AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But Nigel hadn’t been so willing to accept the change. So much so that he had made it his mission to exploit Chrissie’s good nature and guilt trip her into doing a heap of extra work.
When it came time to leave the city and work from home, Chrissie had felt nothing but relief at the prospect of seeing Nigel about ninety percent less than she previously did when she worked in the office.
‘I’ll take a seat.’ Nigel said, not waiting to be invited. ‘What a shithole this place is. I don’t think I’ll risk ordering a coffee. Who knows what generic crap I’ll get served.’
Chrissie blushed with embarrassment. She wanted Stallion Valley to be her home, and the thought that the other patrons of the Little Diner might think that her and Nigel were friends was too much to bear.
‘W-w-w-what do you want?’ Chrissie said, keeping her voice low and her eyes down.
‘What do I want?’ Nigel said, leaning back in the seat and looking around the diner with pure disdain on his face. ‘Ha! Well allow me to explain.’
Nigel went on to say that he wasn’t happy with Chrissie’s move out of the city, that he felt like she couldn’t be trusted to work from home. He even used the fact that Chrissie was in the diner as evidence of that…
‘But Iwasworking!’ Chrissie said, a tear forming in her eye as she struggled to stay composed. ‘Don’t be horrible! You’re just doing this because we broke up!’
‘Shut up! Long story short is that you’re not moving here. Not unless you want to find yourself out of a job,’ Nigel said. ‘I’ve checked with corporate and I am actually able to do this if I feel an employee is not suitable to work from home. Which, in my all-important opinion, a stupid Little like you isnot. So I’ll see you back around the office very soon…’
Chrissie broke down in tears. But rather than show even a trace of sympathy, Nigel simply stood up and walked out of the diner cackling.
Chrissie didn’t know what to do.
She knew that Nigel was well connected with the high-level corporate bosses at work. He wouldn’t lie about being able to do this either. No, this was planned out. A spiteful move designed to upset her.
Chrissie felt like her world was caving in. She loved that job – and she also knew that if she quit, Nigel would make sure he bad-mouthed her all across the major companies in the industry.
What am I going to do?
I can’t lose this job, I just can’t.
I might have to leave Stallion Valley.
I might just have to break my own heart.
Chapter8
Jack
The meeting with the Stallion Valley council was going exactly as these things always went. Jack was being patient, showing his best side, and holding his tongue as the various council members rambled on and on about their own personal concerns.
I’d rather be anywhere than here right now.
I want to be with my Little, damn it…
But Jack being Jack, and with the Malley family name behind him, felt it was his duty to allow everyone their fair shot at airing their grievances.
Some members of the council were in favor of a big new media campaign to raise Stallion Valley’s profile in order to attract outside investment. This had its advantages, Jack could see that.
Other council members were wary and skeptical of the idea, fearing that too much outside investment could see the town lose what made it so wonderful. Jack could also very much empathize with this side of the coin.
Stallion Valley’s history was all about family and community. The businesses were all based on local people providing a service, and service with a smile too. Jack loved this – and so did everyone else, locals and visitors alike. But Jack also knew that they had to keep on striving to bring money into the economy as without it, there was a danger that some of the smaller businesses might struggle in the future. It was a conundrum, but one that Jack thought he might just know how to solve.
‘If you would allow me a moment,’ Jack said, standing up from his chair and taking a moment to look around the room.
It was a typical council room, all mahogany furnishings and portraits on the walls of various notable figures from Stallion Valley’s history.
Of course, there were plenty of Malley family members up there too from Jack’s great grandfather to his various uncles, and then his mother as well.
‘Yes, Jack?’ Mr. Dupree said. ‘What’s your take on this?’
