Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page B

him at the same time?”
    “Hate? That’s a strong word. I just…dislike him a great deal, but I guess there are things I like about him too. I know it’s weird. I’m totally screwed up.”
    “So…you want to like him, but you’re still mad? You’re madly attracted to him, but you don’t wanna give him the time of day? It’s not weird. You’re just conflicted. It happens to everybody.”
    “Gee. Thanks, Dr. Phil,” I said. “Yes, I’m conflicted.”
    “By holding this against him, you could be throwing a good thing away. I think you two could make a great couple, but that’ll never happen if you’re just trying to lure him into some big trap.”
    “Big traps are where rats belong. Ultimately, I hired him for one reason, and that’s to take him down.”
    “Hmm. Them’s fightin’ words.”
    “Please don’t tell him, Morgan.”
    “Tell him what? That you want to take him down?”
    “Morgan…”
    “Fine. Go ahead and mess with him a little, but don’t fire him. He doesn’t deserve that.”
    I looked down at my watch. “I’ve got rehearsal in thirty minutes. I gotta go.”
    ***
    As Art tended the bar, I couldn’t help staring at him. Floods of old memories wafted through my mind, flashes of a high school princess, all dressed up in a royal blue gown and her first pair of heels. For the first time, I’d actually felt like a girl. My heart had never beat so hard as I waited for his knock, a knock that never came.
    “He’s not coming,” my mom finally said.
    I swallowed hard as I sat there reminiscing that painful nostalgia. I’d been dumped on prom, and I’d never felt so humiliated and rejected before or since.
    “Alexis,” Art said, breaking me from my thoughts, “I’m gonna take a quick break. Is that okay with you?”
    “No. The back room needs to be mopped. When you’re done with that, swab the restaurant and then the bar area. It needs to be done right, no questions asked,” I barked at him, like some old ship captain yelling at the deckhand.
    “Uh…okay then.” He turned and left.
    “Gee. Being a little hard on the new guy, aren’t ya?” Erin asked as she hopped on the barstool.
    “Oh, hi, Erin. I didn’t see you come in.”
    “Yeah, I know. It’s like you’re in your own little world. I can’t believe you even hired him. How can you stand being around him?”
    “I have plans for him.”
    She giggled. “I’m sure they’re not good. I know you too well, and you never forgive or forget. So, tell me, what’s your game plan?”
    “First, I’m gonna work that poor boy to death.”
    “Be a bitch boss? Run him into the ground? Then fire him?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, I’ve had a few bitch bosses, so I feel for the guy.”
    “Isn’t it funny? He thinks he’s only known me a few short weeks, but in reality, he’s known me since elementary school.”
    “He’ll quit far sooner than I fire him.”
    “And then he can’t even collect unemployment for it.”
    “Exactly,” I said, wearing my most evil grin.
    ***
    An hour later, Art came back, all sweaty from his mop-a-thon. “I know I haven’t been here that long,” he said sheepishly, “but I was wondering if I could possibly have Saturday off.”
    I smiled sadistically. “Sorry, but I need you here. The back room has to be cleaned, and we have inventory to do.”
    “I wouldn’t be asking if I really didn’t need the day off.”
    “Well, I really need you here. Didn’t you say something about being reliable?”
    He pondered, then answered. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll be here.”
    “The toilets need cleaned,” I said, handing him a toilet brush and some cleaner.
    “You can’t be serious.”
    “Toilets don’t clean themselves.”
    He looked down and didn’t say anything.
    “You look flushed ,” I said, using a little toilet humor.
    “I was hired to be a bartender, not to scrub floors and toilets.”
    My gaze narrowed. “You were hired to do whatever duties you are assigned while you are on