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Jacob's Point Of View.
"Coping with all of this change isn't easy for anyone Catherine."
"You managed it well enough."
"The military prepares people to be adaptable. Without that basic instinct, you can't fight one minute, then save a life the next."
"What do you think I should do?"
"I'm honored you're asking me, but I'm not sure what advice to give you."
"Give me wisdom from your heart, Jacob. I value your opinion in these matters."
"Why do you trust me?"
"I'm a great judge of character Jacob, now answer me or I shall tell Kate you did something awful and have you over Beauty's back by dusk."
My future mother-in-law chuckled, sipping earl grey tea while lingering usefully in my office. We spent more time together these days because I found her advice to be invaluable, and I felt the estate was at least morally hers and Kate's even if its management was my responsibility.
"What did Kate advise about this lovers' quandary?"
"Come on Jacob. I'll only tell you after I hear your wisdom."
"I think you and Tiffany should engage in a relationship if that's what you both want, but that must respect both of your positions."
"You mean exclusivity?"
"Yes. I'm sure you know she's seeing one of the grooms."
"I know all about her and Greg, but that suits me fine. I don't want Tiffany in my bed exclusively and prefer to enjoy the company of other, regular lovers occasionally myself."
"This family is so decadent."
"There hasn't been a Granger divorce in ten generations, Jacob."
"I would caution you on one matter though Catherine."
"Oh go on, this should be good."
"She must swear this boyfriend to absolute secrecy. If I hear gossip around the estate, it could only come from one of those two. We'd have to end Greg's employment and Kate would need to decide Tiffany's fate."
"Hmm, that's a very good point."
"Does the boyfriend know you discipline and tutor Tiffany now?"
"I haven't asked, but I sense it's probably time to find out."
Catherine went into a contemplative silence while I scanned recently received emails, responding to the easiest immediately. One from my sister announced she'd arrive in a couple of days. It wasn't a problem because the house could facilitate many guests and she'd already canceled several times so her plans might fall through again.
"I won't do it Jacob. There's too much risk, especially to Tiffany if she confides in her boyfriend and they split up."
"That's probably wise."
"If you think I don't know when I'm being gently manipulated, Jacob, then it's time for me to hang up the paddle and crop."
I smiled when she winked and stood up. Catherine kissed me on the cheek, something she always did to both daughters when bidding them goodbye regardless how fleeting the absence might be.
I had to visit the stables on a matter of some urgency that was related to our discussion, so I left shortly after Catherine disappeared through the corridor from my office to the main house. I enjoyed the walk, and felt pleased that I could spend a few minutes with Sierra, not so thrilled that I would meet Greg, Tiffany's boyfriend.
I found him to be a sullen man, given to frequent unnecessary outbursts. Catherine's decision not to bed Tiffany helped my problem immensely and, as I walked through a small copse feeling self congratulatory, a smile replaced the earlier frown.
Greg will be reasonable.
When I strolled into the main stable building, nobody was there, so I soaked up the atmosphere, almost acclimated to the stench of urine and dung. Greg spotted me from the far end and walked straight up with a look of disdain for me leading the charge. I decided to go for the jugular and see if the man possessed enough humility and common sense to accept his wrongdoing and make amends.
"Hi Jacob. What's up?"
"You've been leaking information, Greg."
"Ahh, okay... and what business is that of yours?"
"Don't get defensive, Greg."
"Mind your own business Jacob. What happens between me and Tiffany has nothing to do with you."
He eyeballed me aggressively and squared up. There was little point in violence because although I could easily deal with Greg, my beating him would reflect badly on the estate. Kate had suggested I use diplomacy rather than the threat of bloodshed after my incident sacking Simon.
I nodded towards the administration office amid growing interest from the other grooms.
"Pick up your gear and fuck off now, buddy."
"What? You can't fire me."
"I just did. I came to give you a shot across the bow, but wankers like you can't be reasoned with. Just leave now Greg. I'll give you ten minutes to clear out before calling the Sheriff."
I turned and headed for Sierra, who was my calm oasis in a tempestuous moment. She was absolutely beautiful, not only a pretty horse but in her gentle temperament. I almost reached her stall when Greg kicked off again, screaming his loathing of me while the head groomsman dragged him away.
"You can't do this to me. I'll sue the estate."
"Show your lawyer the confidentiality clause in your contract or you'd be wasting his time and your money."
"Fuck off Jacob."
"Yes, you really should Greg, in less than nine minutes, too."
He kicked the straw bales nearby, hurting himself. The last I saw was him pulling out a phone, undoubtedly dragging Tiffany into our disagreement. I stood calmly stroking my horse, waiting for Armageddon in the form of three women to descend on the stables.
She knew me in the same way Kate did. Sierra sensed I was broken, by which I mean a mediocre suffering of PTSD. I wasn't broken, but she saw the damage and understood why my body language gave off the wrong non-verbal cues.
