Limiting Liabilities: Book Two - The Martinique Files

by Colette Alaine

  Eric notices the short cuts and brings them to Will’s attention. Will swears he is going to do it by the book but he never does. Eric likes Will a lot. It is hard not to enjoy someone with a wicked sense of humor and a strong work ethic. He is not afraid to confront anyone who is not pulling his share and he rewards those who do a good job. Eric only hopes his decision to ignore employment and environmental regulations does not land him on the wrong side of the law. Eric reminds Will of what he ought to be doing. All violations are minor and Eric hopes these are the only places where Will is cutting corners.

  Without Will’s respect, Eric would have a hard time getting the seasoned workers to follow him. They respect Eric’s orders only because they are loyal to Will. Will knows this and it is one of the reasons why he hired Eric. Eric has to stay in line just as much as the other employees. Over time their loyalty will extend to Eric. He is just going to have a long induction period.

  Eric’s work consumes him. He is at the office from eight in the morning until at least six-thirty every night. Many evenings it is nine o’clock before he ever leaves. He loves his job and there is always work to be done. If anything other than respect for Will gains favor with these men, it will be the long hours Eric puts in. He is here on Saturdays too. He refuses to work on Sunday, saying that if God needed a day of rest, well then so does Eric.

  Will tells Eric too often that he really needs a girl in his life. Some of the other men agree. Finding Jaclyn and spending so much time with her, he understands how important finding love is in his life. But there is no way he is going to tell any of these guys. Not even Will. He will never hear the end of it and it will be crude. He does not want to think of Jaclyn in any degrading way so he is not going to mention her. Hopefully, he will be able to keep his secret.

  “What’s wrong with you, boy?” Will surprises him in his office.

  “Nothing. Why you asking?” Oh no, please do not let Will ask a question he does not want to answer. He will not lie to his director but he certainly will not tell him the truth.

  “You’ve been actin’ like a zombie. Yawnin’ and ignorin’ everybody.”

  “I have?” Eric has tried so hard to maintain normalcy.

  “Aren’t you sleepin’?” Will is fishing and Eric knows he has one shot to dissuade any conversation about Jaclyn.

  “Been trying to help out a buddy. Guess it’s getting to me more than I thought. I can’t sleep because I’m trying to fix a problem.” It is not completely a lie. Jaclyn is as much his friend as his love interest and she is concerned about diamond mining in Africa and how it is making soldiers out of young boys. Okay, it is a stretch but he is going with it.

  “Thought it might finally be a girl. Boy, you’re wastin’ your time. Will you hook up with some cutie already? We old guys ain’t getting’ much action anymore. We need someone to harass.” Will reveals his plan and proves Eric must keep his relationship silent.

  Eric laughs. “You’d be the last to know when I find a girl. I might invite you to the five year anniversary party.”

  “I’m comin’ to that weddin’,” Will announces. “You just prepare the folks beforehand.”

  Eric stands up from his desk and shaking his head vigorously to let Will know that will never happen, he says “now I know we’re eloping.” The last thing Eric will tell his father, the deacon and his mother, the perfect pastor’s wife, is that a roughneck like Will is going to crash their only son’s wedding. They may die of shock.

  “We got another big order from Detroit.” Will changes the subject and hopefully, drops it altogether. “Those auto boys like our stuff. I’m gonna set up round the clock shifts to get it done. Some of the old guys at ‘Chrome and More’ got laid off and I’m gonna hire ‘em to help out. Talked to Donnie and he’s fine with it.” Will gives Eric the only update he will receive. Will is not much on meetings. He will just find who he wants and tell them what they need to know. No reason for formality most of the time.

  Donnie is the owner of ‘Chicago Electroplating Corp’ and is mostly interested in the money the company brings in. He listens to Will and pretty much agrees with everything the man suggests. It is a relationship that works extremely well for both men. Will only calls Donnie when he wants to spend more money, like hiring his buddies from ‘Chrome and More’. Will handles any problems and Donnie just lets him be.

