Page 35 of Guarded Knight

Freya agreed to work from the apartment today, thank God, because Gabriel stays in his truck when we’re here, which means I actually got some work done.

I place my laptop on the couch beside me and head down the hallway toward my room. I don’t want to disturb Freya with my phone call. Nor do I want the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.

My cell rings in my ear. I need to catch Kevin. I can’t get this next newsletter done without understanding this Harris Family donation, and he never responded to yesterday’s email. He picked up Freya’s calls, so I know he isn’t unavailable.

I could delay the report until after I see him at the donor event next week, but I’m a stickler for good communication with people who give us money. It feels like it rings forever before he picks up.

But he does. “Lara.”

“Hi, Kevin. Just following up on my email. Did you…?”

“Ah yes. The Harris donation. Sit tight. They’ll send me a report soon, I’m sure.”

“Areyou sure?” I don’t want to piss off my boss, but I’m not a pushover. “I still don’t have the reports you said Sickle Cell Care would send and I asked about that at the beginning of the month. Keeping donations rolling in means letting donors know their money is actually being put to good use. We need to be on top of these things.”

I bite my lip. I probably shouldn’t have suggested my boss isn’t on top of things, but this is bullshit. We can’t give away hundreds of thousands, hell, it’s well over a million from my calculations, to other charities and not know where it’s going.

His pause is so long, I either annoyed him or we lost connection.

Finally, a blow-off. “I can’t control other people’s time.”

But you do control who gets Scarlet Hope’s money.

“I understand that. And I know you’re busy, so if you want to hand this off to me… It doesn’t make sense for our CEO to chase these things anyway. I could chase it, or Nina from finance.”

“Leave it with me. I can get through to the higher-ups more easily than you could.”

Another one of Kevin’s phrases that makes you wonder if he’s just being blunt or if he’s trying to put you in your place.

It’s always been an uphill battle with my boss, but after overhearing his call yesterday with Freya, it’s taking brute strength to see the best in him.

“Thanks.” My gratitude is reluctant. “I send the newsletter out on the last day of the month so I’d love either news on this donation or even tracking back to last quarter. I don’t want our work to sound flimsy.” And then, maybe it’s trite, but I pull the only power move I have. “I’m raising the majority of funds here. I can’t do it on the back of vapor.”

A beat. “Bye, Lara.”

And the line goes dead.

Shoot. He didn’t like that. I know I can be pushy, but for goodness’ sake, I’ve been patient for a month now. I already doctored my last two reports. I don’t want to write fluff again and I care more about our donors and our cause than I do Kevin’s feelings.

I walk back into the living area and put my phone on the end table next to the sofa where I’ve been working.

Freya has already closed her laptop and is packing up her things. “You ready?”

We said we’d head to Main Street to explore after work. I’m not done, but I can’t do any more without her annoying boyfriend’s help.

I need to tell her all of this. I probably should have mentioned it at the beginning of the month. I’ll see what Kevin does this time. One more chance, but if I don’t have news by the donor event next week, I’m going on the job hunt and encouraging Freya to do the same.

Plus, informing authorities.

I hope I’m wrong.

It would be a lot easier to move from Echo Valley with a job than without one.

She shimmies on her jacket. “I vote dinner out. Maybe that place with the string lights?”

My head’s still tangled in spreadsheets and the kind of financial smoke that’s like chasing ghosts. But I close my laptop. “Sure. If it means I don’t have to wash dishes or think about tax receipts, I’m in.”

It’s almost five when we leave and pass Gabriel’s truck parked on Main Street, golden hour draping Echo Valley in soft light. Considering how he’s been constantly on my mind, it’s better I don’t stop to chat. We pass the truck with a mere wave, but the soft close of his truck door behind us is a hit to the chest.