Haunting Astrid Read Online Free PDF

grump. I’ll take you out tomorrow night instead of you cooking for us.”
    “I don’t mind cooking. Besides, I have a new recipe for the slow cooker. You could bring some wine if you want to.”
    “Red or white?” he asked.
    “I prefer white,” I answered. “I’m not all that smart when it comes to pairing wine with foods.”
    “I’ll bring something that goes with everything he promised, his tone telling me he was in a good mood once again. “Is your bottom still smarting?” he asked.
    “A bit.” I wasn’t going to lie.
    “When I tell you to let something drop, honey, I really do mean it. I promise I won’t ever shut you out of something that concerns you… or us… but tonight I was being a bear and you kept tugging on my fur.”
    “I was worried about you.”
    “I know, and that I am sorry about. But, I won’t apologize for swatting your butt. No man likes to be nagged, Jodi Lynn.” I was surprised to find myself on the verge of tears again.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “It’s over now, honey. I’ll see you in the morning at work. One of these days real soon we are going to have to have a serious talk about things.”
    “Okay…? Could you tell me what it is you want to discuss?”
    “I think you know,” he replied, then told me goodnight and turned off his phone.
    “No, I really don’t know!” I said to my apartment. I also shut off my phone and tried to go back to sleep.
    *****
    Okay, I’ll admit that I was thrilled when Granddad Chantry raised his voice in obvious anger over a mistake that Astrid made. She stood there, red-faced, trying to apologize, but Chantry One wasn’t having it. He continued to scold her and told her he was sending her home for the day and he expected her to get some sleep. He was tired of her dragging around the office and not doing the things expected of her. “That damned house of yours is consuming your every minute and your job is suffering. Jodi, will you please come over here and handle this matter for me…? You will be in charge of the office today.” The look Astrid gave me would have killed a much weaker person. My only regret was that none of the special aids in Astrid’s house were set for daytime.
    That evening Joseph and I went to the restaurant we went to on our first dinner date. When he asked for Devon, he was told that Mr. Jacobs was taking the evening off. I was certain the hostess remembered us, however, because we were given a great table with a view, and our service was impeccable. I was relaxing and trying to decide what I wanted from the menu when Joseph asked, “Do you know what is going on with Astrid, Jodi?” I looked at him in surprise. “She isn’t herself lately, and Granddad is talking of letting her go. I just wondered if you knew if she was going through something the rest of us didn’t know about? She always speaks so highly of you, and I know you are good friends.”
    “That isn’t true, Joseph. Astrid doesn’t like me at all, and she treats all of the secretarial staff like we are her personal slaves.”
    “What? Why haven’t you mentioned this to me before?”
    “And have you think that I am a jealous witch because she got the promotion that I wanted!”
    “You never turned in an application for the position, and we wondered why you didn’t.”
    “Yes, I did!” I felt my temper taking control of my mouth. He looked at me like I had two heads.
    “Honey, Astrid’s application was the only one presented for consideration. That’s why she got the position.”
    “But, I turned in an application!” I was so angry I felt ready to burst. “Ohhhh, I’ll bet she managed to find it and make sure you didn’t see it!”
    “Jodi! That is a serious accusation.” He wasn’t one bit pleased with me, but I was too angry with Astrid to care what Joseph was thinking.
    “It’s the truth, Joseph. What I want to know is why you and the other partners can’t see what is right in front of your eyes? Astrid Butterfield is a