The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF

water. Inventory, she thought. There had to be better ways to spend a Thursday evening.
    Inventory started slow and spiraled down from there. The three employees chatted among themselves, with Emma chiming in from time to time with a rib or a giggle. Dani, however, started feeling terribly out of sorts. All the stories she was hearing about her uncle were putting her on edge. She tried to concentrate and ignore the chatting around her, but she kept finding her mind wandering.
    Suddenly she jumped as she felt someone touch her arm.
    “Dani, what are you doing?” Emma asked.
    Dani looked down at her notes, realizing that she’d somehow missed a whole shelf, skipping from G right down to K. She frowned. “Sorry, I guess my mind is elsewhere.”
    “This is important, Dani. The stock has to be right.”
    “Don’t you think I know that?” Dani suddenly hissed back. “It was one correctable mistake.”
    “It was a mistake that could have cost us quite a bit of money if I hadn’t caught it.”
    “Well, you did catch it. I guess that’s because you’re so good at looking over everyone’s shoulder every five minutes to make sure they aren’t screwing up.”
    “Dani, this is the first time I’ve checked up on you all evening.”
    “So what do you want from me, my firstborn? I said I was sorry. And the name is Danielle.”
    A red eyebrow rose. “Alright, Danielle, I want to talk to you in my office. Now.” Without waiting for a response, Emma turned on her heel, fully expecting Dani to follow.
    Dani didn’t disappoint, slamming her clipboard down onto the nearest shelf and stalking after her ‘boss’.
    Watching them go, Stevie asked, “Who wants to take bets on when Emma finally beds her?”
    “I’ll take the odds on that,” Anna chuckled. “That is, if Will doesn’t want in on the action,” she finished, watching as the women stalked away.
    Will blushed and put up both hand defensibly. “Don’t look at me, ladies. I want no part in this.”
    “Smart boy,” Stevie chuckled and then winced as she heard the fireworks start from Emma’s office.
    “What in the hell is your problem?” Dani accused as soon as she’d crossed the threshold.
    “Close the door, Danielle, and have a seat,” Emma replied calmly.
    Dani smirked for a moment before slamming the door and then plopping herself down on one of the chairs in front of Emma’s desk.
    Emma sighed. “Was that really necessary? You’re acting like a spoiled brat again, Danielle.”
    Dani couldn’t help but sulk. “Yeah, so?”
    Emma shook her head. “I know this isn’t easy for you. Being in the store probably brings back a lot of memories. But,” Emma emphasized, “that’s no reason to be disrespectful to me. Out there, I’m the boss, and I can’t let you treat me as anything but.”
    Dani tightened her jaw. She knew Emma was looking for an apology, but at the moment, she was in no condition to give one.
    Giving Dani a chance to respond, Emma waited patiently. When it became clear that she wasn’t going to, Emma sighed once again. “Fine, then you are done for the night.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “I believe you heard me. Go up to your apartment, go out, I don’t care, but you’re not welcome to work with us if you are going to keep up with the attitude.”
    “But…” Dani trailed off. “Aren’t you overreacting?”
    “Good night, Danielle,” Emma said once before getting up and leaving her office.
    Dani sat dumbfounded for a moment. Finally, she got up and stalked out of the office. Rushing up to her apartment, she went straight to the bedroom, slamming the door in frustration before throwing herself on the bed just as the tears began.
     
    * * *
     
    The next two days were rough. Emma and Dani spoke only when it was necessary, and the tension between them just seemed to keep getting worse. It came to the point that when they were both on duty, Emma would spend her time in her office, while Dani would hide behind the counter.
    She