Chapter 11: The House on the Market

Curtis announced he would take my firm's next hospital billing contract in front of the guests who had just heard me withdraw our pledges.

'If the hospital needs a new billing firm, I intend to keep that contract for myself,' he said.

The guests stopped eating.

He said it as though the contract were already his and my employees were already his to dismiss.

A man at the next table set down his fork.

'How do you take a contract that belongs to Maureen's firm?'

Curtis turned toward him with his public smile.

'I said I intend to pursue the work. Surely that's not a threat.'

The guest looked at the withdrawal notice still in the organizer's hands.

'You said you would take her contract.'

My fingers slipped along the edge of the table.

I gripped it until the linen stopped moving under my hand.

Curtis reached into his pocket and put my house key on the table.

'You'll need somewhere else to go, Maureen.'

The key stopped beside my water glass.

He had used our house to make the threat personal.

I wanted to pick up the key and throw it at him.

Instead, I looked at the guests who had heard every word.

Bev came to stand at my side.

'Forty people depend on that firm. You have no right to threaten their jobs.'

Curtis faced her.

'Bev, you should let Maureen handle her own affairs. That firm survived because of me.'

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