“You said you were going to sell your jewelry.” The man hops from topic to topic so fast that I have difficulty following him. “Are you in financial trouble?”
He’s also not afraid of asking deeply personal questions. I could tell him to mind his own business, but he’s my boss’s boss, and I don’t think Ethan would appreciate me being rude to the older gentleman.
“I was just talking to myself.”
He eyes me dubiously. “Are you sure that boy is paying you enough? What’s your salary?”
“Mr. Blake!” I exclaim, and he sighs.
“Alright, alright. I won’t ask. But if it’s to the point of you having to sell jewelry, I want to have a word with him.”
I don’t know how to respond to this man who has suddenly decided to take such a deep interest in my life. “I appreciate your concern, but I can handle my own problems.”
“Aha! So you are having financial problems!” He looks displeased. “I’ll talk to him. I never took Ethan to be a miser.”
“Who’s a miser?”
Ethan’s voice has me jerking my head up, and he walks into my line of sight, a frown on his face. “Roland, what are you doing in Chicago?”
Roland looks up at him. “Personal business.”
Ethan glances at me, then back at his investor, and his voice is tense. “So why am I a miser?”
Before I can step in and say anything, the older man gets to his feet, using his cane for support. “How much do you pay your employees, Ethan, that they’re forced to sell their belongings to make ends meet? Natalie here is considering selling her jewelry!”
“What?” Ethan demands sharply, his voice filled with anger as he turns to face me. “What is he saying? Is it true?”
I look between the two men. “Ah. I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I was sitting by myself, talking to myself, and I didn’t?—”
“Are you selling your belongings?!” The cold fury in Ethan’s face makes me go still.
“No. I just—Mr. Blake misheard?—”
However, Ethan doesn’t let me finish. “Roland, I need to talk to Natalie alone.”
“I would prefer to stay here for this conversation,” the older man says obstinately.
He’s clearly only going to make things worse. I don’t know why he’s being this way, but I’m starting to panic.
“Mr. Blake, Ethan and I need to speak privately. Can you please give us a minute?” I finally venture.
His shoulders deflate, and he shakes his head. “Alright. But if he does anything?—”
“Of course,” I say quickly, without even letting him finish his sentence. I have no idea what he was going to say, but I know the more he interferes, the more pissed off Ethan is going to be. The last thing I need is to create a problem out of thin air.
I make sure Roland is out of earshot before I face Ethan. “I’m not selling anything.”
“How bad are your finances?” he asks bluntly.
I close my eyes briefly, pinching the bridge of my noseclosed as I pray for patience. Finally I speak. “My finances happen to be none of your business.”
He takes a step towards me. “I won’t ask again, Natalie.”
My jaw hardens as I gaze at him. I refuse to step back. “Or what?” His eyes flash at me, and a fury courses through me. “Go ahead. You made that half-baked threat. Follow through with it. What are you going to do if I don’t answer your question?”
He’s silent, watching me with that unnerving gaze.
“My finances, my personal life are mine. They’ve got nothing to do with you. And what Roland overheard was me considering whether I should sell my accumulated jewelry so that I can pay the penalty for breaking the contract.”
