In a husky voice he said, “I don’t believe I ever said those words.” His eyes never left hers.
“Seth, I heard you talking to Charles.” It was hard to admit, but if she wanted him to trust her, she had to be honest.
“I’ll have to make sure I close the door next time.”
“I’m not joking Seth.” She wanted… no needed to know. It was bothering her in a way she didn’t understand. This was just a job. How he felt shouldn’t matter. So why does it?
“So I can see. But you misunderstood,” he said seriously. “You didn’t hear the entire conversation. I updated him on everything that transpired yesterday. He agreed with the course of action.”
“Seth, those are facts. None of that has anything to do with…with…”
“My feelings,” he said. She nodded. He finally gets it. Seth added, “I don’t dislike you Charlene. You just…aren’t…like anyone else I know.”
If I had a dollar every time I’ve heard that.“Different doesn’t mean…bad.”
“Never said it was. But if it gets in the way of work, then it could be.”
“Trust me Seth, it won’t. Give me a chance to show you I can do what I was hired for. You won’t be disappointed if you do.”
He looked at her and said, “You’re telling me all this because of that call?”
She shrugged. “I believe in fate. And before you tell me you don’t, that’s okay. I really believe that whatever happened to get these people to call my number, I need to explore it.”
“I already told you I’m going to have Sal look into it.”
“I know, but that will be the facts, but what about the fate?” she asked.
Seth raised a brow. “I’m tempted to ask what the hell that means, but I have a meeting and I don’t think I have time to wrap my head around trying to figure it out. Maybe we can talk about it at lunch.”
Charlene almost said no, but then remembered Sofia telling her Seth doesn’t do lunch. “Okay. In the meantime, can I please send over a repairman to take a look at the refrigerator?”
He raised a finger. “This one last time Charlene. I mean it. Do NOT answer that phone again until we figure out what is going on. Understood?”
She saluted him saying “Yes sir!” Smiling she turned back to her desk.
As Seth was leaving her office he said, “Charlene, I expect the short version.” She wrinkled her nose, totally puzzled and he added, “At lunch. You only get an hour, and I’ve heard you give a brief recap.”
Was she seeing things or were his lips curling slightly. Mark that down for two victories and it’s not even ten in the morning.
“I’m glad you came to me. One time is a fluke. Charlene is right, something is going on here,” Sal said.
“Let’s shut her phone line down until you know what the hell is going on,” Seth said.
“Actually I suggest doing the opposite. So far the two people who have called her have nothing to do with each other. The apartment buildings aren’t owned by the same companies. Until we have a link, shutting the line down wouldn’t be beneficial to Lawson Steel.”
“So you want her to keep answering them?” That really concerned Seth. “I think that’s a bad idea.”
“I didn’t say it had to be her, but we want that line open. Would you like me to answer them going forward?”
Seth was concerned Sal was going to suggest that he do it. Recently Seth seemed to get a lot of things dumped on him that no one else wanted. He got it. His brothers were getting married, having kids, living their lives. He had one himself, although maybe not as exciting as he’d like. Since his father retired several years ago, Seth took over the bookkeeping aspect. There had been many discrepancies in the beginning. That’s when Seth learned, nothing gets done better than you can do it yourself.
Shit.He knew what that meant.
“I’ll take the calls. You just find out who is trying to fuck with us. And until we know for sure who that someone is, let’s not tell the others. I don’t want a panic running through the family if we can avoid it.”
“For the moment, I will abide by your request. If I feel at any time that anyone might be in danger, I won’t stop to ask your permission. Understood?” Sal stated firmly.
“I don’t expect anything less. Charles made it clear when he brought you on. You do what you need to and ask questions later.” The issue seemed to be that Charlene acted in the same manner, however without the experience required.