| Chapter 3 The next day a young blond walked into Kelly�s diner. Josh was working. He was helping out and making extra money on the side. �Hi,� Josh said walking up to the young woman. �Can I help you?� �Yes, ah. I need to talk to someone about the job?� the blond said. �That�s me. I�m in charge here for now at least,� Josh said and he handed the young woman a form to fill out. �After you�re done we can talk.� �Ok,� the young woman said as she sat down to fill out the paper. ************************* �Mike, I don�t know about this,� AJ said as he walked along the docks with his father in-law. �AJ, they are hiring and besides I thought you came here to fix things up with your family?� Mike asked the young man. �I did but starting with my brother? I don�t know if we should. He might just end my life without hearing me out,� AJ said turning a bit white. �Don�t worry. I will not let him hurt you,� Mike said patting the young man on the back. He liked AJ. The guy had his flaws but then again he did to. What he liked about him was that he cared his daughter and he tried. That counted a lot in Mike�s book. Mike and AJ walked into the warehouse together. A guy that AJ never met before walked up to greet them. �What can I do for you fellows?� �We are looking for a job?� Mike said speaking for AJ and himself. �Go into the office. Mr. Morgan is the man you talk to,� the man said and he pointed to the office. �I wish it was one of the others,� AJ muttered under his breath as they walked towards the office. Jason was going over the books when AJ and Mike walked into the office. It wasn�t until Jason looked up when Mike spoke that he realized who was there. �Are you the man to talk to about a job?� Mike asked. �Yeah,� Jason said putting down his pen to look up. �AJ!� Jason snapped jumping to his feet. �Hi,� AJ said backing up a bit just to keep out of arm lengths of his brother�s reach. �What are you doing here? I thought I told you never to come back to town!� Jason demanded. �I need a job,� AJ said sounding dumb but it was the truth. He did need a job. Jason stopped and looked at AJ stunned beyond words. �Come again?� Jason said finally. �I need to support my wife,� AJ said bluntly. �What woman would marry you?� Jason asked coldly. �My daughter,� Mike said speaking up for the first time. �And who are you?� Jason asked coldly. �Jason, this is my father in-law Mike Corbin. He needs a job as well. We heard you were hiring,� AJ said grinning relieved that he wasn�t dead yet. Jason sat down in his chair and crossed his arms. He leaned back and asked, �Why would I give you a job?� AJ nodded his head at this and then said, �Look, I know you don�t like or trust me. I don�t blame you especially after what I did. I just want a chance to prove myself to you and everyone that I have changed. Please Jas give me that chance?� Jason thought about this. If it wasn�t Monica he might have thrown AJ out on his ass but Monica had been asking about him. �Ok,� Jason said getting up and walking towards his brother. �But� I have a few conditions.� �Anything,� AJ said relieved that Jason would actually go along with this. �One, If I catch you drinking a drop I�ll drop kick you into that lake and two you lay hand on Emily and I�ll kill you!� Jason said getting right into AJ�s face. �Promise. I�ll behave and thanks,� AJ said grinning as him Mike left the room. Jason shook his head. He must be out of his mind to hire his brother. The phone rang and Jason picked it up. �Yeah,� he said not sounding too happy at this moment. �Jason, this is Josh. I have a girl here wanting a job but there is a problem. She says that she is AJ�s wife,� Josh said trying to load because the young girl was just with in earshot off him. Jason groaned and said, �Give the job but keep an eye on her.� �You sure?� Josh asked. �Yeah, AJ is going to work for us here. I would rather have them where I can keep an eye on them,� Jason said and he then hung up the phone. Josh smiled and walked towards Courtney. �Well, it looks like your hired,� he said smiling. �Good when do I start?� Courtney asked. �You can start now. We are short today and I need the help,� Josh said grinning. �Got it,� Courtney said quickly putting her stuff away and grabbing an apron before getting to work. *************************** Jason stood and watched as AJ worked. He had to admit that his big brother wasn�t a slacker at least not with him around. Johnny walked in saw AJ and gasped. �What is he doing here?� Johnny asked Jason. �Things I do for my mother,� Jason said coldly as he started to walk away from Johnny. �Keep eye on them.� �Sure,� Johnny said. Jason went to the hospital. He figured now was a good time as any to tell his mother about AJ. It took Jason awhile but he finally found his mother on the fifth floor of the hospital near the nurse station. �Hi,� Monica said smiling as she spotted Jason walking towards her. �Hi,� Jason said trying to smile but he wasn�t in the mood to smile. Monica didn�t like the look on Jason�s face. She looked concerned and asked, �Is the kids ok?� �Yes, they are with Carly. I�m here about AJ,� Jason said as he took his mother away from the desk and found a nice dark corner. �What about him?� Monica asked her heart in throat. She had asked Jason to find him. The look on Jason�s face told her he had and it wasn�t good. �AJ showed up today looking for work. For you I gave him a job but I�m happy about it,� Jason said. Monica knew then why Jason was in such a bad mood. She kissed her son on the cheek and said, �Thank you. How is he? Does he look ok?� �He looks sober. If he wasn�t then I would have given him a job,� Jason said and he told his mother about his meeting with AJ and about his new wife. �He got married?� Monica asked shocked. �It looks like it,� Jason said. �Did he have to marry her?� Monica asked wondering out loud. �I didn�t ask. I didn�t even know what she looks like. She does work at Kelly�s and here is their address. It isn�t on the best part of town. So, don�t go there alone,� Jason warned his mother. �I won�t,� Monica said smiling as she took the paper. �Thank you!� �No problem but I am going to warn you. I might get out voted about having him work there. You do know I have other partners. Right now the only going for AJ is the fact that Luke is on his back,� Jason said. �I know. Look, if AJ cause you trouble I will understand if you fire him. I�m just grateful that you gave him a chance� �Well, I did it for you not him,� Jason said and then he left. ******************************** Victor sat there working on the new security system of the building thinking about Tracy. He enjoyed dinner. He enjoyed it too much. He had keep reminding himself that he was married. He loved his wife and his life. He knew what he was doing and things he had to loose. The trouble was Victor feeling old and Tracy reminded him of another life a time when he was young and free. Zander walked into the room and found Victor sitting there lost in his thoughts. �Hello, anyone home?� Zander asked tapping Victor on the shoulder. �What?� Victor said suddenly coming around. �Where were you?� Zander asked as he sat down. �Just thinking. Mikkos called just a bit ago. He wants to fly back to Russia. He thinks Lucky needs a friend,� Victor said smiling sadly. �Yeah, I read the paper. The kid really went off,� Zander said shaking his head sadly. �I�ll take off today.� �Good, I can deal with things here,� Victor said taking the file that Zander was holding. �Yeah, and don�t do anything I wouldn�t do,� Zander said. �What was that suppose to mean?� Victor snapped. �I was kidding,� Zander said wondering how much coffee had today. �Why don�t you try decaf?� �Yeah,� Victor said knowing he was feeling guilty. He didn�t know why. He only had dinner. �Good bye,� Zander said and he left. He didn�t think off Victor�s strange mood. Victor was always strange mood what was new! Zander left to go back and then head back to Russia. He really didn�t mind. He figured Lucky need a friend right now and he would be doing that then running papers around. Chapter 4 Back to Affairs of the Heart |