  Will knows every senior guy in the electroplating business. Chrome plating is a subset of electroplating and it is what most of the shops in the area do. But it’s a tricky business. ‘Chrome and More’ was big competition many years ago but new management came in and lost more business than it acquired. Most of those let go are older and know the business well. They don’t cut corners like the managers want and so they’re expendable.

  Will has been hiring them one at a time as they are let go. Some of them cannot wait to get the pink slip so they can work at ‘Chicago Electroplating’. But the young ones learn quickly that Will favors the senior men. If there is an opening and a good man is available, well then he gets the job. Oh, Will has hired a few younger guys that he heard good info on but he works them harder. He wants them to know they have to prove themselves. Same with Eric.

  “Good, good. You want me to change my hours?” Eric is eager to please his boss. “I’m ready to do whatever you need.”

  Will slaps him on the back. “I love you, man! No, no. Robbie’s gonna cover the night shift and I’m gonna get here a little earlier in the am. You come in on time and leave at six, like you’re supposed to do and we’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t mind,” Eric reassures him he is his man.

  “I think right now you need to get some sleep. I betcha’ this buddy is a girl.” Eric shakes his head. “If it is, I’ll find out.” Will points his finger in Eric’s face.

  “I know you got better things to do.” Eric avoids answering the question.

  “Sad thing is, boy, I don’t.” Will laughs heartily as he leaves Eric’s office.

  A big job coming from Detroit means a lot more sludge. It is getting more and more expensive to get rid of it. Will has been taking care of it but he also complains more about it lately. Eric wonders what he will do this time.

  Will returns to his office and closes the door. He stares at his phone knowing he has to make a call. The business is great but Donnie’s gambling is eating up every profit Will creates. His drinking is not helping matters. Donnie inherited the business from his father and never took to it. He got a salary for showing up because Pappa was sure he would eventually love it as much as he did. Life was good while Pappa was alive. He died three years ago from a heart attack and Donnie has not stopped milking the company since.

  Picking up the receiver, Will dials Donnie’s number, hoping he is still asleep and recovering from a massive hangover. For a while Donnie was winning left and right at the tables but he hit the skids and his lifestyle demands more and more money. Will is finding it difficult to keep his boss happy and the company in the black.

  “Yeah?” Looks like Donnie is awake.

  “Donnie, Will here.” He drums his fingers on his desk. “Listen I can’t send you that check. We gotta unload this sludge and I can’t dump it in the lake anymore. Too many beach dwellers.”

  “I need that money, Will.” Will makes a fist. He has to handle this young spurt right.

  “Donnie, you’re risking the business.”

  “Remember one thing Will Dawson.” Donnie pauses and Will knows what’s coming. “It’s mine to risk.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll cut the check this afternoon.” Will caves immediately.

  Something must be done about Donnie’s spending but Will is underwater on his mortgage and his taxes are skyrocketing. Illinois politicians do not know any more about running the state than Donnie does about running the business. No wonder both of them are in so much trouble.

  Dialing Jaclyn’s number, Eric knows she is going to be disappointed, as disappointed as he is. “I’m sorry, honey, but I’ve
got to stay late and I have to get some sleep. We got another big deal coming in and I have to do my part.”

  “I’m gonna miss you tonight.” Jaclyn pouts over the phone.

  “Don’t tempt me.” Eric is already trying to figure out a way to spend just a little time with his girl.

  “What about a dinner?” Jaclyn offers an alternative. “I’ll cook it up and bring it to your office.”

  “No way are you coming here. Not because I don’t want to show you off, I do. But not to these guys, babe.” Eric will do anything to avoid his co-workers learning of his relationship with Jaclyn.

  “I know you’ve told me that before. Why don’t I come over with the meal later tonight and we’ll just eat and I’ll leave.” Jaclyn also does not want to miss one night with him.

  “We both know that isn’t going to happen,” Eric reminds her that this was the plan the previous nights and it didn’t stick.

  Jaclyn tempts him once more. “So there’s nothing I can do to persuade you?”

  “I’ll see you on Friday night.” He does not budge this time. “We’ll have that picnic then. We don’t have to worry about how late it gets.”

  “That’s two nights away! I might die between now and then,” Jaclyn teases in an overdramatic tone.

