A Bargain with the Boss Read Online Free PDF Page B

hard.”
    â€œThat’s not for you to decide.”
    She knew that was true. But it wasn’t for Tuck to decide, either.
    â€œHe doesn’t even know about our father,” said Tuck.
    â€œIf he knew, he’d come home.”
    Tuck’s voice rose. “Of course he’d come home.”
    â€œAnd then he’d be back to square one, worse off than he was before. I know it must be hard for you without him.”
    â€œYou know ? You don’t know anything.”
    â€œI’ve worked here for five years.” It was on the tip of her tongue to say that it was a whole lot longer than Tuck had worked here, but she checked herself in time.
    â€œAs an assistant .”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou don’t have the full picture. You don’t know the risks, the critical decisions.”
    â€œI know Dixon.”
    Tuck’s tone turned incredulous. “You’re saying I don’t?”
    Amber’s voice rose. “I’m saying I’ve been here. I watched how hard he’s worked. I saw how much your father slowed down these past months. I watched what Kassandra’s infidelity did to him. He was losing it, Tuck. He took a break because he had no other choice.”
    Tuck gripped the side of the desk, his jaw going tight.
    Amber mentally braced herself for an onslaught.
    But his voice stayed steady, his words measured. “My father was slowing down?”
    â€œYes. A lot. Margaret was funneling more and more work to Dixon. Dixon was scrambling. He was staying late, coming in early, traveling all over the world.”
    â€œHe likes traveling.”
    â€œYou can’t constantly travel and still run a company. And then Kassandra.”
    â€œHer behavior was despicable.”
    â€œIt hurt him, Tuck. Yes, he was disgusted and angry. But he was also very badly hurt.”
    Tuck rocked back on his heels, his expression going pensive. “He didn’t let on.”
    Amber hesitated but decided to share some more information. If it would help Tuck understand the gravity of the situation, it would do more good than harm.
    â€œThere were times when I heard more than I should,” she said. “I know Dixon was ready to be a father. He thought they were trying to get pregnant. Instead, she was taking birth control pills and sleeping with another man.”
    It was clear from Tuck’s expression that Dixon hadn’t shared that information with him. He sat down, and his gaze went to the computer screen. “He still needs to know about our father.”
    She knew it wasn’t her place to stop Tuck. “Do what you need to do.”
    He glanced up. “But you’re not going to help me?”
    â€œThere’s nothing more I can do to help you find Dixon. But I’ll help you run Tucker Transportation.”
    â€œFinding Dixon is the best thing we can do to run Tucker Transportation.”
    â€œI disagree,” she said.
    â€œBully for you.”
    â€œThe best thing you can do to run Tucker Transportationis to run Tucker Transportation.”
    Tuck was silent while he moved the mouse and typed a few keys. “You should have told me.”
    â€œTold you what?” She found herself moving around the desk, curious to see what he would find on the computer.
    â€œWhat he was planning,” said Tuck as he scrolled through Dixon’s email. “That he was secretly leaving.”
    She recognized the headers on the email messages, since they automatically copied to her account. “I’m Dixon’s confidential assistant. I don’t share his personal information with anyone else.”
    â€œThere’s nothing here but corporate business,” said Tuck.
    Amber knew that would be the case. Dixon was always careful to keep his personal email out of the corporate system. And he’d been doubly careful with the details of his secret vacation.
    Tuck swiveled the chair to face her. “What would you do if you