“What do you mean a morality clause?”
“Look it up, Charlotte. You signed it.”
She couldn’t look it up, because her personal files were at her new apartment, safe from prying eyes. Then again, she didn’t really need to look. The arrogant smile on Dawn’s face made clear she was telling the truth.
“After the things you did in Tahoe, we had to protect ourselves.”
“I was cleared of any wrongdoing,” Charlie said, her voice still calm, but her heart was picking up speed.
“I know, sweetie. And we want to believe in you. We’ve known you for years. You’re like family. That’s why we gave you a chance. But that doesn’t mean we have to bury our heads in the sand.”
“I did not break the law in Tahoe and I won’t break it here. Anything else I do with my life is none of your business.”
“Oh, not anything.”
Charlie sighed. What she wanted to say was I don’t want your boring-ass husband, so you don’t need to worry. Instead she gritted her teeth and said, “Is there anything about the work I’m doing that concerns you?”
“Aside from the fact that you decided to abandon your post? No, not so far. But I’m having Eli train me on some of the video surveillance so I can understand what you do better.”
Charlie blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I want to be the best executive manager I can be,” Dawn added with a heavy layer of false cheer. “To do that, I need to understand everyone’s work.”
“You can’t just play with the surveillance equipment! One wrong move and you might erase important files. Those videos might be needed in court if there’s ever a crime committed here.”
“I absolutely understand. That’s why I want you to take over the training from Eli. Make sure I’m learning everything I need.”