  “I’m pretty sure you’ll live. I certainly hope so.” Eric is losing his control and almost complies with her wishes. He is going to have to end this call soon or he won’t be able to wait until Friday night.

  “Good thing for you one of my best clients is walking through the door and I have to go. I miss you already. I’ll be good and leave you alone until Friday night.”

  “I’ll call you earlier in the day and we can make our plans.”

  As soon as Eric hangs up, Jaclyn greets her customer, hoping to have another record sales day.

  “Hello, Mrs. Ketcham. It’s so good to see you. What can I do for you today?”

  The elderly lady lightly hugs her. “Jaclyn, dear, I need a gift for my granddaughter’s little girl, Natalie. It’s her eighteenth birthday and I want something special.”

  “I’m certain that we can find the perfect gift,” Jaclyn assures her.

  “You always do, dear. It’s why I only come to Bergman and Bird for my jewelry.” And is Jaclyn ever grateful.

  “We want you to be happy and the people you buy for should be happy too. If you’re not, then what good is it?” Jaclyn makes certain her easy going personality is welcoming. She will never win a sales pitch award because she does not view her role as pushing merchandise. She sees herself as a person who is in the position to help make other people happy. Many of those people need an uplift every now and then and what better way to get it than to purchase jewelry?

  Her current customer views jewels the same way Jaclyn does so it is a perfect pairing. Marilee Ketcham is a brighter gem than any of those brilliant stones lying in the glass cases hoping to find a happy home. At least ninety years old, she still drives and exercises every day. Her husband and her daddy left her with sizeable fortunes and she is a weakling when it comes to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One of her most expensive indulgences is jewelry. She owns so much of it, she could open her own store but she loves to buy and Jaclyn loves to sell to her.

  Marilee usually comes into the store to buy one item but leaves with at least four more. She cannot resist the shiny stones. What a treat it is to sell to her. Jaclyn knows the family members well through the numerous stories she has heard from Marilee so she can point the elderly lady in the right direction. An eighteen year old will be easy. It will be a Yurman purchase for sure.

  Guiding her favorite customer toward the assortment of braided necklaces, rings and bracelets, Marilee buys one of each. Jaclyn purposefully walks her around the counter with some newer pieces in hopes of tempting the older lady to indulge herself and is not disappointed. Ten thousand dollars later, Marilee is as happy with her purchases as Jaclyn is with her sales.

  “You’re on fire, Jaclyn. You’re selling faster than I can buy. I can’t keep the stuff in the store. My inventory is flying out the door.” Jake Bird is crazy about Jaclyn. She is his favorite salesperson and the two of them get along wonderfully. She is his best worker and she shares his love of the industry.

  Jaclyn practically skips around the store, her bubbly personality unable to keep her standing still. Good thing they are alone in the large display room. “You’ll just have to buy more than usual, Jake. Jewelry makes everyone happy. That’s why they’re buying.”

  “They’re buying because you make everyone happy. What’s going on in your life? Don’t tell me nothing. I’ve noticed a difference. So has Drew.” Jake is not going to let her get by with relishing her relationship all by herself and Jaclyn does not have to worry about her bosses the way Eric has to worry about his.

  “I met a guy,” she gushes.

  “Do tell. I figured this was it. I even told Drew that I thought you’d met someone you really liked.” Jake notices the little details.

  Jaclyn is brimming with excitement. “I do, Jake and this one is a keeper. He’s different from any other guy I’ve ever dated. He’s quiet, not like me but I seem to be calmer around him. I’ve noticed that while we’re together I can relax and I don’t have to be the entertainment. He likes me because I’m me! Pretty cool, huh?”

  “Very cool. I’m really happy you’ve found a good guy. What’s his name and all the rest?” Jake knows how badly Jaclyn wants to talk about her new love and he is the type of guy that will listen and share her fun news.

