Free Little White Lies by Paul Watkins

predator sizing up his next meal.
    “You what? You fired Bear?” His look contains more surprise than anger. “I’ll fire your ass first,” he continues. “Bear has a job here anytime he wants it. You’re letting this manager thing go to your head, my man.”
    Now smiling, he turns to Steve Marshall. “Stevie, I’m afraid our newest employee doesn’t quite understand how things work around here.” Steve doesn’t reply and A.J. lets his gaze linger only a moment before turning back to me. “Dammit, I knew I shouldn’t have let you talk me into having these people report to you. They’re too much for you… too physical.” He gestures towards Marshall, “These are strong young studs who watch out for my ass. I’m afraid you’re just not up to running this end of things, Phil.”
    How in the hell am I going to get through to this guy before he goes too far and says something he can’t take back? Trouble is, saving face for him would mean losing for me. It would take a very big man to let the new kid win this kind of battle… white, no less.
    “Mr. Jackson, I’m afraid you don’t quite understand what it is we’re here to discuss.”
    “Oh, I know what you want to discuss,” he counters. “You want to get rid of my friends and replace them with some candy-asses you think you can control. Sorry, Phil, it ain’t going to happen. Bear’s staying, and that’s all there’s to it.”
    “Mr. Jackson,” I persist, “I think if you will let me explain, you will understand why I wanted to have this meeting.”
    Shit, this is going from bad to worse. A.J. shakes his head and sits down in his chair with an air of resignation. He flicks his fingers, in a half-hearted fashion, signaling me to continue. Not much in the way of encouragement, but I’ll have to take what I can get.
    “First, I would not bother you with a simple employee termination, if the person in question were not a friend of yours. But since Mr. Street is a friend, I wanted to discuss the matter with you and explain why I took the action I did. I have no objection if you wish to retain Mr. Street in some other position, but I’m afraid he is not qualified to be a security man. He does not have the physical skills or the mental ability the position requires.”
    “Are you nuts?” A.J. shoots back. “Why do you think we call him, Bear? The guy is a giant. People take one look at him and they shit their pants. He’s been kicking ass since he was a kid… he’s a natural bodyguard if there ever was one. What would you have him do… gardening?”
    He turns to Marshall and winks. The prick’s really having a good time with this. It takes some doing, but I ignore his unspoken sidebar conversation with Steve and continue on.
    “Well I haven’t thought about what I would have him do. I just know he’s not cut out for security work… at least not here.”
    “You had better not let him hear you say that.” A.J.’s not even trying to suppress his smiles anymore.
    “A.J.,” Marshall begins quietly, his voice barely audible, “I think you should know something about what happened out there. Bear and Phil… “ I turn and look directly at Marshall. He glances at me momentarily and then continues, “Bear and Philip had a little argument outside that got out of hand… sort of. I mean, Bear started shoving Philip around… “ A.J.’s smiling again. “And then Philip… “ A.J. shifts around in his chair. If his grin gets any wider, he’s going to hurt himself. “… ripped Bear a new asshole.”
    I couldn’t have said it better myself. Apparently A.J. didn’t hear the whole story in the foyer. The room has gone dead quiet. The shit-eating grin on A.J.’s face is frozen in place, but he no longer knows it’s there. I feel as though I’m sitting in a photograph. No one is ever going to move again. After a while the mantle clock begins to chime and time struggles back to its normal cadence. A.J.’s smile is still there, but