Sure enough, five minutes into my peaceful idyll, a familiar truck halted sharply outside the stables and a sobbing Tiffany exited, with one hand clasped over her mouth. Less than a minute later, Kate's truck slid in beside the first, then Catherine's car was thirty seconds after that.
"Here we go Sierra. It's showtime."
Kate strolled down to me looking serene, kissed my cheek and linked her arm through mine.
"Is Tiffany okay?"
"No. You sacked her boyfriend, of course she's not okay."
"Are you concerned about that?"
"Not at all. You manage the estate Jacob, and I'm sure you had a good reason for this. I'm only here because Tiffany stormed off in a flood of tears, screaming hysterically at me about what you'd done, so I came to make sure she didn't cause a scene."
"Shall we diffuse the situation, Kate?"
"Is this you being diplomatic, Jacob?"
"Kind of. Score me out of ten at the end."
The screaming intensified, mostly coming from Greg while his girlfriend tried to placate him. Catherine had moved away, quite rightly not wanting to deal with an angry employee.
"Greg. You only have a couple of minutes to grab your gear and leave."
"Fuck off, Jacob."
"Oh dear. Will it be the Sheriff then?"
Tiffany almost ran into me in her desperation to find an ally. She gripped around my waist while weeping uncontrollably, so I wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder understanding why she was so upset. She stared up at me with tear-stained cheeks and watery eyes.
"Why are you doing this, Jacob?"
I glanced at Greg, raising an eyebrow, making it clear it was his question to answer.
"Will you explain what you've done to Tiffany please Greg?"
"Yeah... fine. This asshole is accusing me of being indiscrete about your relationship with Mrs. Granger."
Tiffany wheeled sharply around with blazing fire in her eyes.
"And were you?"
"Only fucking tongue in cheek, Tiffany."
"But I told you nothing. What have you said, and how did you know?"
"I saw Catherine spanking you across her knee in the woods and shared that with the other grooms is all. It was a bit of fun."
"You fucking wanker, Greg."
"Hey Tiffany, calm the fuck down."
"STOP!"
I raised my hand high and shouted for quiet. I'd had enough of the theater and needed to make Greg leave quietly.
"That wasn't why I came to see you Greg."
"What do you mean?"
His shock was palpable and a look of doubt flickered across an otherwise arrogant expression that sneered utter disdain for everyone around him.
"Did you know the security system Simon oversaw is connected to all phone, computer, internet and printer systems on the estate?"
"Why would I care?"
"Your login was used last night to fax the quotes received from every supplier for services to the estate. That includes construction and maintenance works, feed and other sundry supplies, farming fertilizer, in fact two hundred pages of all competing supplier price submissions for twelve contracts valued at half a million dollars per year were sent out."
"It wasn't me."
"And... Greg, you'll love this. I have CCTV footage of you feeding every one of those pages into the printer from which they were sent."
He was silenced, as was everyone else. I let the bombshell sink in feeling no pleasure at Greg's demise. My concern for Tiffany was heightened because none of this was her fault.
"You sent the whole lot to Rebecca Marks, didn't you?"
"She organises the suppliers and dishes out contracts."
"And you get a kick-back, right?"
"It's an effective solution."
"Greg, there are so many things wrong with that statement. Now, out of respect for Tiffany, I'll pay you sixty day's wages if you'll sign a compromise agreement. If you keep your mouth shut I'll also give a glowing reference and not turn over evidence of your corruption to the Sheriff."
He was completely lost, glancing around in every direction, seeing only hostile faces, including Tiffany's who was nestled in my arm, with her head on my chest.
"Okay. I'll leave quietly."
"I'll give you another ten minutes to be reasonable, but you need to be gone when that time expires. Pop by my office tomorrow afternoon around 2 pm and I'll have the legal agreement ready. For what it's worth, I came down here to talk and find a solution that involved you keeping your job. It was your anger that sealed this fate."
"Yeah whatever."
He marched off to the office escorted by two other grooms. Catherine sauntered over to me, taking my spare arm, nestling herself into me like Tiffany was.
"Has this been going on long, Jacob?"
"Simon was behind various scams and to be honest, he covered his tracks well. Greg thought he could inherit the schemes one by one, but he didn't have the cunning our old security chief possessed."
Kate looked awed by my performance and joined us, brushing the two other women away.
"Unhand my fiancee, vixens."
She drew me away towards the stable exit, followed closely by Catherine who consoled Tiffany. What happened wasn't her fault. Greg had blabbed about her private business, but his crime was nothing to do with that.
"I hate having shitty days like this Kate."
"Well, it's a good job you do have them Jacob. I may need you to root out these problems at GD too. You have the nose for finding issues that others miss."
"Not a very pleasant skill to have."
"Don't worry. Chef made your favorite lasagna for dinner, and I intend sucking your cock for ages once dinner is digested after a walk in the forest."
"Oh Kate. I love you so much."
"And so you should my love. Thank you for today."
"Thank you for tonight Kate."
"You'll be very welcome."
Next Chapter:
Another great chapter Kate, and another nasty piece of work gets his comeuppance in the most generous of ways.