  “Eric and he’s an assistant director at ‘Chicago Electroplating Corp’. He’s the youngest ever and he works too much but he wants to be respected. Even though his boss isn’t leaving any time soon, Eric wants to be the one to take his place when he does retire.” Jaclyn is talking a mile a minute. “He’s so good to me, Jake! He treats me well and he listens to me. You met him when we all went to the Mexican restaurant and The Club. We have a blast together sometimes doing absolutely nothing but talking. I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to him or be something I’m not.” She unveils her true feelings.

  “You don’t have to win him over Tawny,” Jake states the obvious and Jaclyn is sure he has seen how she overcompensates when the sultry siren is around.

  “Yeah. I love her, you know, but she can be a diversion for most men,” Jaclyn admits and does not tell Jake anything he does not already know.

  Jake seems to understand her dilemma. “Like Drew.”

  “Definitely but I threatened her if she ever hooked up with him. Don’t tell him. I know he’s interested in her,” Jaclyn confesses her plot against her other boss.

  Jake walks behind one of the jewelry cases. “I won’t tell, although I’m pretty sure he already suspects it.” He pulls out a long gold braided chain. “He might be too old for Tawny. Not in his mind but for her. She seems to like guys her own age.”

  “Except for Billy Solomon.” Jaclyn lets the information slip. She wants Drew to know Tawny’s dated him so that Drew will steer clear. Jake will not be able to stop himself from telling his partner and Jaclyn is counting on him.

  Jake drops the necklace, messing up the display pieces around it. “The environmental attorney?”

  Jaclyn is surprised. “You know him?”

  “He’s a good customer.” Jaclyn is confused. She has never seen him. “He comes in after hours.” Jake clears up the mystery. “Either Drew or I handle his purchases. He likes to be discreet.”

  “Really?” Jaclyn’s enthusiasm dampens. “Wow, the things you learn.”

  “Yeah, Billy’s not one to shop with the regular folks. So Tawny likes him?” Jake is eager to get the details. This is good gossip, even for guys.

  “He’s her boss and you remember that case I told you she had last year, well it was with him.” Jaclyn is now revealing lots of information that Tawny would rather no one else know but keeping Drew away from Tawny is her main goal and this should do it. />
  “Whoa, from what you told me that was quite a case. No wonder they got together.”

  “With that much drama, I guess you’d find the other person really attractive,” Jaclyn agrees.

  “Small world, huh, Jaclyn?” Jake states the obvious and shakes his head. “Hopefully she won’t get messed up with him again. He has so many women at his call that I’m not sure he can even remember their names. By the way that’s where most of the Yurman pieces go.”

  “Figures,” Jaclyn shoots back sarcastically, “since they’re all probably barely eighteen.”

  Jake smiles and begins fixing the display. “You might be surprised. There’s a few closer to his age.”

  Jaclyn comes over to help him. He is not very good at arranging jewelry. He is much better on the business side of it. “Ouch! Maybe they’re his relatives.”

  “I think that’s illegal.” Jake is not convinced.

  “That’s not what I meant,” she corrects him. “I meant maybe he’s buying jewelry for older family members as well as for his girls. Anyway, Tawny didn’t get any jewelry as far as I know.” Jaclyn realizes her roommate really did get the short end of the relationship if Billy is buying for all his gal pals.

  “That’s unusual.” Jake steps away from the display case and lets Jaclyn work her magic. “He keeps a stash of pieces for when he needs them.”

  Jaclyn neatly fixes the setting that Jake scrambled. “He doesn’t buy specifically for one girl?” She closes and locks the case so all the fine gold pieces are safe.

  “No. He needs it on hand to fix a broken heart or to ask for forgiveness. He’s a great client and I do like him but I wouldn’t wish him on any girl. Too much of a player.” For Jake to call another guy a player, he must be bad.

  “Worse than Drew?” Jaclyn decides to get more of the scoop on her other boss while Jake is in the mood to share information.

  “Much worse,” Jake responds with quite a bit of emotion then calms down. “Those two have been friends from childhood and they’re a lot alike but Drew has a heart of gold. He’s looking for a lifetime partner, not just a girl to date for a few months. Billy isn’t ready for commitment. He’s riding high and having a steady for too long, much less a wife, would interrupt his fun. When he does finally settle down it’ll be because he fell so hard in love he can’t live without her. I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”